Travelers Build on Long-Running History Under New Ownership, Diamond Baseball Holdings
Little Rock, AR (May 9, 2024) – The Arkansas Travelers announced today they have entered into an agreement to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select Minor League Baseball clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB). The transaction has been approved by
Little Rock, AR (May 9, 2024) – The Arkansas Travelers announced today they have entered into an agreement to sell the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), an organization that owns and operates select Minor League Baseball clubs affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB). The transaction has been approved by the Arkansas Travelers’ board of directors subject to receipt of all necessary approvals, including from its shareholders and MLB.
With a history that dates back to 1901 as one of the longest running Minor League franchises overall, the current ownership group has entrusted the Travelers to DBH to continue elevating the fan and player experience and further enrich the Arkansas community while building on its meaningful history.
The club will remain the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, led by CEO, Rusty Meeks, and locally operated by all current front office staff.
“We are incredibly grateful for the ardent support of Travelers fans and the Central Arkansas community for allowing us to play a role in the history of this franchise. We are so proud of what we’ve been able to create here together,” said Russ Meeks, President of Arkansas Travelers Baseball Inc., who is selling the team to DBH. “DBH has a reputation for celebrating the local identity of their clubs while supercharging the impact on the local community, and we’re eager to see the Travelers benefit from their leadership and expertise.”
“Our community has always been the central focus of the Arkansas Travelers organization, and it has been an honor to work alongside my father, Russ, ensuring that sentiment is as true today as it was when our franchise was founded,” said Rusty Meeks. “Our 2024 season is off to an incredible start, and we are excited to take our fan experiences to the next level under DBH’s new leadership.”
“On behalf of the Mariners, we’d like to extend our gratitude to Russ, Rusty, Brenda and the rest of the Travelers Team for their stewardship and dedication to our players, staff and the Travelers,” said Jerry Dipoto, President of Baseball Operations at the Seattle Mariners. “We are thrilled to welcome DBH as a new partner, whose depth of experience will be invaluable for the next chapter of baseball in Arkansas.”
With a growing portfolio of affiliated clubs across the country, DBH works to support local passions and priorities with national reach and scale, integrating cutting-edge digital technologies into club operations as well as providing new value-generating opportunities in partnership with MLB.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to be entrusted with a legacy as longstanding as the Travelers’, and we’re grateful to Russ, the Mariners and the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock for their support of this partnership,” said Pat Battle and Peter Freund, Executive Chairman and CEO of DBH, respectively. “We look forward to enhancing the experience at Dickey-Stephens Park that fans already know and love, with Rusty and the entire front office staff at the helm, and deepening our connection with the greater Central Arkansas community.”
Subject to obtaining all necessary approvals, the transaction is expected to be completed in the near future.
About the Arkansas Travelers
Founded in 1901, the Arkansas Travelers are the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners and call Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock home. For all the latest information with the club and events at the ballpark, log on to travs.com or follow the Travelers on Facebook (/ArkansasTravelers), Instagram (@artravs), Threads (@artravs) and Twitter/X (@artravs). Dickey-Stephens Park is a cashless facility, and the Travelers have a clear bag policy for all events.
About Diamond Baseball Holdings
Founded in 2021, Diamond Baseball Holdings is committed to elevating fan experiences, creating “centers of energy,” fostering dynamic engagements for brands and highlighting the evolution of the Minor League Baseball environment. It is grounded in a deep-rooted appreciation for traditions, community and the sport of baseball. For more information visit diamondbaseballholdings.com.
Travs Post Complete Effort in Road W
Box Score Corpus Christi, TX—Reid VanScoter twirled a stellar six innings and Ben Ramirez popped three doubles in a 4-1 win for the Arkansas Travelers over the Corpus Christi Hooks on Wednesday night. Ramirez participated in all of the Travs' scoring rallies as he crossed home plate twice and drove
Big Night From Windish Not Enough In Defeat
Box Score Corpus Christi, TX—Hogan Windish homered as part of a three hit night but the Corpus Christi Hooks took down the Arkansas Travelers, 10-5 on Tuesday night. The Hooks posted a pair of four run innings as they erased an early one-run Travs lead. Travs starter Michael Morales did
Travs Tripped In Ten
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—The Arkansas Travelers nearly rallied from four runs down in extra innings but fell to the San Antonio Missions, 4-2 in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon. The game was scoreless through nine innings before the Missions broke through with a four spot in the top
Rambusch Walks It Off For Travs In 10
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Blake Rambusch drove home the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the Arkansas Travelers a 3-2 victory over the San Antonio Missions on Saturday night. It was the third hit of the night for Rambusch, a season high. Four Travs
Labrada Homers In Defeat
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Arkansas pitching struck out 12 and Victor Labrada hit a two-run home run but San Antonio emerged victorious with a 4-2 win over the Travelers on Friday night. Missions pitching also struck out 12 in the game and held the Travs to just four hits.
