Get to know the teams in the High-A East
As the 2021 season approaches, MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of Minor League Baseball across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team introduction to the High-A East, including affiliation, previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's
As the 2021 season approaches, MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of Minor League Baseball across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team introduction to the High-A East, including affiliation, previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's continuous operation in that market regardless of league or level.) Learn about other leagues here: Triple-A East, Triple-A West, Double-A Northeast, Double-A Central, Double-A South.
A mashup of members from the Carolina, South Atlantic, Midwest and New York-Penn Leagues, this 12-team circuit spans eight states with a geographic footprint that stretches from New York to Georgia.
Of the dozen, only Wilmington and Winston-Salem remain at the same level from previous years as former participants in the Carolina League. In fact, a majority of the High-A East clubs -- Asheville, Lakewood, Greensboro, Greenville, Hickory and Rome -- are moving up a level, since all six come aboard from the Class A Sally League, while Bowling Green joins from the Class A MWL.
The other three teams -- Aberdeen, Brooklyn and Hudson Valley -- jump two levels from their previous standing as Class A Short Season teams. Of course, that also means Opening Day will come earlier for that trio, which had been accustomed to starting play in mid-June.
North Division
ABERDEEN IRONBIRDS
Affiliate: Baltimore Orioles (since 2002)
Location: Aberdeen, Maryland (36 miles from Camden Yards)
Ballpark: Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium (opened June 18, 2002)
Established: 2002
Previous league: Class A Short Season New York-Penn League
Last championship: None
Did you know? A stone's throw from Camden Yards, Aberdeen is the hometown of IronBirds founding owner and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.
BROOKLYN CYCLONES
Affiliate: New York Mets (since 2001)
Location: Brooklyn, New York (21 miles from Citi Field)
Ballpark: MCU Park (opened June 25, 2001)
Established: 2001 (previous Brooklyn clubs date back to 1872)
Previous league: Class A Short Season New York-Penn League
Last championship: 2019
Did you know? The Cyclones have paid tribute to the Seinfeld sitcom every year since 2014.
HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES
Affiliate: New York Yankees (since 2021)
Location: Fishkill, New York (60 miles from Yankee Stadium)
Ballpark: Dutchess Stadium (opened June 18, 1994)
Established: 1994
Previous league: Class A Short Season New York-Penn League
Last championship: 2017
Did you know? The Renegades are owned by The Goldklang Group, which also has stakes in the Charleston RiverDogs and St. Paul Saints.
JERSEY SHORE BLUECLAWS
Affiliate: Philadelphia Phillies (since 2001)
Location: Lakewood, New Jersey (72 miles from Citizens Bank Park)
Ballpark: FirstEnergy Field (opened April 6, 2001)
Established: 2001 (as the Lakewood BlueClaws)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2010
Did you know? Since 2007, the BlueClaws have occasionally played as the Pork Rolls in celebration of the regional delicacy. Games also feature a race between Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese.
WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS
Affiliate: Washington Nationals (since 2021)
Location: Wilmington, Delaware (109 miles to Nationals Park)
Ballpark: Daniel S. Frawley Stadium (opened April 16, 1993)
Established: 1993 (previous Wilmington clubs date back to 1883)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Carolina League
Last championship: 2019
Did you know? Originally known as Legends Stadium when it opened, the ballpark was renamed for Wilmington mayor Daniel Frawley after he spearheaded the effort to get the Blue Rocks to return to town. The field was named separately for local Negro League legend Judy Johnson.
South Division
ASHEVILLE TOURISTS
Affiliate: Houston Astros (since 2021)
Location: Asheville, North Carolina (991 miles from Minute Maid Park)
Ballpark: McCormick Field (opened April 3, 1924)
Established: 1959 (previous Asheville clubs date back to 1897)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2014
Did you know? The team's nickname was first used in 1915 as a nod to the city's standing as a popular tourist destination. In 2015, the team employed an old-school method to help maintain the grounds around historic McCormick Field, bringing in a herd of goats to clear vegetation beyond the outfield fence.
BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS
Affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays (since 2009)
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky (790 miles from Tropicana Field)
Ballpark: Bowling Green Ballpark (opened April 17, 2009)
Established: 2009
Previous league: Class A Midwest League
Last championship: 2018
Did you know? The team's nickname is a nod to the city's connections to the automotive and racing industries. The Chevrolet Corvette is built at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, and the city is home to the National Corvette Museum.
GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS
Affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates (since 2019)
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina (426 miles to PNC Park)
Ballpark: First National Bank Field (opened April 3, 2005)
Established: 1979 (as the Greensboro Hornets; previous Greensboro clubs date back to 1902)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2011
Did you know? Before changing to the Grasshoppers in 2005, the club's previous names included the Bats (1994-2004), Hornets (1979-93), Yankees (1958-67) and Patriots (1945-57, 1968).
GREENVILLE DRIVE
Affiliate: Boston Red Sox (since 2005)
Location: Greenville, South Carolina (932 miles to Fenway Park)
Ballpark: Fluor Field at the West End (opened April 6, 2006)
Established: 2005 (as the Bombers; previous Greenville clubs, including the Braves, date back to 1907)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2017
Did you know? Fluor Field features a 30-foot-high "Green Monster" in left field as a tribute to Fenway Park and the Red Sox, the club's longtime affiliate.
HICKORY CRAWDADS
Affiliate: Texas Rangers (since 2009)
Location: Hickory, North Carolina (1,048 miles to Globe Life Field)
Ballpark: L.P. Frans Stadium (opened April 16, 1993)
Established: 1993 (previous Hickory clubs date back to 1936)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2015
Did you know? The Crawdads have an all-time record of 1,898 wins and 1,845 losses.
ROME BRAVES
Affiliate: Atlanta Braves (since 2003)
Location: Rome, Georgia (69 miles from Truist Park)
Ballpark: State Mutual Stadium (opened April 6, 2003)
Established: 2003 (previous Rome clubs date back to 1903)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2016
Did you know? Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones and John Smoltz all made rehab appearances with the R-Braves.
WINSTON-SALEM DASH
Affiliate: Chicago White Sox (since 1997)
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Ballpark: Truist Stadium
Established: 1945 (as the Cardinals; previous Winston-Salem clubs date back to 1892)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Carolina League
Last championship: 2003
Did you know? Winston-Salem lays claim as the only franchise to have operated in every season since the establishment of the Carolina League in 1945. The names have changed (Winston-Salem Cardinals, Twins, Red Birds, Red Sox, Spirits, Warthogs -- and lastly -- Dash), but the franchise has remained the same.
A Good (K)night as Travs Walk-Off On Cards
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Bill Knight connected for the game-winning base hit in the bottom of the ninth driving home a pair and sending the Arkansas Travelers to a 2-1 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Tuesday night. Prior to the ninth inning, the Travs had put only one
Series Opener Against Springfield Washed Out
North Little Rock, AR—Tuesday night’s series opener between the Arkansas Travelers and Springfield Cardinals was postponed due to rain. It will be made up as part of the doubleheader on Thursday May 8 with two seven inning games beginning at 4:35 p.m. The series will now start on Wednesday with
Victor Labrada Awarded TL Player of the Week
Arkansas Travelers outfielder Victor Labrada was named Texas League Player of the Week for April 28-May 4 it was announced today by Minor League Baseball. Labrada led the lead in nearly every major offensive statistical category. Playing in six games he was 11-21 with five walks and six extra base
Labrada Stays Hot But Travs Fall
Box Score Tulsa, OK—The Tulsa Drillers finished off a series victory over the Arkansas Travelers with a 9-2 final score on Sunday afternoon. The Drillers took advantage of 12 walks given out by Travs pitching. Victor Labrada was a bright spot for the Travs going 2-3 with a double and
Tulsa Walks-Off On Travs
Box Score Tulsa, OK—A wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning brought home the winning run sending the Tulsa Drillers to a 4-3 win over the Arkansas Travelers on Saturday night. The Drillers have won four of the first five in the series, three in walk-off fashion. Victor
Travs Foiled In Tulsa
Box Score Tulsa, OK—For the second time in three days, the Arkansas Travelers lost on the final pitch of the game, falling to the Tulsa Drillers 5-4 on Friday night. The winning run scored with two out in the ninth when Hunter Fitz-Gerald made a sliding stop on a hard
Labrada Lifts Travs To Split In Twinbill
Box Score Tulsa, OK—The Arkansas Travelers and Tulsa Drillers split a doubleheader on Thursday with the Drillers winning game one, 6-5 and the Travs bouncing back to take the nightcap, 7-2. It was a frustrating night for the Travs offense going a combined 4-27 with runners in scoring position. Tulsa
Extra Inning Thriller Goes to Tulsa
Box Score Tulsa, OK—In a game full of wild back and forth swings, the Arkansas Travelers fell to the Tulsa Drillers, 12-10 in 10 innings on Wednesday in Tulsa. Both teams led by multiple runs on multiple occasions in the game. Jose Ramos lined a home run to right field
Series Opener In Tulsa Washed Out
Tulsa, OK—Tuesday night’s series opener between the Arkansas Travelers and Tulsa Drillers was postponed due to rain. It will be made up as part of the doubleheader on Thursday May 1 with two seven inning games beginning at 5:00 p.m. The series in Tulsa will now start on Wednesday with
