Owlz Relocate from Orem (UT) to Windsor (CO)

The Orem Owlz (Independent Professional, Pioneer League) have announced that they are relocating from their home in Orem (UT) to the Future Legends Complex in Windsor (CO).  They will be renamed the Northern Colorado (NoCo) Owlz in 2021.  Read more here.

Pioneer League Named MLB Partner League

PRESS RELEASE – Major League Baseball and the Pioneer League jointly announced today that the Pioneer League has been designated a “Partner League” of MLB.

Dodgers to Officially Cut Ties with Raptors

In expected news, the Los Angeles Dodgers will reportedly cut ties with Ogden Raptors (Rookie-level, Pioneer League), as part of the downsizing scheduled to take place across the minor leagues for the 2021 season.  Read more here.   Read more local news here.

It’s the ‘Missoula PaddleHeads’

After 21 seasons as the Osprey, Missoula’s Pioneer League team announced a name change at a team rebranding event held Monday morning at the Missoula Children’s Theater.  The Osprey are now the Missoula PaddleHeads, Rookie Advanced affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Read more here.

After Success of First Big Concert at Ballpark, Efforts Underway to Improve Future Events

The recent Mumford and Sons show in Missoula (MT) saw a huge turnout at Ogren Park in the Old Saw Mill District.  Despite damage to the field that caused the Missoula Osprey (Rookie, Pioneer League) to miss six home games, officials are now working to improve on what they see as a successful production to make upcoming shows even better.  Read more here.

Vibes Inaugural Opening Weekend Begins Friday

The inaugural opening weekend for the Rocky Mountain Vibes (Rookie, Pioneer League) at UCHealth Park begins Friday, June 21st.  It will be very interesting to see if this Rookie-level team can sufficiently fill an 8,500-seat venue after Colorado Springs (CO) lost its Triple-A club to San Antonio (TX) in the off season.  The branding for the club is cool and unique, and hopefully the front office has the fun-guns loaded and ready, but will it be enough to avoid the cavernous feel and lack of intimacy of a potentially less-than-half-empty ballpark?  The Sky Sox averaged a little over 4,000 fans per game the past three seasons.  Good luck, Vibes!  Watch news report: Vibes don uniforms for first time.

Kingsport Mayoral Candidates Discuss Proposed Ballpark

More than three years have passed since the birth of the One Kingsport initiative, a five-year roadmap aimed at making the Model City the premiere place to live, work and raise a family in the Tri-Cities.  In the second of a five-part series, the Times-News asked the candidates running for mayor and aldermen in the upcoming city election their thoughts about the proposal. Here are their replies:  Read more here.

Mustangs, City of Billings to Add New Videoboard to Dehler Park for 2019 Season

The Billings Mustangs (Rookie, Pioneer League) are celebrating their 12th season of professional baseball at Dehler Park with a massive upgrade: a spectacular new 16mm HD videoboard.  The new videoboard will be manufactured and installed by South Dakota-based Daktronics, the world’s industry leader in designing and manufacturing electronic scoreboards, programmable display systems and large screen video displays.  Read more here.

Edmonton Seeking RFP’s for Ballpark, Affiliated Owlz a Possible Contender

The city Edmonton (AB) is accepting pitches for tenancy at Remax Field, which could ultimately push the Edmonton Prospects (Summer Collegiate, Western Canadian Baseball League) out after its 2019 season wraps up.  A possible contender is reportedly the Orem Owlz (Rookie, Pioneer League).  Read more here.

Missoula Osprey Need Fan Help for 2020 Rebrand

The Missoula Osprey (Rookie, Pioneer League), under new ownership for the first time since its arrival in 1999, are seeking a rebrand in 2020 and want fan input to help find a new nickname Submit name here.

City Considers New Ballpark for K-Mets

City leaders in Kingsport will consider the possibility of a brand new minor league baseball stadium Tuesday.  The new stadium would replace Hunter Wright Stadium, where the Kingsport Mets (Rookie, Appalachian League) currently play. Read more here.

Atwell Named GM of G-Reds

Boyd Sports, LLC has announced Kristen Atwell as the new General Manager of the Greeneville Reds (Rookie, Appalachian League), effective immediately.  Atwell’s new role with the G-Reds comes following the inaugural season where she served as the Assistant General Manager of the team.  Read more here.

