Astros Officially Make Independent Skeeters Triple-A Affiliate

The Houston Astros’ farm system is getting closer than before to the team’s home base of Minute Maid Park. On Friday, the club officially announced it has agreed to purchase a majority stake in the Sugar Land Skeeters and designate it as its Triple-A affiliate.  Read more here.

Baby Bombers Mock Astros, Cheating Scandal with Mini Trash Can Giveaway

Following disciplinary action against the Houston Astros from Major League Baseball for their involvement in a cheating scandal, the Staten Island Yankees (Single-A, New York-Penn League) mocked the franchise on Tuesday by announcing a free mini trashcan giveaway, at one of their upcoming regular-season games.  Read more here.

Comparing the 2019 World Series Ballparks

As the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros prepare to meet in Game 1 of the 2019 MLB World Series on Tuesday, Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com has posted his annual comparison of the two ballparks we’ll see in this year’s Fall Classic.  Read more here.   View World Series game schedule here.

World Series Opponents on the Field, Teammates in Legal Fight Over Spring Training Ballpark

The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals are preparing to face off in Major League Baseball’s first World Series between teams that share the same spring training complex — the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach (FL).  Off the field, the fall classic opponents are reluctant teammates in a protracted legal fight with the contractors who built their $153 million spring home.  More than three years after the complex opened, at least three companies say they’re still owed millions of dollars.  Read more here.

Astros Get Brand New Beer, Help Community

The Houston Astros and Houston-based Karbach Brewing Co. have joined forces to bring fans a brand new beer and give back to the Houston community right in time for spring season.  Read more here.

Fayetteville Uniforms, Stadium Will Sport Black, Gray and Red Colors

Black, gray and red will be the colors of Fayetteville’s (NC) Minor League baseball team, and at the request of the Houston Astros, Fayetteville’s baseball stadium will be decorated to match.  Read more here.

It’s ‘Fitteam’ for Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

Fitteam, an event brand partnership and organic products firm, has secured the naming rights to the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the spring training home of the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros.  Read more here.

Work Continues on Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

More than a year after the teams’ $152 million shared facility opened, construction still isn’t finished. And it might be June before the city issues a final certificate of occupancy, which will mark the end of a rocky construction process that has faced numerous challenges since work started in November 2015.  Read more here.

New City Park Finally Taking Shape at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

A new 12-acre park at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches called Lincoln Park — a tribute to the Negro Leagues field in the north end of the city — is expected to open during spring training.  Read more and view photos here.

Comparing the World Series Ballparks

As the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros prepare to meet in Game 1 of the 2017 MLB World Series on Tuesday, Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com has posted his annual comparison of the two ballparks we’ll see in this year’s Fall Classic.  Read more here.  View World Series game schedule here.

Astros Cut Ties with Greenville, Appalachian League

The Houston Astros are ending their affiliation with the Rookie Level Appalachian League, making the future of minor league baseball in Greeneville uncertain.  Read more here and here.  Thanks to Joe DeLeonard for the news.

A Pre-Total Eclipse Groundbreaking for Fayetteville Ballpark

The city and the Houston Astros will break ground on a $31 million baseball stadium on Aug. 21 at 11 a.m. That’s the same day as the total eclipse that will cross the Southeast between 2 and 3 p.m. Since the ceremony will take place earlier, there’s no worry about the event being called on account of darkness.  Read more here.

Astros Unveil $18 Million Center-Field Makeover

Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, has undergone another dramatic transformation, with a rebuilt center-field section offering a more comfortable, spacious area and improved food and drink options for fans.  Read more and watch video here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches (West Palm Beach, FL), Part II

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com makes a post-completion return to the new spring training facility in West Palm Beach (FL) for the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.  Read more and view photos here.  As you might recall, Mock visited the complex in December while it was still under construction.  Read more and view photos here.

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches Makes Debut

A ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, the owners of both teams and other local and county officials highlighted opening festivities for The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.  Read more and view photos and news report here.

With Late-Inning Construction Push, Ballpark to Open Tuesday

The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches will be ready to play ball for the first time on Tuesday but only because of a late-inning rally by construction crews and city inspectors inside the main stadium.  Read more and view photo here.

Astros, Nats New Spring Training Facility to Open Feb. 18

The first day the general public will be allowed on The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches complex is Feb. 18, the same day the Houston Astros hold their first full-squad workouts with pitchers, catchers and position players.  The Washington Nationals hold their first full-squad workouts on Feb. 19.  Read more and view complex aerial photo here.

Giant Astros Logo Statue Installed Outside New Spring Training Clubhouse

It’ll be easy to spot the new spring training home of the Houston Astros in West Palm Beach (FL) — just look for the team’s giant 30-feet high star logo outside their clubhouse at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.  In the coming days, a giant Washington Nationals curly “W” will installed outside their clubhouse.   Read more and watch installation here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches (West Palm Beach, FL)

Joe Mock from BaseballParks.com takes an exclusive, sneak peek look at the new spring training facility in West Palm Beach (FL) for the  Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.  Read more and view photos here.

It’s a Deal: Fayetteville, Astros Make It Official

The city of Fayetteville (NC) and Houston Astros officials signed a 30-year agreement Tuesday afternoon that will bring minor league baseball downtown.  Read more here.

A Look at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches

As anticipation grows around the new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, Lyssa Goldberg from The Palm Beacher explores how West Palm’s shiny new toy will benefit its neighboring towns — Jupiter to Port St. Lucie — and turn southeast Florida into a spring training hub.  Read more and view photos here.  Watch news report here.  Read here about the first major amateur event scheduled at the facility.

