Delivery services company OnTrac has entered into a partnership with Arizona Diamondbacks, through which it will sponsor the Major League Baseball team’s new bullpen cart initiative at Chase Field.
The OnTrac Bullpen Cart will transport relief pitchers from both bullpens at Chase Field before a game. It will mark the bullpen cart’s return to MLB after an absence of more than 20 years.
Bullpen carts were commonplace across MLB from the 1960s onwards and the Diamondbacks are hoping to introduce the initiative to a new generation of fans.
Diamondbacks president and chief executive Derrick Hall said: “We have been working on this idea for several years and there's no more appropriate time to bring back the bullpen cart than this season, as we celebrate our 20th anniversary.
“Fans of baseball in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and even the 90s enjoyed watching their favourite players emerge from the bullpen in various vehicles and we're excited for this special delivery to come to Chase Field.”
The team’s bullpen cart is being fabricated by SportsKartz, a Tampa-based company. The partnership marks SportsKartz’s first move into MLB following agreements with two Minor League clubs. OnTrac will receive branding on the vehicles.