Boise Hawks Return to Nest
BOISE, ID: The Boise Hawks have announced they plan on joining the independent professional MLB Partner Pioneer Baseball League in 2021. Major League Baseball just completed their massive restructuring of the minor league system for the upcoming season, with an emphasis on lowering the total number of affiliated clubs from
BOISE, ID: The Boise Hawks have announced they plan on joining the independent professional MLB Partner Pioneer Baseball League in 2021. Major League Baseball just completed their massive restructuring of the minor league system for the upcoming season, with an emphasis on lowering the total number of affiliated clubs from 160 down to 120. The Hawks will not, at least in the short run of the next few years, be included in Major League Baseball’s affiliated Minor Leagues.
On November 30, Major League Baseball and the Pioneer Baseball League jointly announced that the Pioneer League has been designated a “Partner League” of Major League Baseball. Starting in 2021, the Pioneer Baseball League will transition from affiliated status to an independent professional MLB Partner League that continues to provide high-quality professional baseball to the states of Idaho, Montana, Utah and Colorado. The Hawks would join the eight members of the Pioneer League – their in-state rival Idaho Falls Chukars, Billings Mustangs, the Grand Junction Rockies, the Great Falls Voyagers, the Missoula Paddleheads, the Ogden Raptors, the Northern Colorado Owlz and the Rocky Mountain Vibes.
As a Partner League, the Pioneer League will collaborate with Major League Baseball to provide professional baseball to communities throughout the Western United States and Canada. Major League Baseball will provide some funding for the league’s operating expenses, as well as install scouting technology in Pioneer Baseball League ballparks to provide Major League Clubs with first-class scouting information on Pioneer Baseball League players. The League also will explore joint marketing, ticketing and fan engagement opportunities.
On the Future of the Boise Hawks:
“We are proud to announce that professional baseball will continue in the Treasure Valley next season. From the day we stepped foot in Boise, our top priority has always been, and will continue to be, about our season seat holders, corporate partners, fans and community. Since 2015, we have seen a 48% increase in attendance, including 22 sellouts in both 2018 and 2019. Fans have and will continue to see the most creative promotions and giveaways and see the best fireworks shows in the Treasure Valley. We will continue to offer affordable, first-class, family entertainment for our community. Our staff is currently hard at work putting the pieces together for another great season.” – Bob Flannery, Vice President, Boise Hawks
On the Move to The Pioneer League:
“The level of baseball our fans can expect in many ways will be significantly better than what we have been accustomed to in the Northwest League. Scouting and development of our players and coaches will be our responsibility, and with that an emphasis on winning. The league draft pool will consist of professional players with less than 4 years of professional playing experience. The season will consist of 92 games and provide us more home dates and a longer season. Most importantly, the experience of attending a Boise Hawks game will be no different than in years past and we will continue to enhance the experience annually and provide affordable family entertainment. We have had high expectations for the Hawks off the field and in the stands. That commitment will now be extended to the on-field product in our pursuit of Pioneer League championships.” * – Mike Van Hise, General Manager, Boise Hawks*
On MLB Contraction and Boise:
“We are very disappointed by this decision by MLB and not having the support of the Colorado Rockies through this process. We were told our current facility ultimately led to the decision. As we have stated since the day we purchased the Hawks, the venue is a challenge. The failure to not have replaced it in all of these prior years led to this move. Our efforts remain the same today as they were yesterday, to continue to seek development of a new facility to secure baseball, as well as deliver a United Soccer League Championship franchise in the Treasure Valley for generations to come and to provide Boise with a showcase facility that will meet and exceed the new requirements of Major League Baseball and ultimately deliver Triple-A baseball to this market.” – Jeff Eiseman, President/Partner, Boise Hawks
From the Pioneer Baseball League:
“The PBL is in the early stages in constructing and operating model for the MLB Partner League in 2021. We welcome any opportunity for the return of Boise to the PBL – one of our original clubs in 1939 who continued as a member of the league through the 1963 season.” – Jim McCurdy, President, Pioneer Baseball League
About Boise and Independent Baseball:
Both independent baseball and the Pioneer League have a long history in Boise. The Boise Pilots formed in 1939 as one of the six founding member Pioneer League teams. The Pilots competed through the 1951 season (except for the three years during World War II). Boise’s team then became the Yankees (affiliated with the New York Yankees) during 1952 and 1953. That affiliation did not continue, and the team operated independently again as the Pilots in 1954. The Pilots became a Milwaukee Braves affiliate from 1955 through 1963, after which Boise was without a minor league baseball team until the Boise A’s of the Northwest League debuted in 1975 and moving to Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada (and the Pioneer League) after the following season. The Boise Buckskins played one season in the Northwest League in 1978. The Hawks were an independent baseball team in the Northwest League when it was granted its charter for the 1987 season; they remained as an independent through 1989.
About the Boise Hawks:
The Boise Hawks are the Treasure Valley’s top spot for affordable, family entertainment. Deposits for full and half season seat plans for the 2021 season are currently being taken. To stay up to date on all things Boise Hawks, follow us on Facebook or visit www.BoiseHawks.com.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between