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Asheville Tourists create online auction to aid hurricane relief efforts

Sports community comes together following Helene's destruction
@Kelsie_Heneghan
October 16, 2024

Where can you find a collection of talent like Paul Skenes, Myles Garrett and Giannis Antetokounmpo in one place? The Asheville Tourists’ online auction for Hurricane Helene relief. The Astros’ High-A affiliate is bringing the sports world together in an effort to help its local community. Proceeds will go to

Here's the '24 All-MiLB Prospect Team

October 1, 2024

Just think of some of the big numbers put up in the Minors this year -- 40 homers, 104 stolen bases, 202 strikeouts -- and they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Terrific performances came in a variety of shapes and sizes during the 2024 Minor League season. To celebrate

Space Cowboys, MVP Whitcomb wrangle Triple-A National Championship

Astros prospect celebrates 26th birthday with big night at plate
@Kelsie_Heneghan
September 29, 2024

LAS VEGAS -- Shay Whitcomb was not the first to celebrate his birthday in Las Vegas. But he was the first to do so while winning Triple-A National Championship MVP honors. “It's the best birthday I've ever had, winning a championship," he said. "I mean, come on." The Astros’ No.

Storm Chasers, Space Cowboys meet for Triple-A crown

Watch Omaha and Sugar Land square off live on MLB Network
@Kelsie_Heneghan
September 28, 2024

While Storm Chasers vs. Space Cowboys sounds like a summer blockbuster, it's gearing up to be a fall classic. Omaha (Royals) and Sugar Land (Astros) square off in a single-game Triple-A National Championship at 10:07 p.m. ET on Saturday at Las Vegas Ballpark, airing on MLB Network. This will be

All systems go as Space Cowboys claim first PCL crown

@MavalloneMiLB
September 26, 2024

The Space Cowboys can now officially claim to be "over the moon." For the first time in its four-year affiliate history, Triple-A Sugar Land are champions after sweeping its way to the Pacific Coast League crown with a 5-2 win over Reno on Wednesday night at Constellation Field. It's the

Here are the weirdest stats and plays from the past month in the Minors

@BensBiz
September 8, 2024

Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The edition, rounding up the month of August, features RBI explosions, epic sweeps, same-named individuals and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in

Here are 11 great ways to beat the heat with Minor League Baseball

August 22, 2024

Welcome to the dog days of summer. The races for postseason spots are coming into focus in the Majors. In the Minors, top prospects are eyeballing September roster expansions. Whether you're holding on tight to the long days and balmy nights or patiently waiting for the leaves to fall and

Omaha, Sugar Land aim for MiLB history

Win records within reach for Triple-A clubs after strong first half
@Gerard_Gilberto
July 20, 2024

At the end of the first half, it seemed like two Triple-A clubs might challenge for the ever-elusive 100-win season.

The weirdest MiLB stats, plays from June

The bizarre and bombastic happenings from around the Minors
@BensBiz
July 11, 2024

Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The June edition features a doubles deluge, oppositional surnames, way too many walks and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in touch if

Hooks sink in for first Corpus Christi no-hitter

Astros prospects Bloss, Gomez form formidable Double-A tandem
@thevandalorian
June 16, 2024

For the first time since the franchise relocated to the Gulf Coast of Texas, the Corpus Christi Hooks checked off their first no-hitter in 19 seasons. On the shoulders of Astros prospects Jake Bloss and Cesar Gomez, the Double-A affiliate blanked the San Antonio Missions in a 3-0 win at

Double-checking Garcia's historic night for Tourists

Astros prospect is first-known player with five doubles in one game
@Jesus_Cano88
June 6, 2024

Over 20,000 people have suited up in the Majors, but none of them have been verified to have accomplished what Astros prospect John Garcia did for the High-A Asheville Tourists on Wednesday night. The 23-year-old collected five doubles in a single game en route to an 18-8 win over Bowling

Fayetteville's Santander pulls double duty

Astros first baseman has two hits, twirls perfect frame to earn save
@thevandalorian
May 25, 2024

After putting his team within a run of tying the game, Juan Santander had much more to offer Single-A Fayetteville on Friday night. The Woodpeckers trailed the Red Sox by five runs entering the top of the fifth inning, but by the bottom half, the Astros’ affiliate found itself down

Boosted by family dream, Luciano climbing ranks

Astros prospect garnering attention with Single-A Fayetteville
May 8, 2024

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- As a young ballplayer, Waner Luciano spent months away from his home in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, for the chance to play baseball in the United States. And he did that for one main reason -- to make the dream he and his dad shared of signing

José Abreu agrees to be optioned to Minors to work through struggles

Former AL MVP assigned to Astros' Florida Complex League roster
April 30, 2024

HOUSTON -- Astros first baseman José Abreu agreed to be optioned to the Minor Leagues, general manager Dana Brown said Tuesday. The move will be effective on Wednesday, with a corresponding roster move to be announced then. Abreu will report to the Astros' Spring Training facility in West Palm Beach,

Space Cowboy sends 479-ft. homer ... to the moon?

