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Naturally, Northwest Arkansas finds fresh look

Royals Double-A club celebrates nature, community through design
@BensBiz
December 6, 2023

Call it a Natural progression: On Wednesday afternoon, the Minor League Baseball team in Springdale, Ark., unveiled new logos and uniforms. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, are named for the natural beauty of the region in which they compete. The Texas League franchise,

Ben's Biz MiLB roundup: New logos unveiled

Rome, Lake Elsinore, Erie, Winston-Salem & IronPigs refresh looks
@BensBiz
November 25, 2023

This is an excerpt from the latest edition of the Ben's Biz Beat Newsletter, bringing Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter HERE. Subscribe HERE.

High-A Rome enters whole new era as Emperors

Atlanta affiliate transforms into regal, kid-friendly penguins identity
@BensBiz
November 16, 2023

Rome, Georgia, got its name because, like its Italian counterpart, the city was built within seven hills and the rivers that run between them. At a ballpark event on Thursday evening, Rome’s Minor League Baseball team further solidified the connection between the two seemingly disparate locales. The Rome Emperors have

New logo has Greensboro hopping with excitement

Pirates' High-A affiliate unveils refreshed look entering 20th season
@BensBiz
November 1, 2023

On the cusp of their 20th year as the Grasshoppers, Greensboro’s Minor League team has taken a leap forward. The Grasshoppers, High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, unveiled refreshed logos and uniforms during a ballpark event on Wednesday evening. The long-running South Atlantic League team, which adopted the Grasshoppers moniker

CLT royalty: Knights unveil updated logos 

Approaching anniversary season, Charlotte unveils city-centric look
@BensBiz
November 1, 2022

Celebrating their past while looking toward the future, the Charlotte Knights unveiled a new set of logos and uniforms on Tuesday evening. The Knights' updated look -- promoted with the tagline "It's All Charlotte" -- comes in advance of a milestone campaign as 2023 marks the White Sox affiliate's 30th

Take a gander: Beloit unveils Sky Carp name, logos

High-A club, formerly the Snappers, adopts nonmigratory identity
@BensBiz
November 15, 2021

On Monday afternoon the southern Wisconsin ballclub previously known as the Beloit Snappers unveiled its new name, logos and uniforms. The Sky Carp are here, and they're here to stay. Sky Carp is a slang term for a goose, denoting them as the aerial equivalent of the world's most common

Shore thing: BlueClaws adopt beachy keen look 

Lakewood club shifts to 'Jersey Shore' moniker, unveils fresh logos
@BensBiz
October 21, 2020

New Jersey's Lakewood Township Minor League Baseball team isn't going anywhere. In 2021, as in every season since their inaugural 2001 campaign, the Phillies' Class A affiliate will still be named the BlueClaws and operate out of FirstEnergy Park. Nonetheless, next year marks the official start of a new era

New Minor League names, logos for 2020

A nationwide rebranding roundup, from Rookie ball to Triple-A
January 21, 2020

The Winston-Salem Dash unveiled a new primary logo on Wednesday, thus concluding the Minor League Baseball rebranding season. During this roughly three-month period, one of the most reliably entertaining portions of the offseason, teams across the country unveil new names, logos or both. Now that rebranding season is in the rearview

Purple pros: Dash introduce classic look

Winston-Salem welcomes retro aesthetic in new primary logo
January 15, 2020

New decade, new logo. The Winston-Salem Dash, Class A Advanced affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, unveiled their new primary logo on Wednesday afternoon. The longtime Carolina League franchise has adopted a simpler, cleaner look, featuring an interlocking "WS." This mark offers simultaneous nods to both "Winston-Salem" and "White Sox." 

Legends of the Deep: Sea Unicorns emerge

All's well that ends whale as Norwich unveils new aquatic identity
December 5, 2019

On Thursday afternoon in Norwich, Connecticut, there was a confirmed sighting of a heretofore apocryphal aquatic creature. Sea Unicorns have arisen from the briny deep.  During a public unveiling event at a local middle school, the New York-Penn League entity formerly known as the Connecticut Tigers revealed it will henceforth be

Miracle morph into the Mighty Mussels

New Fort Myers name, logos revolve around brawny bivalves
December 3, 2019

After 28 seasons as the Miracle, Fort Myers' Florida State League team is coming out of its shell. The Mighty Mussels have washed ashore. The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels name was unveiled to the public during a ballpark news conference Tuesday morning, alongside a logo set featuring the titular brawny bivalves

Put on a happy face: It's the WooSox

Worcester's team unveils name, logos in advance of 2021 debut
November 25, 2019

The Woo is coming through. On Monday evening, Boston's Triple-A affiliate announced that, beginning in 2021, it will be known as the Worcester Red Sox. But while that's the International League team's official moniker, its "WooSox" nickname promises to be more prominent. The first half of this portmanteau references the first

