The Southern League All-Star Game is heading to Regions Field, as the Birmingham Barons will host the 2018 edition of the contest.
The Barons, in partnership with Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, Wetumpka and the Southern League, will put on multiple events to welcome the best and brightest stars of the Southern League to the Magic City.
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to partner with the Birmingham Barons and the Southern League,” Kay Simmons, Wind Creek Wetumpka property kanager remarked. “Our organizations realize the value of entertainment and community support. This is a win for everyone involved.”
“We are thankful and honored to have Wind Creek Casino & Hotel, Wetumpka as the title sponsor in hosting this event,” Barons general manager Jonathan Nelson added. “In our short time at Regions Field, we have provided Birmingham with some great experiences and we are confident the 2018 Southern League All-Star Game will be another fun and exciting baseball event for this community.”
This will be the fourth time that Birmingham has hosted the Southern League All-Star Game. The game has been played twice at Rickwood Field, first in 1982, with the Southern League All-Stars taking on the Atlanta Braves, and second in 1985 against the Houston Astros. The 2009 All-Star Game was played at Regions Park in Hoover, where 7,127 fans watched future MLB stars Jonathan Lucroy, Todd Frazier and Jeremy Hellickson participate in the Mid-Summer Classic. The North Division topped the South Division 7-0 and Chattanooga’s Andrew Lambo went 3-for-4 to take home the MVP honors.
“Birmingham has been an integral part of our league for 47 years, and we are thrilled to return to the Magic City for the 2018 Southern League All-Star Game,” said Southern League president Lori Webb. “This marks the fourth occasion our mid-season classic will be hosted by Birmingham, and the first at beautiful Regions Field.”
The week’s events will include an All-Star Game gala, the Southern League All-Star Luncheon and the 2018 Southern League Hall of Fame induction, culminating in the 46th Southern League All Star Game on Tuesday, June 19. The full schedule will be announced at a later date.
Recent MLB stars such as Dansby Swanson (2016), Tim Anderson and Miguel Sano (2015), Kris Bryant (2014), Kyle Hendricks (2013), Didi Gregorius (2012), Paul Goldschmidt (2011) and Kenley Jansen (2010) have all participated in the Southern League All-Star Game. The 2017 All-Star Game will take place on Tuesday, June 20 in Pensacola, Fla.
“We are honored to host the 2018 Southern League All-Star game and look forward to creating a fun and memorable event for both Barons and Southern League baseball fans,” Nelson added. “Over the years this game has showcased numerous Southern League players who have gone on to have Major League All-Star careers and we are confident that tradition will continue on June 19, 2018.”