The 2025 season marked a year of firsts, family-fun, fireworks, the All-Star Game at "The Joe", the Tyler Hubbard Concert, and playoff baseball. Prior to the start of ValleyCats 23rd season in the Capital Region, the Frontier League added two new teams: the Down East Bird Dawgs and Mississippi Mud Monsters. The divisions realigned and Tri-City was placed in the North Division of the Atlantic Conference. 

Tri-City hosted the Brockton Rox for the first time ever on Saturday, May 10th for the earliest Opening Night in franchise history. It was the first of 16 fireworks dates during the season. The Opening Day roster featured 16 returning players, led by fifth-year ValleyCat C Oscar Campos, Delmar native and Siena College graduate RHP Arlo Marynczak, and third-year 'Cat 3B Ian Walters.

New additions included Clifton park native and Shenendehowa High School graduate, OF Jake Reinisch, former Minor Leaguers LHP Liu Fuenmayor, RHP Mikell Manzano, and UTL John McHenry, and LHP Stephen Still, the franchise single-season strikeout leader with the Grand Junction Jackalopes of the Pioneer Baseball League. 

Field Manager Greg Tagert, Pitching Coach Tom Thornton, and Bench Coach J.T. Scara all returned for their second season. Bullpen Coach Josh Flowerman, Hitting Coach David Robinson, and Fundamentals Coach Brian White all joined the 'Cats for their first year.

Before the start of the Frontier League season, RHP Ryan Gusto ('19) made his MLB debut for the Houston Astros on March 30th. Shortly after Opening Night, OF Carson McCusker ('21-'23) debuted for the Minnesota Twins on May 18th.

The ValleyCats held four morning games at "The Joe", including three 10 AM Education Day games (May 28th, May 29th, and June 11th). It was the 'Cats first season hosting three Education Days and each of these games had sold-out crowds.

Tri-City won in Sudden Death 4-3 on May 29th in its first ever series against the Down East Bird Dawgs. The ValleyCats delivered their first walk-off on June 1st, and secured their first sweep of the year on the same day. In Game 1 of the doubleheader against the Ottawa Titans, Walters belted three home runs, including a walk-off three-run jack. He became the first player to accomplish this feat since McCusker hit the trifecta against the Gateway Grizzlies on June 11th, 2023. It was the first of three walk-offs during the regular season.

Tri-City announced on June 17th that two players signed contracts with MLB organizations: RHP Nick DeCarlo and C Miguel Useche. DeCarlo was in his second year with the ValleyCats and latched on with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Felician University product made 22 appearances out of the bullpen across two seasons with the 'Cats, compiling a 1-0 record over 38 frames, sporting a 4.03 ERA, and striking out 58 batters. 

Useche made his professional debut this season with Tri-City and signed with the Chicago Cubs. The Caracas, Venezuela native batted .333 in 14 games with Tri-City, driving in seven and five of his 15 hits went for extra bases. Behind the plate, the 24-year-old had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and threw out runners at a 38% clip (6-for-16). Overall, 17 players have been transferred from the ValleyCats to MLB organizations, dating back to their first year in the Frontier League in 2021.

The 'Cats Opening Day starter, Arlo Marynczak, tossed a nine inning complete game shutout on June 21st, blanking the Bird Dawgs in a 12-0 victory. Four days later, Easton Klein turned in a nine inning complete game shutout of his own, holding the Titans scoreless in a 7-0 victory at Joe Bruno Stadium. These were the third and fourth nine inning complete game shutouts since 2022.

Marynczak received Frontier League Pitcher of the Week honors for his shutout. Campos won a weekly award later in the season. He went deep twice on August 5th and batted .611 from the week of August 5-10, collecting eight RBI.

Tri-City hosted the Frontier League All-Star Game presented by Rensselaer County IDA on July 16th. The ValleyCats previously hosted the New York-Penn League All-Star Game in 2008 and 2017. Four players were named to this year's Midsummer Classic: Campos, Walters, Marynczak, and Klein along with three members of the coaching staff: Tagert, Thornton, and Robinson. The week showcased the Capital District and its surrounding areas to the All-Stars, guests from each team, and executives from the Frontier League. 