It's a breeze: Wind Surge blow into Wichita

Kansas' only MiLB team, debuting in 2020, unveils name, logos
November 13, 2019

Wichita's current affair is a current of air. The Wind Surge have blown into town.In 2020, after a 12-season absence, Minor League Baseball is returning to Kansas' largest city. As of Wednesday evening, that team has a name: the Wichita Wind Surge -- Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins --

Shore thing: PaddleHeads row into Missoula

D-backs' Pioneer League affiliate unveils aquatic moose identity
November 4, 2019

The moose was let loose.After 21 seasons as the Osprey, Missoula's Pioneer League team announced a name change at a team rebranding event held Monday morning at the Missoula Children's Theater.The Osprey are now the Missoula PaddleHeads, Rookie Advanced affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It's lit: Kannapolis becomes Cannon Ballers

Sally League team launches new name ahead of ballpark move
October 23, 2019

The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have burst on to the scene. The Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox was previously known as the Intimidators. The fuse was lit for a franchise overhaul in February, when the long-running South Atlantic League franchise announced it would change its name in advance of

Fresno reimagines 'Growlifornia' dream

Now Nats affiliate, Triple-A Grizzlies reveal 'forever' logos
January 29, 2019

While winter rolls on, the Fresno Grizzlies are ready to emerge from hibernation with a fresh coat this spring.The Triple-A team revealed updated logos and uniforms on Tuesday night, ushering in the new era as a Nationals affiliate while building off the success of their 2015 redesign."The bear flag became

Cleared for liftoff: Aviators take flight

Las Vegas PCL team rebrands, prepares to move to new ballpark
5:30 PM EST

In 2018, Las Vegas' Minor League Baseball team was called the 51s and played at Cashman Field as an affiliate of the New York Mets. 2019 marks the start of a new era.On Saturday, the Pacific Coast League club unveiled its new name: the Aviators. Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland

Colorado Springs feels the Vibes

New Pioneer League team unveils Rocky Mountain identity
November 19, 2018

It's a Rocky Mountain plot twist.When Colorado Springs' new Rookie-level team announced its "Name the Team" contest this past July, the five finalists were Happy Campers, Lamb Chops, Punchy Pikas, Throttle Jockeys and Rocky Mountain Oysters. Which one did they pick?

Sounds hit classic notes with remixed look

Team's refresh focuses on historical tributes with timeless appeal
November 15, 2018

In Minor League Baseball's current era of the most experimental -- and at times controversial -- rebrandings in sports, the Nashville Sounds are playing the hits.At a team event dubbed "Remastered" on Thursday evening, Nashville unveiled its newest look. While hosting Texas Rangers luminaries such as co-chairman Ray C. Davis,

Sod Poodles burrow into Texas Panhandle

Amarillo's Double-A team unveils prairie dog-themed name, logos
November 13, 2018

In 2019, the Amarillo Sod Poodles will be standing on mounds and roaming the fields. The Sod Poodles' name and logo were unveiled Tuesday afternoon, ending months of speculation regarding the identity of Amarillo's new Minor League team. The Sod Poodles will be the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres,

Knock, knock: Introducing the Woodpeckers

Fayetteville's new Carolina League team unveils name, logos
November 4, 2018

In 2019, after a 17-year absence, Minor League Baseball is returning to Fayetteville, North Carolina. As of Sunday, the city's new team has a name: the Woodpeckers.

Rocket Raccoon: Trash Pandas unveil logos

North Alabama Southern League team one step closer to blastoff
October 27, 2018

Last month, Madison, Alabama's impending Minor League Baseball team announced that they would be known as the Rocket City Trash Pandas. On Saturday, logos were unveiled to go along with this memorable moniker. 

Syracuse steps right up, becomes the Mets

Iconic International League team takes name of new parent club
October 16, 2018

The Syracuse Mets era has begun. During a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Syracuse's long-running International League franchise announced that it has changed its name from the Chiefs to the Mets. This new moniker signifies the beginning of a new chapter for the team, who are owned by the New York Mets

With Tarpons, Tampa throws back to the future

Yankees-owned affiliate assumes unique upright aquatic identity
December 11, 2017

Tampa's Florida State League club announced a new name and logos Monday, a throwback moniker in honor of a throwback fish: the Tarpons have returned.

Bass-ball: Gwinnett unveils Stripers name, logos

Triple-A Atlanta affiliate pays tribute to Lake Lanier's popular fish
11:15 AM EST

The Atlanta Braves own four of their Minor League affiliates. On Friday, Triple-A Gwinnett became the first of those teams to assume its own unique identity. The Gwinnett Stripers era has begun.The Stripers name -- and corresponding logos -- pays homage to the plentiful striped bass of Gwinnett County's Lake