We have the results of our first full round of voting for the 2015 Best of the Ballparks at the rookie level, as we choose the most noteworthy facilities in the Pioneer and Appalachian Leagues. One upset, with plenty of choices to come. (more…)
Tag Archives | pioneer league
Best of the Ballparks: Rookie, Second Round
We have our first full round of voting coming up for the 2015 Best of the Ballparks at the rookie level, as we choose the most noteworthy facilities in the Pioneer and Appalachian Leagues. (more…)
Best of the Ballparks: Rookie, first round
Another new round in our Best of the Ballparks: Help us choose the noteworthy facilities in the rookie-level Pioneer and Appalachian Leagues. (more…)
Short season A, rookie leagues launch this week
The next big milestones of the 2015 MiLB season take place this week, as the four rookie and short-season A leagues begin play at the end of this week and next week. (more…)
Promotions Watch: Short Season Giveaways and Theme Nights
The airing of tonight’s MLB Draft signals the arrival of short season baseball and a new batch of promotions to look forward to over the coming weeks. Some of the best offerings across four leagues—New York-Penn, Northwest, Appalachian and Pioneer leagues—which include theme nights and giveaways are covered in this week’s Promotions Watch. (more…)
New Mustangs owners pitch Dehler Park upgrades
Dehler Park could see big and small changes this year and beyond, as the new owners of the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League) pitch the city on ballpark improvements. (more…)
Main Street Baseball buying Billings Mustangs
We alluded to team sales coming down the pike a few days ago, and this is one of them: Main Street Baseball, which owns the Quad Cities River Bandits (Low Class A; Midwest League), is buying the Billings Mustangs (rookie; Pioneer League). (more…)
Ogden, Dodgers extend player-development contract through 2016
In a surprisingly low-key fashion — no press releases, no big announcements — the Ogden Raptors (rookie; Pioneer League) and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their player development contract (PDC) through 2016. The pair have been affiliated since the 2003 season. Tommy Lasorda, who managed a former Ogden team affiliated with the Dodgers in 1966–68, […]
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 […]
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 […]
Helena, Brewers extend player-development contract through 2018
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 […]
A baseball lifer: Matt Ellis
One of the best things about working in the baseball industry: hearing about baseball lifers. Here’s an interview with baseball lifer Matt Ellis, executive VP of the Missoula Osprey (rookie; Pioneer League). The Ellis family moved the team from Lethbridge to Missoula, working for years on a ballpark plan that eventually led to the construction […]
Osprey, D-Backs extend PDC to 2020
The Missoula Osprey (rookie; Pioneer League) and the Arizona Diamondbacks extended their player development contract (PDC) for four more years, through the end of the 2020 season. The current agreement is set to expire at the end of the 2016 season. This affiliation relationship is the second longest current consecutive tenure in the Pioneer League […]