We may have another affiliation in play, with Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) GM Mike Melega saying the team won’t address its MLB affiliate until after the season — which may mean a change from current parent Colorado Rockies. The two have a history of announcing player-development contracts before the end of the season […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
Northwest League, Pioneer League to square off in 2015 All-Star Game
History in the making: the short-season-A Northwest League will take on the rookie Pioneer League in a 2015 All-Star Game to be held August 4 at Avista Stadium, home of the Spokane Indians. We’ve seen interleague All-Star Games in recent years — like the Triple-A All-Star Game between the International League and the Pacific Coast […]
Jacksonville Suns, Miami Marlins extend PDC through 2016
The Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) and Miami Marlins announced a two-year extension of their player development contract (PDC), through the 2016 season. There has not been a losing season for the Suns as a Marlins affiliate, a partnership that began with the 2009 season. “I am proud to renew our affiliation with the […]
Affiliation news: Mets, Astros, 51s, River Bandits
With less than a week for teams to exclusively renew their player-development contracts before open season, it looks like the New York Mets will stay with the Las Vegas 51s, and Houston’s Reid Ryan will be heading to Quad Cities today to renew with the River Bandits. Though a formal deal has not been announced, […]
Rochester Red Wings, Minnesota Twins extend PDC through 2016
The Rochester Red Wings (Class AAA; International League) and Minnesota Twins announced a two-year extension of their player development contract (PDC) through the 2016 season. The announcement was made by Twins Executive Vice President and General Manager Terry Ryan, Red Wings President/CEO/COO Naomi Silver and Chairman of the Board Gary Larder during the first inning […]
It’s official: Jamestown Jammers to Morgantown in 2015
It’s official: the Jamestown Jammers (short season A; NY-Penn League) are moving to a new ballpark in Morgantown, West Virginia, for the 2015 season. “The New York-Penn League is thrilled to announce that we will be brining a professional baseball franchise to Morgantown, West Virginia for the 2015 season,” said New York-Penn League President Ben […]
Big weekend for BlueClaws: PDC extended, 6M fan at hand
Big weekend for the Lakewood BlueClaws (Low Class A; Sally League): the team signed a player-development contract extension with the Philadelphia Phillies and is set to welcome the 6-millionth fan in team history today. With the two-year extension, the BlueClaws will remain the South Atlantic League affiliate of the Phillies through at least the 2016 […]
Tennessee Smokies set season attendance record
We expect many stories like this in coming days: The Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) set a new single-season attendance franchise record Saturday evening after welcoming their 268,034th fan of the season. The new mark eclipses the 268,033 total from the 2002 campaign, which was the third year of play at Smokies Stadium. The […]
Guber group buying RedHawks; ties to Dodgers means new affiliation
A group that includes Los Angeles Dodgers and Mandalay Baseball Properties investor Peter Guber is part of another group buying the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), and the Dodgers will change affiliations in 2015, according to multiple sources. There are plenty of changes afoot for the RedHawks, according to multiple sources. Guber […]
Cyclones go ’90s with retro Nick promo
Man, do we remember the days of green slime — and so do the Brooklyn Cyclones (short season A; NY-Penn League), who are joining forces with Nickelodeon on a ‘90s Are All That Night promo, with Kel Mitchell (of Kenan & Kel) throwing out the first pitch. Prior to the game, 100 fans will be […]
Royals extend PDCs with four affiliates
The Kansas City Royals extended player-development contracts (PDCs) with the Wilmington Blue Rocks (High Class A; Carolina League), Lexington Legends (Low Class A; Sally League), Idaho Falls Chukars (rookie; Pioneer League) and Burlington Royals (rookie; Appalachian League). The Burlington, Idaho Falls and Wilmington PDCs are two-year extensions through 2016, and the Lexington extension is through […]
Diamond Nation: Front us more money, and we’ll share ballpark revenues
Offers of revenue-sharing are rarely taken up by municipalities, so it will be interesting to see if the offer by Diamond Nation to share revenues on a Fredericksburg, Va., baseball complex in exchange for upfront financing actually happens. Diamond Nation, a New Jersey firm seeking to develop a baseball complex in Fredericksburg that includes a […]
Chiefs, Cardinals extend PDC through 2020
Another PDC to announce: The Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League) and St. Louis Cardinals have extended their player-development contract for four additional years, through the 2020 season. The current four-year deal was signed in September 2012 and runs through the 2016 season. “The Peoria Chiefs continue to run a first-class operation providing us […]