It’s the ‘Rocky Mountain Vibes’

They pulled a fast one!   The ownership of the Pioneer League (Rookie) franchise that has relocated from Helena (MT) to Colorado Springs (CO) decided to ditch the five name-the-team finalists — Happy Campers, Lamb Chops, Punchy Pikas, Throttle Jockeys and the Rocky Mountain Oysters.  The name of the team is the “Rocky Mountain Vibes” with a s’mores angle that should move plenty of merchandise.  Read more here.

Osprey Announce New Ownership

PRESS RELEASE – Mike and Judy Ellis, the majority stakeholders in Mountain Baseball LLC, the franchise ownership group since 1993, announced Friday their intent to sell the franchise to Peter Davis and Susan Crampton Davis of Big Sky Professional Baseball LLC.

New Ballpark Initiative on Deck in Kingsport

Building a new minor league baseball stadium in downtown Kingsport (TN) for the Kingsport Mets (Rookie, Appalachian League) is now the main focus of the One Kingsport initiative.  It essentially takes the place of the outdoor venue idea and expands upon it.  Read more here.

MiLB.com Reporter Benjamin Hill Bids Adieu to Sky Sox

The departure of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League) doesn’t put an end to the city’s Minor League Baseball history.  It simply ushers in a new era, as the franchise that previously existed as the Helena Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) will call Security Service Field home in 2019.  Pending the results of a “Name the Team” contest, the club will be known as either the Happy Campers, Lamb Chops, Punchy Pikas, Throttle Jockeys or Rocky Mountain Oysters.  Read more and view photos here.

Proposed Agreement Could Bring Concerts to Ogren Park

Logjam Presents production company and the City of Missoula (MT) have proposed an agreement to bring concerts to Ogren Park, home of the Missoula Osprey (Rookie, Pioneer League), starting next year.  Read more here.

Owlz Staying Put in Orem — for Now

In a reversal of an announcement last month, the Orem Owlz (Rookie, Pioneer League) will not relocate to Pueblo (CO) by the 2020 season — or at all, Owlz owner Jeff Katofsky announced Monday in conjunction with a ruling from the Pueblo County government.  Read more here.  More details here from the Chieftain.  Read about the communication leading up to the decision here and here.

Finalists Announced for Pioneer League’s Coming Colorado Springs Franchise

After receiving an overwhelming response of entries submitted from the community in their “Name The Team” contest, the new Colorado Springs (CO) franchise — the soon-to-be-former Helena Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League), have narrowed the list down to the top names, including the Colorado Springs Happy Campers, Colorado Springs Lamb Chops, Colorado Springs Punchy Pikas, Colorado Springs Throttle Jockeys, and Rocky Mountain Oysters.  Read more here.

Pueblo Ballpark Project Takes Next Step

Pueblo County commissioners Terry Hart and Sal Pace approved two resolutions Monday concerning the Youth Entertainment and Sports project, which includes a proposed minor league baseball stadium.  Read more here.

Debating the Future of Helena’s Kindrick Field

The Helena Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) will play their final baseball game Sept. 3 at 86-year-old Kindrick Field.  The team will be relocating from Helena (MT) to Colorado Springs (CO) beginning the 2019 season, bringing up an interesting question: What will this mean for the future of the old ballpark?  Read more and watch news report here.

All About Ogden’s Barry the Beer Guy

The refrain “Cold beer!” isn’t uncommon at a baseball park.  But at Lindquist Field, home of the Ogden Raptors (Rookie, Pioneer League), fans who hear it with a certain timbre know it’s a little different.  Because it’s Barry the Beer Guy.  Read more here.

Building Coming Down to Make Room for Pueblo’s Ballpark-Area Development

The old Pueblo (CO) Police Department annex building that sits near the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk is going to face the wrecking ball.  The building, owned by the city, is located on one of the lots the Pueblo County commissioners are proposing for a hotel to be developed within the tax increment financing district being used to fund the new $25 million ballpark.  Read more here.

Orem to Pueblo Announcement at 11:00 A.M. CDT Today

The owner of the Orem Owlz (Rookie, Pioneer League) Jeff Katofsky, will be in Pueblo (CO) Wednesday to present his intentions to relocate his team to the city.  The announcement is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. CDT.  Read more here.  Stayed tuned for more details.

Jeff Katofsky, Orem Owlz (soon to be Pueblo Owlz) Owner sits down with me for an interview. Look for video later today. “A baseball family moving to a baseball town.” pic.twitter.com/s3Up4S8gRA

— Anthony A. Mestas (@mestas3517) June 20, 2018

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Name-the-Team Contest Announced for Colorado Springs Rookie Franchise

After four decades of professional baseball in Colorado Springs (CO) as the Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League), Elmore Sports Group has announced a name-the-team contest for the Helena Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) franchise that will be relocating to the city when the Sky Sox move to San Antonio (TX) next season.  Fans have until Wednesday, June 27, to submit their ideas.  Submit ideas here.

