Barons to Remain Chicago White Sox Affiliate

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Chicago White Sox announced today that the Birmingham Barons will remain the Double-A Affiliate for the team for the upcoming season. The 2021 Minor League Baseball season will mark the 35th straight year that the Barons have been affiliated with the White Sox. This stands as the sixth longest tenured affiliation with a Major League club in all of Minor League Baseball. The Barons also have the longest tenured affiliation within the White Sox farm system, as well as within the Southern League.

“We are truly appreciative and honored to have worked with the Chicago White Sox since 1986 and look forward to many more years,” said Barons General Manager Jonathan Nelson. “Over the years, the White Sox have provided Birmingham their top-rated prospects allowing Barons fans to see many future Major League All-Stars, MVP/Cy Young Award winners, as well as key members of the 2005 World Champion White Sox enroute to Chicago.”

During the 35-year affiliation with the White Sox, the Barons have made 15 playoff appearances that have resulted in five Southern League Championships. The last of those coming during the 2013 season, where the Barons beat the Mobile BayBears 4-2 in game five of the Southern League Championship Series at Regions Field.

The Barons have seen an abundant number of baseball stars come through Birmingham during this time including a National Baseball Hall of Famer (Frank Thomas), Silver Slugger Award Winners, Gold Glove Winners, World Series Champions, and more. Basketball superstar, Michael Jordan, made his professional baseball debut with the Barons on April 8th, 1994.

Notable Players to play for the Barons since 1986

· Bobby Thigpen (1986) · Bobby Jenks (2005)

· Jack McDowell (1987) · Chris Young (2005)

· Robin Ventura – (1989 & 1997) · Gordon Beckham (2009)

· Wilson Alvarez – (1989 & 1991) · Tyler Flowers (2009)

· Alex Fernandez (1990) · Jake Peavy (2011 & 2013)

· Frank Thomas (1990) · Chris Bassit (2013-2014)

· Bo Jackson (1991) · Marcus Semien (2013)

· Ray Durham (1993) · Paul Konerko (2013)

· *Terry Francona (1993-1995) · Tim Anderson (2015)

· Michael Jordan (1994) · Aaron Bummer (2017)

· Mike Cameron (1995-1996) · Jace Fry (2017)

· Magglio Ordonez (1996) · Michael Kopech (2017)

· Scott Eyre (1996-1997) · Danny Mendick (2018)

· Carlos Lee (1998) · Dylan Cease (2018)

· Jim Abbott (1998) · Eloy Jimenez (2018)

· Joe Crede (1999-2000) · Zac Collins (2018)

· Jon Garland (1999-2000) · Luis Robert (2019)

· Mark Buehrle (2000) · Nick Madrigal (2019)

· Aaron Rowand (2000)

*BOLD - Manager

The Barons look forward to the 2021 Minor League Baseball season, and look to release next season’s schedule in the upcoming months.