The Aberdeen IronBirds will open their 16th New York-Penn League season tonight at Ripken Stadium, facing the Hudson Valley Renegades with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05.

The players who make up the Short-A team are a mix of returning IronBirds, 2017 draft picks, former Gulf Coast League players and free agents.

One of the free agents is no stranger to the stadium or its name. First baseman Ryan Ripken, son of Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., was signed as a free agent in late March. Ripken, 23, was drafted in the 15th round by the Washington Nationals in 2014 but never advanced past Low-A ball before being released.

Now, Ripken will be playing in the organization with which his father spent his entire career.

“Obviously I have familiarity with the team and the organization and the area. I think the big thing is I’m just excited for the start of a new season,” Ripken said. “I understand, people are going to look into the name of the stadium and relatives, the kind of legacy they’ve brought to this area, but for me, I’m just excited about being an IronBird and focusing on Opening Day and trying to be the best that I can be to help us have a good year.”

Ripken played a few games in Ripken Stadium last season as a member of the Auburn Doubledays.

Jason Heinrich, 21, is another player of interest, as he returns to the IronBirds outfield after being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Michael Bourn on Aug. 31, 2016. Heinrich, an Orioles fifth-round pick in 2015, was released by the Diamondbacks and re-signed with Baltimore.

“It was good news to find out I was coming back here. This kind of feels like home to me,” Heinrich said. “So it’s nice to be back home, where I’m comfortable. I live an hour away from the spring training complex and I’ve played here before, so it’s good to be back.”

The IronBirds seemingly have famous connections at every corner. In addition to Ripken, Tim Raines Jr., a former Orioles prospect, is the hitting coach for 2017. Raines’ father will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this summer.

One of the Orioles’ 2017 draft picks, Zach Jarrett, has racing in his blood. Jarrett, an outfielder out of UNC Charlotte, is the son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett and the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett.

Kevin Bradshaw, who took over as IronBirds manager in late June 2016, will experience his first opener with the team. Bradshaw noted that after the length of time he and the players have spent in Florida, he might be more excited and ready than they are.

“I’ve had these guys through spring training, extended spring,” he said. “We had to bring the whole team up here to make sure we had it covered for the Opening Night. One thing I can say about these guys is that they have worked hard. I mean, it seems like we have been down there for six months and they’ve worked hard.”

rmcroberts@baltsun.com

twitter.com/aegissports