In the wake of the Texas Rangers’ exhilarating climb to the pinnacle of Major League Baseball, securing their World Series victory, the City of Round Rock stands especially proud. Our very own Dell Diamond, the home of the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express, hosted several of the players who have journeyed from the minor leagues to the grand stage of the World Series:
- LHP Cody Bradford (2023)
- OF Evan Carter (2023)
- C Mitch Garver (2022, 2023)
- OF Travis Jankowski (2023)
- INF Josh Jung (2021, 2022)
- RHP Jose Leclerc (2016, 2018, 2022)
- LHP Martin Perez (2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018)
- RHP Josh Sborz (2022, 2023)
- INF Josh Smith (2022)
- OF Leody Taveras (2021, 2022, 2023)
To see how these players fared in the series, check out the Round Rock Express’ World Series Express Reports.
Over two decades ago, the City of Round Rock embarked on a visionary project that would forever alter the local landscape, both geographically and culturally. The opening of the Dell Diamond was a reflection of our city’s aspirations, a bold stride into an era where Round Rock would be known as the Sports Capital of Texas.
Bringing Dell Diamond to Round Rock was a calculated move by City leaders to invest in a facility that would serve as a cornerstone for quality of life and economic development. The Express were founded as a Double-A franchise in 2000 by Ryan Sanders Baseball, a group made up of Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, his sons Reid and Reese, Houston businessman Don Sanders, and his sons Bret and Brad. Reid Ryan worked with former Round Rock Mayor Charlie Culpepper to build community support for the team, while simultaneously setting the wheels in motion to build Dell Diamond prior to the team’s inaugural season.
Dell Diamond has since become a staple in the Round Rock community, and the Round Rock Express strive to embody all that Nolan Ryan stood for during his prolific 27-year playing career. The team’s mission to provide affordable, family-friendly and fun entertainment is symbolic of not only the Ryan family’s values but that of the City of Round Rock.
When Dell Diamond opened its gates, Round Rock’s identity as the Sports Capital of Texas was further solidified. This title isn’t just a slogan; it’s a City Council strategic goal that the community has embraced wholeheartedly, with Dell Diamond at the forefront. For over twenty years, Dell Diamond has been a magnet for sports tourism, drawing in crowds for minor league baseball games, concerts and other large-scale events, reinforcing Round Rock’s status as a destination for premier sports entertainment. Since Dell Diamond’s opening, Round Rock has hosted hundreds of sporting events at the Round Rock Sports Center and Round Rock Multipurpose Complex. Since the opening of the Sports Center, sports tourism in Round Rock has generated over $148 million in economic activity.
The Dell Diamond remains one of the most impactful cornerstones laid down for the future of Round Rock, and equally so for our own farm system graduates who share with our community a bond built on the power of dreams, hard work and the magic of baseball. Congratulations to the Texas Rangers on achieving the pinnacle of baseball glory, proving once and for all that everything – including winning – is indeed bigger in Texas.