Fayetteville Takes Next Big Step to Bring New Ballpark, Minor League Ball to Town

City of Fayetteville (NC) leaders made a big step forward Wednesday night by deciding the city will build a ballpark to help bring in a Minor League Baseball team.  Read more and watch news report here.

Fayetteville Ballpark Vote Wednesday

The Fayetteville (NC) City Council has scheduled a special meeting for 5 p.m. Wednesday in the Lafayette Room at City Hall to consider approving a memorandum of understanding with the Houston Astros to move the city one step closer toward building a new downtown ballpark.  Read more here.

Bandits, Astros Extend PDC

PRESS RELEASE – The Quad Cities River Bandits and Houston Astros announced that they will be extending their player development contract through the 2018 season. River Bandits owner Dave Heller and Astros General Manager Jeff Luhnow affirmed the two-year extension with a joint press conference Tuesday at Modern Woodmen Park.

Hardball Capital to Lead Fayetteville’s MiLB Negotiations

Jason Freier of Hardball Capital, which owns ball clubs in Fort Wayne (IN), Chattanooga (TN), and Columbia (SC), will lead the city of Fayetteville’s (NC) negotiations with the Houston Astros to to bring a Single-A Carolina League franchise to town.  Read more here.

Fayetteville Receives Ballpark Feasibility Study

Rochelle Small-Toney, a Fayetteville (NC) deputy city manager, announced the letter of intent by the Houston Astros at Monday night’s special council meeting to receive a report from a trio of consultants on the economic feasibility of the city building a 4,500-seat ballpark downtown.  Read more here.  Watch news report here.

Nats, Stros Unveil New Spring-Training Ballpark Logo

The new logo for The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches, the new spring-training home for the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros, is blue and green, featuring a diamond and row of palm trees leading into a sun.  Read more and watch logo unveiling here.

Ballard Leaving Dodgertown for Palm Beaches

Brady Ballard has been hired by the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals as the general manager of The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the new spring training complex in West Palm Beach (FL).  The two-team complex is scheduled to open in January 2017.  Read more here.

Stros, Nats New Spring Training Facility: ‘The Landfill at West Palm Beach’?

Thankfully it’s only temporary, but the construction site of the new spring-training facility for the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros in West Palm Beach (FL) smells like a trash dump.  That’s because a team of tractors have been digging up long-buried mounds of trash on the 160-acre site, which was used as a landfill from about 1955 until 2000.  Read more and view photo here.

Nats, Astros Break Ground on New Spring Training Facility

Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred was in attendance Monday at a ground breaking ceremony for the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals are expected to take up spring-training residence at the $144 million facility in 2017.  Read more and view photo here.

Palm Beach County Will Vote Today to Issue Ballpark Bonds

Palm Beach County (FL) commissioners this morning are scheduled to vote on a series of items that will allow the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals to get started later this week on building their new Major League Baseball spring training complex south of 45th Street.  Read more here.

Palm Beach County Green Lights Astros/Nats Spring Training Facility

The Palm Beach County (FL) Commission on Tuesday gave its final okay for a $135 million stadium deal nearly two years in the making.  The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals have agreed to make West Palm Beach their new spring training home, with plans to move into the county’s planned stadium in 2017.  Read more here.

Cards Front Office Under FBI Investigation for Hacking

Front-office personnel for the St. Louis Cardinals are under investigation by the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors, accused of hacking into an internal network of the Houston Astros to steal closely guarded information about players.  Read more here.

Gov. Scott Gives OK to Ballpark Land Use

The proposed spring training stadium in West Palm Beach (FL) for the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros cleared its final legislative hurdle Wednesday when Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a key land-use change that had threatened to delay the project.  Read more here and here.

Astros Release Renderings of Tal’s Hill Removal

The Houston Astros are planning to get rid of Tal’s Hill, the quirky little elevated mound in deep center field at Minute Maid Park.  To illustrate the new-look field, the club has released renderings of the $15 million renovation plan that also includes bringing in the fences in center field.  Read more here

Florida Legislature Removes Obstacle for Nats, Astros Spring Training Stadium

The Florida Legislature on Wednesday removed a big hurdle to the $135 million spring training complex for the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros by easing restrictions on the West Palm Beach property targeted for the project.  Read more here.

Nats, ‘Stros Submit Spring-Training Design Plans

The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros submitted preliminary design plans for a new spring-training complex to be built near the intersection of Haverhill and 45th Street in West Palm Beach (FL).  Read more and watch news report here.

Aramark Food Teaser

Aramark has revealed a number of new food items that will be added to menus at Major League Baseball venues across the country, including the Chicken and Waffle Cone (stuffed with mashed potatoes) at Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, and Steak and Cheese Dog at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals.  Read more and view photos here.  View Aramark’s 2014 menu here.

Fresno Grizzlies: Houston Astros Will Win 2017 World Series

Confident in the success of their new parent club, the Fresno Grizzlies (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) will make the boldest prediction ever when they give away Houston Astros 2017 World Series championship rings to fans on Aug. 15.  Read more here from MiLB.com reporter Benjamin Hill.

 

County Approves Initial Spend for New Nats, Astros Spring-Training Facility

The Palm Beach County Commission on Tuesday approved spending the initial $5 million of a $135 million proposal to build a spring-training stadium for the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, although the deal has not yet been finalized with the teams.  Read more here.