ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Red Wings will welcome Rochester basketball star MELVIN COUNCIL JR. on Thursday, September 10, for an autograph signing from 5–5:45 p.m., followed by a ceremonial first pitch.
Council, who played high school basketball at University Prep in Rochester, started all 35 games for the University of Kansas during the 2025–26 season. He averaged 12.7 points, 5.0 rebounds and a team-leading 5.1 assists per game, earning Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. At University Prep, Council helped lead his team to the 2020 Section V Class AA championship.
Following his season with the Jayhawks, Council signed with the New Orleans Pelicans as an undrafted free agent.
Thursday’s appearance is made possible by Boys & Girls Clubs of Rochester, where Council is a former member. Fans will have an opportunity to meet Council as he returns to the community that helped shape his basketball journey.
Tickets for Thursday night's game and any of the Red Wings' five remaining home games in 2026 are available online at RedWingsBaseball.com, in-person at the ESL Ballpark Ticket Office, or by calling 585-454-1001.
The Rochester Red Wings are operated by Rochester Community Baseball, Inc., and have been a community-owned professional baseball franchise since 1957. The current franchise has been playing in Rochester since 1899. It is one of only six franchises in North American pro sports history to have been playing in the same city and league continuously since the 19th century. Rochester's pro baseball history dates back to 1877. Since the ballpark's inception in 1997, ESL Ballpark has drawn nearly 12.5 million fans.