The Tennessee Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) and the Chicago Cubs extended their player-development deal through the 2014 season. “It is a great privilege and honor to extend our PDC (player development contract) with the Smokies organization,” said Cubs Vice President of Player Personnel Oneri Fleita. “The East Tennessee community, Brian Cox, Doug Kirchhofer and […]
Archive | Minor-League Baseball
Stakes high for 51s in Vegas stadium fight
At a time when the economy is still less than robust and public spending on big developments is way down, the fact that two privately financed sports-facilities projects — each with a price tag of more than a billion dollars — are being proposed in the same city is simply amazing. For the Las Vegas […]
New owners slash ticket prices in High Desert
The new owners of the High Desert Mavericks (High Class A; California League) certainly are shaking things up in Adelanto: the team has cut ticket prices and implemented a new, flexible ticket return policy. When individual tickets go on sale, all lower box seats will be sold for $7.50 instead of the $8 price from […]
Hot Rods put team in hands of fans on Facebook Fans Night
The Bowling Green Hot Rods (Low Class A; Midwest League) will hold Facebook Fans Night on May 18, allowing the team’s Facebook fans to customize the entire Hot Rods experience using the power of social media. The promotion is the first of its kind in Minor League Baseball. “Several teams, including us, are using social […]
PNC Field funding on hold
State funding for an extreme makeover of PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA; International League), is on hold while new Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett reviews it and other last-minute grants made by outgoing Gov. Ed Rendell. There’s no indication the spending will actually be scrapped; local officials were expecting the review and […]
IDM pitches new Vegas ballpark as part of larger development
International Development Management, which has been behind a long-shot proposal to build a new arena on the Vegas Strip, has reloaded and is proposing a three-facility complex in downtown Las Vegas that would include a 9,000-seat ballpark capable of expansion for hosting an MLB team. The ballpark would be part of a larger sports complex […]
Spinners to launch human cannonball home run
This may be the most audacious promotion we’ve ever covered: The Lowell Spinners (short season A; NY-Penn League) will hold their first-ever “Human Home Run” event at LeLacheur Park, as human cannonball David Smith, Jr., will be shot from a cannon at home plate over the outfield wall following the conclusion of the July 5 […]
Albuquerque hosting Triple-A championship
The Albuquerque Isotopes (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) and Isotopes Park are hosting the 2011 Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, pitting the winner of the Pacific Coast League playoffs against the winner of the International League’s Governors’ Cup, in a one-game championship showdown on Tuesday, September 20 at 6:05 p.m. The contest, which will be […]
Keys: We want to stay in Frederick
The management of the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) issued an open letter to local baseball fans today, calling for public support of the affiliated franchise at a time when the city is planning to let the lease to Harry Grove Stadium up for bid. If the ballpark lease is put up to […]
Flying Squirrels adding to mascot corral, seeking new name
The Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) are adding a new acorn mascot to the mix, and they’re seeking help from the public in selecting a name. The five finalists, in alphabetical order: Cappy Chippy Corny Oakley Zinger The twist: fans are being asked to vote on a final selection, but the voting is […]
T-Padres unveil investors
The Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) announced the 11 investors in the team, joining Mike Feder in Tucson AAA Baseball LLC. “When I finalized a management agreement with North County Baseball LLC and formed Tucson AAA Baseball LLC for the business operation of the Tucson franchise, I knew we needed local people with […]
Escondido ballpark vote delayed
A vote on a new ballpark for the Tucson Padres (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) in Escondido, Cal., has been delayed once again, as the City Council grapples with budgeting in the wake of potential loss of redevelopment funds. The vote was scheduled for Feb. 16. It has been pushed back to March 2. It’s […]
Rau new assistant GM of K-Tribe
The Kinston Indians (High Class A; Carolina League) have a new assistant general manager: Matthew Rau, a native of Fargo who worked the past six seasons for the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (independent; American Association). “Matt is a wonderful addition to the front office,” said K-Tribe General Manager Benjamin Jones. “He is a former college baseball player […]