The Helena Brewers (rookie; Pioneer League) and the Milwaukee Brewers extended their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2018 season. It was set to expire this season. “Our affiliation with the Helena Brewers has been very positive and we’re excited to extend our player development contract with the franchise,” said Brewers Vice President-Assistant General Manager Gord […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
Norfolk Tides to go gnome tonight
This is certainly a season for ugly uniforms in Minor League Baseball, and tonight sees another entrant in that proud tradition: the Norfolk Tides (Class AAA; International League) are donning gnome jerseys. The jerseys are part of the gnomification of the Tides. The team is also giving away a gnome figurine of Tides manager Ron […]
Fayetteville looking again at Minor League Baseball
This is way under the radar: Fayetteville (N.C.) officials are visiting Durham Bulls Athletic Park as a possible example of how Minor League Baseball would play out in a new downtown ballpark. There has been talk of investors interested in bringing MiLB back to Fayetteville, and in fact earlier this year an investment group approached […]
River Bandits team up with Genesis Health for charity
Nice charity drive here: the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) and Main Street Amusements are pledging at least a $50,000 donation this year to the Genesis Health Services Foundation from new Modern Woodmen Park amusements. For each ride of the new amusements at Modern Woodmen Park — including the 105-foot Ferris […]
Manatees, Winter Park part ways on new-ballpark project
The Brevard County Manatees (High Class A; Florida State League) will not be moving to Winter Park, as team ownership ended negotiations for a new ballpark at the Ravaudage development. The Manatees had pursued new-ballpark plans at Alfond Stadium — a plan killed when Rollins College withdrew its participation — and the Ravaudage development on […]
New Fredericksburg ballpark over budget; owners exploring options
A new Fredericksburg (Va.) ballpark for the Hagerstown Suns (Low Class A; Sally League) is over budget after the first round of estimates, with a funding gap between $12 million and $18 million currently being examined. Reps from Diamond Nation, which has been working on the privately financed ballpark plan with Suns owner Bruce Quinn, […]
Spikes, Cards announce affiliation extension through 2016
We expect many of these in coming weeks: The State College Spikes (short season A; NY-Penn League) and the St. Louis Cardinals announced a two-year extension of their player development contract (PDC) through 2016. “On behalf of our ownership group and management team, we are thrilled to announce the continuation of our outstanding relationship with […]
World records to be challenged in Troy, Charleston
Two Minor League Baseball teams are challenging world records this week: the Tri-City ValleyCats (short season A; NY-Penn League) is going after pirate eye patches, while the Charleston RiverDogs (Low Class A; Sally League) are pushing kazoos. Tomorrow night — August 13 — is Pirate Night at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium, and the ValleyCats will […]
Biloxi ballpark construction finally underway
Talk about starting off in a deep hole: construction of a new Biloxi ballpark for the relocating Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League) is finally starting this week, with the city still looking for ways to cut costs. The construction is starting off modestly — just a crane and working installing some test piles — […]
Miracle to finish season at JetBlue Park
With scheduled renovations happening at Hammond Stadium, the Fort Myers Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League) will play the rest of the season, as well as host playoffs, at JetBlue Park, the spring home of the Boston Red Sox. Hammond Stadium, the spring-training home of the Minnesota Twins, is undergoing a two-year renovation. The […]
Two ballpark development proposals make cut in Hartford
Two downtown Hartford development plans that include a new New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark are under consideration by city officials. The two plans address the issue of municipal office space, but they differ extensively otherwise: one would add retail and residential, and the other more modest plan would focus on the […]
Kernels, Twins extend affiliation through 2020
The Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low Class A; Midwest League) and the Minnesota Twins extended their player-development contract (PDC) through the 2020 season. The pair had already been committed to an affiliation through 2016. This extension is the maximum allowed by Major League and Minor League Baseball. The extension was approved Tuesday afternoon by the Kernels […]
Another River Bandits amusement unveiled tonight: Drop’N Twist
Another amusement makes its debut tonight at Modern Woodmen Park, as the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League) and Main Street Amusements unveil the Mediacom Drop’N Twist in the ballpark’s Party Plaza. The Mediacom Drop’N Twist is a pneumatically powered, 30-foot tower manufactured by SBF Rides. The ride vertically bounces a gondola […]