Astros prospect León continues hot Triple-A start with latest wallop
@Jesus_Cano88
April 28, 2024

Pedro León was already having the best season of his Minor League career for Triple-A Sugar Land, but one swing of the bat has made his hot start much more impressive. The Astros’ No. 27 prospect needed to see just two pitches in his at-bat in the bottom of the

'He made you smile': Fayetteville remembers Garcia

Players, staffers look to carry on legacy of former Astros prospect
@thevandalorian
April 27, 2024

As Single-A Fayetteville assembled for its series opener with Down East on Tuesday, an additional jersey was prepared for the game. This uniform top was never meant to be worn that day, though. It didn't serve a purpose to identify any player on the field; it was an opportunity to

Loperfido keeps blasting off for Space Cowboys

Two-homer night matches fellow Astro Alvarez in rare Triple-A feat
@alyssam_gomez
April 25, 2024

Since 2013, only two batters in Triple-A have started the season loaded with power, launching 12 home runs between March and April, and both hail from the same organization -- Yordan Alvarez and now Joey Loperfido. The Astros’ No. 6 prospect reached the dozen dinger mark after going yard twice

Sugar Land slugger: Loperfido's out of this world

Astros' No. 6 prospect slugs three homers, collects seven RBIs
@allisonmast13
April 13, 2024

Prior to Friday night, Joey Loperfido sat atop professional baseball’s home run leaderboard alongside three-time American League MVP Mike Trout, among others. Just a few hours and three big swings later, the 24-year-old slugger has sole possession of pole position with nine home runs for Triple-A Sugar Land. In Sugar

Honoring Black baseball's rich and storied history

Nine Minor League clubs will celebrate Black baseball history in '24
February 27, 2024

When Jackie Robinson made his debut as a member of the Brooklyn Dodgers organization in Spring Training of 1946, his jersey number was not the 42 he'd come to be associated with. That spring in Daytona Beach, and throughout the ensuing season with the Triple-A Montreal Royals, he wore number

Minor League ballparks light up for holidays

Ben's Biz explores how six MiLB clubs are decking the halls
@BensBiz
December 15, 2023

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE. At Minor League ballparks all over the country, peanuts and Cracker Jack have

Road to The Show™: Astros’ Melton

Top Houston prospect has power, speed combo worth hanging onto
@Gerard_Gilberto
December 5, 2023

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken toward achieving his Major League dream. Here's a look at top Astros prospect Jacob Melton. For more stories about players on The Road to The Show, click here. Although the Astros have been willing to dip into

Space Cowboy belts 477-ft HR to ... new galaxy?

No. 5 Astros prospect León swats fifth-longest Triple-A tater of '23
@EvanKDesai
July 30, 2023

Pedro León did something must-see with a 69.7 mph curveball Saturday night for Triple-A Sugar Land. The No. 5 Astros prospect connected on the slow offspeed pitch, turning it into a 111.2 mph laser that went clear out of Las Vegas Ballpark. Traveling 477 feet, it not only left the

Asheville Blues coast to victory again

Tourists commemorate Blues with reimagined jerseys and caps
@RobTnova24
July 15, 2023

The Asheville Tourists morphed into the the Asheville Blues on Friday night, and cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Winston-Salem Dash in front of a sellout crowd at McCormick Field. It was a familiar result for the Blues, who were one of the most successful professional Black baseball teams

Copa de la Diversión transforms ballpark fare

Sugar Land, Beloit among clubs taking local flavor to next level
@Gerard_Gilberto
July 6, 2023

Each month, MiLB.com spotlights a particular aspect of Copa de la Diversión, Minor League Baseball's Hispanic fan engagement initiative sponsored by Nationwide, the program's official insurance partner. After focusing on the new on-field identities for 2023 and some of the clubs' community connections, this edition dives into the ballpark food

Batting practice on a boat: Blue Ghost Weekend

Corpus Christi holds annual event honoring the USS Lexington
@brendan_samson
June 27, 2023

Remember the “Seinfeld” episode where Kramer takes an old bucket of Titleists down to the beach and launches them into the ocean? Imagine that, but make it baseball, that’s how the Corpus Christi Hooks took batting practice during Blue Ghost Weekend. The event, which was held on Memorial Day weekend,