Lexington’s inaugural season as the Counter Clocks’ begins Friday. Here’s what to expect.

After 22 years as the Legends, Lexington’s minor league baseball team will officially begin its new chapter as the Counter Clocks on Friday at 6:45 p.m. Opening weekend — a three-game home stand against the York (Pa.) Revolution at Counter Clocks Field — will invite fans to witness a multitude of changes to the experience.

Here’s what you need to know.

New name, new look

The Counter Clocks announced a complete rebranding of the team on March 6.

The new nickname and branding honor the state of Kentucky’s impact on horse racing, referencing when Kentuckians made the decision to race their horses counterclockwise around the track.

The rebrand has received mixed reviews, but the front office anticipated a period of time before the community took to it.

Team owner Nathan Lyons said on the day of the announcement that he believes, once the team begins playing, the new era will become more accepted.

“We understand it will take some time,” Lyons said. “The Legends were here for 22 years. A great team, a great team name, organization. We did feel like it was time for a new day.”

The team will wear red and blue, and be cheered on by mascots Hoss, a horse, and Dinger, an anthropomorphic clock.

“Hoss the horse races to the left, charging toward home base with a Big L-inspired ballplayer on his back,” the organization said in the March 6 press release. “Meanwhile, for Dinger the clock, it’s game time all the time. His hands hold tight to a bat, ready for action and clocking home run after home run.”

New front office

Following an ownership change back in October when Lyons and his wife Keri acquired the team and all its related assets, the organization has undertaken a complete overhaul of its front office.

In December, the organization announced the hiring of former MLB catcher — and Lyons’ uncle — Barry Lyons as the team’s manager. He began working with the team in January, arriving in Lexington with 14 years of professional baseball experience.

Justin Ferrarella was officially named the new president and general manager at the start of January after working as the general manager for the Sussex County Miners since 2017.

Both Barry Lyons and Ferrarella have experience in shepherding organizations to new heights, with the new manager being responsible for bringing the Southern League Class AA Minor League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, the Biloxi Shuckers, to his hometown of Biloxi, Miss., and Ferrarella overseeing the Sussex County Miners’ transition to the Frontier League.

The organization’s on-field staff will also feature new faces in hitting coach Enohel Polanco, pitching coach Cameron Roth and defense coach Bryan Swalley.

Both Roth, a pitcher taken in the 29th round of the 2010 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, and Polanco, who played for 14 years in the organizations of the New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies, have major league playing experience.

Roth has also served as a coach for the Schaumburg Boomers and a manager for the Lake Erie Crushers, as well as coached in the Detroit Tigers minor league system.

Polanco has spent the past 12 seasons on the staff of the York Revolution, the Counter Clocks’ first opponent.

Swalley also has major league experience, coming to Lexington after three years as the infield coach for Major League Baseball in China. Swalley has also coached at Kentucky Christian University and worked as an associate scout for the Seattle Mariners.

The team will still compete in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), which it joined in 2021 under former owner Andy Shea.

Stadium changes

At the end of March, the club announced a series of improvements to its stadium designed by EOP Architects.

Renderings depict upgrades to the hospitality areas, as well as the viewing decks and suites. The organization also plans to expand its club level to feature both indoor and outdoor seating.

The food and beverage menus will also be upgraded.

Rule changes

The independent Atlantic League is joining Major League Baseball and the minor leagues in instituting ”experimental rules” for the 2023 season in the spirit of quickening the pace of the game. Here’s what you can expect to see:

A designated pinch-runner will be listed by each club. According to Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com, the club may substitute that designated player into the game at any point. Both the pinch-runner and the player who was subbed out can return to the game without penalty.

In a rule slightly different from its Major League equivalent, the Atlantic League will allow pitchers just a single disengagement per batter to provide MLB an insight to the rule’s effect on base running. Per Castrovince, the rule allows pitchers just one “disengagement,” such as stepping off the mound or a pickoff attempt without penalty.

League updates

The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball includes 10 teams for its 25th anniversary season in 2023.

Lexington is joined in the South Division by the Gastonia (N.C.) Honey Hunters, the High Point (N.C.) Rockers, the Charleston (W.Va.) Dirty Birds and an expansion team in Frederick (Md.) whose nickname has mysteriously not yet been announced. The Frederick team replaces the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes, who shared space in Lexington last season with the Legends.

The North Division includes the Lancaster (Pa.) Barnstormers, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, the Staten Island (N.Y.) FerryHawks, the Long Island (N.Y.) Ducks and the York (Pa.) Revolution.

Lexington will play 126 regular-season games, including 63 at home in 2023.

Theme nights and nightly promos

After two years of the organization’s membership in the Atlantic League, Ferrarella believes the Counter Clocks are ready to display a “higher quality of play.” But that’s not all the club has to offer. The front office has committed to providing a well-rounded experience for all of Lexington — even those who don’t love baseball.

“If you’re not a baseball fan, come be entertained and we can do that,” Ferrarella said at the rebrand unveiling in March. “Dinner and a show. You know, that’s the business we’re in: sports and entertainment. And showbiz, right? So, when the lights turn on, it’s go-time.”

The club has introduced both a calendar of theme nights, as well as nightly promos for its inaugural season as the Counter Clocks.

Theme nights range from promotional, with events like Free Gas Friday on May 19 and Vets Go Free on May 19, to cause-based, with themes such as Addiction Awareness Night on Sept. 15. The Counter Clocks also have nights geared toward having fun with the community, such as ‘80s Night on May 26 and Baseball Bingo on June 16.

As far as nightly promos, the club will offer a variety of deals to entice fans.

Tuesdays and Thursdays both center around food and drink, with deals like $3-$2-$1 presented by Great Clips on Tuesdays, during which beer and soda will be sold for $3, hot dogs for $2 and chips for $1, and discounted beer ($2 domestic, $3 craft) on Thursdays.

Wednesdays will see six games played during the day: May 10, May 31, June 14, June 28, July 12 and July 26.

Fridays are designated as Feel Lucky Friday!, while Sundays are Family Funday. Saturday games will all feature postgame fireworks.

Streaming

Thanks to a partnership between the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and FloSports, all league regular season and playoff games will be livestreamed on FloBaseball. The deal will also include original content. For a limited time, season ticket holders will have the option to purchase a monthly or annual FloSports subscription at a 25% discount. The Counter Clocks will be in contact with their season ticket holders regarding this opportunity.

Tickets and shop

Tickets and official merchandise for the Lexington Counter Clocks are available for purchase on the team’s website.

Season opener

York Revolution at Lexington Counter Clocks

When: 6:45 p.m. Friday

Where: Counter Clocks Field off North Broadway Street in Lexington

TV: FloBaseball.com (online only)

Tickets: $10-$25 (available at lexingtoncounterclocks.com)

This weekend: York and Lexington also square off Saturday (6:45 p.m.) and Sunday (2:05 p.m.) at Counter Clocks Field.