Appalachian Power Park
Breaking Ground
On March 18, 2004, the shovels hit the dirt for the first time on the site designated to save baseball in Charleston. A new downtown baseball diamond was to be built after 56 years at Watt Powell Park in Kanawha City.
A collaborative effort was necessary to keep a team in the city. Charleston's first ball club, the Statesmen, took the field in 1910, though baseball was not always a constant. The city was without its favorite pastime from 1917 through 1930, during and shortly after World War II, 1965 until 1970, and for two years in the mid-1980's.
Modern baseball economics could not survive in Watt Powell Park and several groups worked to preserve the game in Charleston. From political support and work with the Economic Development Grant Commission to WVWINS, a community action group that mobilized local fans and businesses to back the project, an East End ballpark was put on the map. Appalachian Power would quickly agree to take on the naming rights to the new 23 million dollar facility.
The move to Appalachian Power Park was accompanied by a change in team branding. The Charleston baseball club has been known by several names over the years. From its' earliest incarnation as the Statesmen to a long run as the Senators (1912-61) to the Indians (1962-64) and the Charlies (1971-83), fans had an array of parent clubs, players, and mascots to root for. After a short hiatus, the city saw baseball return as the Wheelers (1987-1994) and the Alley Cats (1995-2004) in the South Atlantic League.
The team took to the field for the first time in April of 2005 as the West Virginia Power, a strong homage to the vast array of energy sources across the state. On April 14, the club beat Hagerstown 8-3 in front of a crowd of 5,354. One of Minor League Baseball's newest crowned jewels was open for business.
Play Ball
Since 2005, the Power have won over 300 regular season games at Appalachian Power Park, spanning two Major League parent clubs. From the inaugural year until the end of 2008, West Virginia served as a farm team for the Milwaukee Brewers. Those initial seasons saw record crowds through the gates to watch future stars like Yovanni Gallardo, Ryan Braun, and Alcides Escobar.
In 2009, the Power became an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, returning many fans to their roots. The 1970's-era Charlies teams were also in the Pirates Minor League system that saw players like Dave Parker, Kent Tekulve, and Tony LaRussa grace the field. Now top draft choices and international signees would highlight the park, including Tony Sanchez, Jameson Taillon, Alen Hanson, and Gregory Polanco.
Hundreds of young ballplayers have donned a West Virginia Power jersey and played at Appalachian Power Park since 2005, and to date, 37 have gone on play in Major League Baseball.
In 2009, the West Virginia Power hosted the South Atlantic League's mid-summer classic, dubbed the All-Star Jamboree. The festivities included a whitewater rafting and zip-lining trip, a concert, coal mine tours, the Home Run Derby contest (won by Power All-Star Calvin Anderson), and a sellout crowd for the game itself. Appalachian Power Park also plays host to several colleges. Marshall University and the University of Charleston's baseball programs have utilized the stadium as its' home field since 2005. In 2013, West Virginia University played three Big 12 series in Charleston at the ballpark.
In addition to the professional and college games, Appalachian Power Park has been the home to the state's high school baseball tournament. The West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission plays out three rounds of tournament play between three levels and the best programs in the state determine champions every June.
More Than The Game
A venue like Appalachian Power Park has proven to be very versatile over the years. The stadium and its staff have held a wide array of non-baseball events since 2005. Every February, the Special Olympics of West Virginia host the Polar Plunge on the third base concourse. Willing participants climb a ladder and leap into a temporary set-up and filled with icy cold water to raise money for the local chapter.
The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau takes full advantage of the space available, using the ballpark for events like the World Championship Chili Cook-off or American Cornhole Championship.
Countless numbers of charity walks are held here annually, as are community events like Trick-or-Beat. Every Halloween, the ballpark opens for trick-or-treaters to provide a safe and well-lit environment to collect their haul, provided by local businesses and the Power front office.
Nationally renowned musical acts have played at the Appalachian Power Park since it opened, including Def Leppard, the Davisson Brothers Band, Randy Travis, and Craig Morgan, providing a new audience to the grandeur of the ballpark.
Walk-off Winners
2014 marked the tenth season of West Virginia Power baseball and Appalachian Power Park. The campaign included great giveaways to commemorate the anniversay, two concerts and a talented roster full of top prospects. The naming rights were also extended during this memorable season, thus ensuring that the jewel of the South Atlantic League will remain under the same name for the next ten years.
The 2015 season begins on April 9 and we hope to see you at Appalachian Power Park.
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