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.
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
Travs Tripped By Cardinals
Box Score North Little Rock, AR—The Arkansas Travelers were limited to just two hits as the Springfield Cardinals took a 4-2 victory on Friday night. The Cardinals built an early lead scoring in the first and adding two more in the third inning. A pair of runs in the home
Arkansas Swept In Twinbill
Box Score (Game 1) Box Score (Game 2) North Little Rock, AR—Two big first innings vaulted the Springfield Cardinals to a doubleheader sweep of the Arkansas Travelers, by scores of 8-2 and 5-1 on Thursday night. The Cardinals put up four runs in the first of the opening game and
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