There was the Welcome to Rensselaer County party at Brown's Revolution Hall with a concert from Big Sky Country on July 14th. The next day, the guests traveled up to Cooperstown, having dinner in the Plaque Room, and listening to guest speaker and Hall of Famer Jim Kaat. 

On the day of the Midsummer Classic, the guests first visited the Saratoga Race Track. All-Star Game festivities included the Swan Contracting Autograph Session and live music from Matty and Ky. Additionally, the Home Run Derby was held on the same day, and was broadcasted live at Super Shoes Top of the Hill by Levack and Goz. Tommy Kretzler, 2022 ValleyCat and All-Star for the Rox, was part of an eight-man field, which saw Down East's Stephen DiTomaso win the Home Run Derby.

The All-Star Game ceremony featured the color guard, and an American flag spread across the field. The Atlantic Conference defeated the Midwest Conference 4-3. Walters delivered the go-ahead RBI single and the New York Boulders' Jason Agresti won MVP honors with a home run. New York's Ryan McCoy added in an RBI along with an assist from the outfield. The following day, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rays. 4,426 fans watched the All-Star Game and stayed for postgame fireworks. 

Following the All-Star Break, Tri-City made a couple of impact trades. Tri-City acquired 2024 'Cat C Chris Burgess from the Aigles on July 26th in exchange for a 2026 first round pick. He batted .392 with five homers in 23 games for the ValleyCats. The 'Cats also acquired All-Star RHP Jalon Long at the trade deadline from the New Jersey Jackals on August 11th for a PTBNL. He worked 8.2 innings out of the bullpen to the tune of 1.04 ERA.

Afterward, the Tyler Hubbard Concert took place at "The Joe" on August 14th. One half of the Florida Georgia Line duo, Hubbard has amassed more than 1 billion streams on Spotify. He sang in front of a sold-out crowd and Eli Young Band served as the special guest and opener. It was the third major concert at "The Joe" as Billy Currington and Dustin Lynch performed live in 2019 and 2024, respectively.

Tri-City clinched the playoffs for the second straight year on August 22nd on I Love Upstate NY Night presented by WMHT and PBS Kids. The 'Cats swept the Boulders in a doubleheader 6-2 and 4-3. It was the ValleyCats second consecutive postseason berth and 10th overall in club history. 

The following night, Tri-City won its 56th game, setting a single-season record. The ValleyCats ended the regular season with a 62-34 record. The 'Cats went 31-10 in the second half of the season, which was the best in the Frontier League, highlighted by season-high seven-game win streak from August 23-30.

Before the start of the postseason, C C.J. Stubbs ('19) was called up to the Washington Nationals and became the 118th player to play for the ValleyCats and make the big leagues. This from "The Joe" to "The Show" update is brought to you by Curtis Lumber.

Tri-City swept the Sussex County Miners in the Wild Card Round. The ValleyCats took Game 1 by a score of 5-1 on September 3rd at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium and won 4-3 in Game 2 at Skylands Stadium on September 5. Game 1 highlights included a gem from Connor Wilford at "The Joe", who worked out of trouble early in the game and settled in to toss seven innings of one-run ball. David Glancy had three hits, Walters homered, and Javeyan Williams collected an RBI triple in the victory. 

In Game 2, Walters homered again and Campos added a solo shot in the eighth. Klein delivered five shutout frames for the victory. Sussex County rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth, but Dylan Broderick, Cam Jones, and Campos combined for a 9-3-2 putout at the plate to preserve the 4-3 lead. Liu Fuenmayor nailed down the save for the ValleyCats first postseason series win since 2018.

Despite falling in four games to the Québec Capitales in the Atlantic Conference Finals, the 'Cats electrified the home crowd in the second game of the series on September 10th. Wilford shined again, but this time in a no-decision effort, tossing six innings, allowing four runs (two earned), and striking out six. Amani Larry had a three-hit game, and Demias Jimerson added a two-run double. Campos ended the seesaw battle with a walk-off home run to provide the 'Cats with a 7-6 victory.

The historic 2025 season brought out 170,000 fans to games and special events. The 'Cats averaged more than 3,000 fans per game for the second consecutive year and nine of the games were sold out.