Seminaris Honored as Texas League Pitcher of the Week
Arkansas Travelers pitcher Adam Seminaris was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for April 22-27 it was announced today by Minor League Baseball. Seminaris tossed six shutout innings last Friday against the Midland RockHounds, surrendering only three hits with eight strikeouts. This is the first Double-A league weekly award
Travs Take Split Against Midland
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Jared Sundstrom drove in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Arkansas Travelers defeated the Midland RockHounds 2-1 on Sunday afternoon to secure a split of the six game series. After a RockHound homer in the first, four Travs pitchers
Travs Post Big Inning But Fall
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—A six run fifth inning was not enough as the Arkansas Travelers fell 9-6 to the Midland RockHounds on Saturday night. Bill Knight paced the offense with two hits including a three-run home run. Midland built an eight run lead before the Travs got on
Seminaris Stellar But Midland Rallies Past Arkansas
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Adam Seminaris struck out eight in six shutout innings but the Arkansas Travelers fell 3-1 to the Midland RockHounds on Friday night. The RockHounds scored single runs in each of the final three innings to get the win. Seminaris threw eighty pitches but did not
Hill Shines But Win Streak Halted
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Arkansas starter Garrett Hill retired the first 15 Midland hitters of the game but the RockHounds pulled away late for a 7-1 win, ending the Travs’ winning streak at six. Colby Halter broke a tie with a seventh inning home run to give Midland the
Travs Rally To Win 6th Straight
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—The Arkansas Travelers rallied from a pair of deficits to top the Midland RockHounds, 7-4 on Wednesday night at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park. It was the sixth straight win for the Travelers and their 12th in the past 13 games. The final
Shutout Stretches Win Streak to 5
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Four Arkansas Travelers pitchers combined to blank the Midland RockHounds, 2-0 in a series opening victory on Tuesday at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park. Despite getting out hit, the Travs scored the game’s only two runs with single tallies in the first and
Travs Take Twinbill
Box Score Springfield, MO—The Arkansas Travelers swept a doubleheader from the Springfield Cardinals, 5-2 and 3-2 on Saturday. In game one, the Travs scored all five of their runs with two out in innings. Michael Hobbs got the win after getting the Travs out of a sticky situation in the
Hood Homer Hoists Arkansas Over Springfield
Box Score Springfield, MO—Josh Hood blasted a three-run go-ahead home run in the eighth inning and the Arkansas Travelers rallied for a 5-3 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Friday night. The Travs have now won seven of the past eight games. Hood’s homer was the second of the night
Travs File Win In Springfield
Box Score Springfield, MO—Dylan File spun six innings of one-run baseball and the Arkansas Travelers blasted three home runs in a 5-2 victory over the Springfield Cardinals on Thursday night. Jared Sundstrom, Julio Rodriguez and Brock Rodden all went deep for the first time this season. File matched the longest
Winning Streak Halted at Six
Box Score Springfield, MO—Three Springfield home runs in a span of four batters in the third inning carried the Cardinals to a 10-3 win over the Arkansas Travelers on Wednesday night. The loss snapped a six game winning streak for the Travs. JJ Weatherholt hit the first of those Cardinals
Sixth Straight Win Starts Series in Springfield
Box Score Springfield, MO—Nick Raposo hit a three-run double to put the Arkansas Travelers in front in the seventh inning on the way to a 7-5 win over the Springfield Cardinals. It is the club’s sixth straight victory. The Travs were shutout for the first five innings, tied the score
Travs Blank Tulsa Behind Ramirez Homer
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Ben Ramirez homered and four Arkansas Travelers pitchers combined a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over the Tulsa Drillers on Sunday afternoon at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park. Adam Seminaris worked the first five innings to earn the win, striking out five.
Travs Top Tulsa For 4th Straight W
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Stealing a season high eight bases, the Arkansas Travelers hung on for a 5-3 win over the Tulsa Drillers on Saturday night at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park. The Travs scored in every inning from the second through the fifth in building their
Arkansas Outlasts Tulsa in 12 Innings
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—The Arkansas Travelers walked off winners for the second night in a row defeating the Tulsa Drillers, 6-5 in 12 innings. A walk-off walk by pinch-hitter Caleb Cali ended the game. The Travs came back from down three early but saw a pair of late