Sundstrom, Sanchez Blast Homers in Win
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Jared Sundstrom and Axel Sanchez homered as the Arkansas Travelers snagged a 6-4 win over the San Antonio Missions on Thursday night. The Travs never trailed in the contest and snapped a five game losing streak. Yoyner Fajardo added two hits and two runs batted
Arkansas Swept in Doubleheader
Box Score (Game 1) Box Score (Game 2) North Little Rock, AR—The Arkansas Travelers were swept in a doubleheader by the San Antonio Missions, falling game one, 4-1 and then game two, 1-0 in eight innings. The Travs managed just five hits over the 15 innings in the game and
Darren McFadden Stepping in to Headline Travs’ Faith and Family Night
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Jordyn Wieber is no longer available to headline the Travs’ Faith & Family Night this Saturday. Former Razorback football star and NFL player Darren McFadden is stepping in to replace Wieber and will be the special guest for the Travelers’ annual event this Saturday at CHI
Reid VanScoter Tabbed As League Pitcher Of The Week
Arkansas Travelers pitcher Reid VanScoter was selected as the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for May 19-25 it was announced today by Minor League Baseball. VanScoter (van-SCOOT-er) threw five shutout innings this past Thursday, earning his first win of the season. He surrendered just one hit and no walks
Opener Against San Antonio Postponed
North Little Rock, AR—Tuesday night’s series opener between the Arkansas Travelers and San Antonio Missions was postponed due to inclement weather over the past few days. It will be made up as part of the doubleheader on Wednesday May 28 with two seven inning games beginning at 4:35 p.m. All
Travs Fall Just Short In Springdale Finale
Box Score Springdale, AR—A furious ninth inning comeback fell just short as the Arkansas Travelers dropped a 6-5 decision to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Sunday night. With two out in the ninth, Hunter Fitz-Gerald hit a two-run double and Caleb Cali followed with a three-run home run bringing the
Eighth Inning Rally Stuns Travs
Box Score Springdale, AR—A five run bottom of the eighth pushed the Northwest Arkansas Naturals past the Arkansas Travelers, 8-6 on Saturday night. The eighth inning outburst came against three different Travs pitchers with the majority of the damage coming against Brandyn Garcia who was charged with a blown save
Naturals Drop Travs In Friday Game
Box Score Springdale, AR—An early deficit was too much to overcome as the Arkansas Travelers dropped a 4-1 decision to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Friday night. The Travs offense had chances, especially early in the game but finished the night going 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Naturals starter
Travs Rout Naturals With Shutout
Box Score Springdale, AR—Reid VanScoter threw the first five innings of a combined two-hit shutout and Hunter Fitz-Gerald blasted a pair of home runs in a 9-0 win for the Arkansas Travelers over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Thursday night. VanScoter authored his longest outing of the year so far
Travs Stage Huge Rally To Top Naturals
Box Score Springdale, AR—Down five runs early, the Arkansas Travelers scored seven unanswered runs and pulled out a 7-5 victory over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Wednesday night. Jared Sundstrom led the offense by posting a three hit game with a double and a home run. The early deficit was
7-run 7th Powers Travs Over Naturals
Box Score Springdale, AR—A seven run seventh inning powered the Arkansas Travelers to a 10-3 win over the Northwest Arkansas Naturals on Tuesday afternoon. The big inning came with the score tied and against the first two Naturals relievers. Jason Ruffcorn was the winner out of the bullpen with Nick
Travs Drop Finale in Wichita
Box Score Wichita, KS—The Arkansas Travelers rallied from an early four run deficit to draw even but the Wichita Wind Surge pulled away for a 15-7 win on Sunday afternoon. The series ended in an even split. Down four, the Travs scored in the third and then put up three
Surge Blast Past Travs
Box Score Wichita, KS—Victor Labrada and Caleb Cali hit home runs but the Arkansas Travelers fell to the Wichita Wind Surge, 11-2 on Saturday. The Wind Surge finished the game with three homers and made the Travs pay for free passes as five of the seven walks Arkansas issued came
Cali, Travs Bash Back Into First Place
Box Score Wichita, KS—The Arkansas Travelers matched a season high with three home runs and romped to a 10-4 over the Wichita Wind Surge. The win moved the Travs ahead of the Wind Surge for the top spot in the Texas League North Division. Caleb Cali posted the first four
Stellar Pitching and Clutch Homer Carry Travs To Win
Box Score Wichita, KS—Hunter Fitz-Gerald delivered a clutch two out, two-run home run in the ninth inning to push the Arkansas Travelers to a 5-3 win over the Wichita Wind Surge on Thursday night. Michael Morales dealt four hitless innings to start the game, setting the tone on the mound.
Late Comeback Comes Up Just Shy In Wichita
Box Score Wichita, KS—A huge late rally fell just short as the Arkansas Travelers were outscored 11-9 by the Wichita Wind Surge on Wednesday. The Travs trailed by as many as five runs but kept fighting with a four-run eighth inning and then had the tying and go-ahead runs on
Rallies Give Travs Series Opening W
Box Score Wichita, KS—Rallying from three separate deficits, the Arkansas Travelers won the series opener from the Wichita Wind Surge, 6-5 on Tuesday night. The Travs did not lead until the ninth inning. Brock Rodden had three hits including an early game-tying home run, his third blast in the past
Homers Power Travs Past Cards
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Three home runs powered the Arkansas Travelers to a 6-2 win over the Springfield Cardinals on Sunday afternoon at CHI St. Vincent Field at Dickey-Stephens Park. Jared Sundstrom went deep in the opening inning before Brock Rodden homered twice later in the game accounting for
Travs Rally Past Cards
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—Brock Rodden connected for three hits in his return from the injured list while Adam Seminaris worked five scoreless innings and the Arkansas Travelers knocked off the Springfield Cardinals, 6-3 on Saturday. The Travs rallied from two separate deficits for the win taking the lead