City Endorses Pueblo Ballpark Plan

The Pueblo (CO) City Council gave its unanimous endorsement to Pueblo County’s plan to locate a minor-league baseball stadium in the Downtown during its regular meeting Monday.  Read more here.

Commissioner Pours Cold Water on Downtown Pueblo Ballpark Idea

Up until now, Pueblo County Commissioner Garrison Ortiz has remained on the bench when it comes to the issue of bringing a minor league baseball stadium to Downtown Pueblo (CO).  Read more here.

Pueblo Seeks Details from Developer of Ballpark, Hotels

Pueblo City Council President Chris Nicoll wants the outside developer that Pueblo County (CO) commissioners are in talks with on a proposal for combining a taxpayer-funded minor league baseball stadium with a hotel project Downtown to present his business plan.  Read more here.

Ballpark Financing Plan on Deck in Pueblo

Two of the three Pueblo (CO) County commissioners have proposed to City Council a financing plan to build a multi-use stadium Downtown that would serve as the home for an affiliated Minor League Baseball franchise.  Read more here.  Three key residents express support for affiliated ball in Pueblo.  Read more here.  The Pueblo Chieftan’s Jeff Bersch explains Pioneer League ball to readers.  Read more here.

Manager Foresees Triple-A Ball Returning to Colorado Springs

Rick Sweet, the skipper of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League), thinks Triple-A baseball could eventually find its way back to Colorado Springs (CO), particularly if MLB expands to 32 teams.  As most already know, the Sky Sox are relocating to San Antonio (TX) after this season, and the Helen Brewers (Rookie, Pioneer League) will relocate to fill the void at Security Service Field.  Read more here.

Helena Brewers Name Mroz New Broadcaster

PRESS RELEASE – Today the Helena Brewers, the Pioneer League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, named Greg Mroz as their new Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations.

Are the Elizabethton Twins Truly in Jeopardy?

In early February, the Elizabethton (TN) City Council voted unanimously to set a February 28th deadline for the Minnesota Twins to commit to an improvement plan for Joe O’Brien Field, home of the Elizabethton Twins (Rookie, Appalachian League).  At the time, the mayor said that if the deadline isn’t met, Elizabethton leaders would withdraw their offer.

Appalachian League President to Retire After 2018 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The Appalachian League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced today that after 23 seasons at the helm, league president Lee Landers will retire following the 2018 season.

Appalachian League President Lee Landers Named King of Baseball

Minor League Baseball announced today that Lee Landers, president of the Appalachian League, has been named the 2017 King of Baseball.  The King of Baseball is a long-standing tradition in which Minor League Baseball recognizes a veteran of professional baseball for longtime dedication and service.  Read more 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.

Pioneer League, Northwest League Extend All-Star Pact

PRESS RELEASE – The Pioneer Baseball League and the Northwest League on Tuesday announced the signing of an agreement with Minor League Baseball, continuing the interleague All-Star Game through the 2020 season.

Pueblo (CO) Exploring New Ballpark, Professional Baseball

Pueblo County’s Operation Home Run committee is exploring the idea of building a professional baseball stadium and youth complex at the site near the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo (CO).  If it’s affiliated ball, the Rookie-level Pioneer League would seem to make the most sense, although it would be the circuit’s furthest outpost.  Read more and view renderings here.  Read previous story here.

Grand Junction to Host 2018 Northwest League/Pioneer League All-Star Game

PRESS RELEASE -The Grand Junction Rockies have been selected to host the 2018 All Star Game between the Pioneer Baseball League (PBL) and the Northwest League (NWL).

Dehler Deal Back on Deck, City Compares Naming Rights Revenue Sharing

On Monday evening the Billings City Council will take another swing at approving a Dehler Park lease with Main Street Baseball LLC, which owns the Billings Mustangs (Rookie, Pioneer League).  Read more here.

JC Cardinals Set Single Season Attendance Record

PRESS RELEASE – The Johnson City Cardinals set a new single-season attendance record Tuesday night by welcoming their 48,039th fan, Doug Janz, through the gates of TVA Credit Union Ballpark in 2016. The new mark eclipses the 48,038 total from the 1994 campaign. Janz received a special prize pack from the Cardinals for the recognition, including a team autographed jersey.