We're getting near the halfway mark of the 10 year PDLs that were started in 2021. I've been surprised by how little news we've had and surprised by how so many teams and cities have already either made the MLB-mandated upgrades or at least authorized them. But it's not 120/120, and seemingly (?) April 1, 2025 is the deadline for teams to meet requirements and keep their license or to get phased out.

Googling around isn't a perfect system and there are some teams (Salem, Montgomery, etc.) that I haven't seen reporting about upgrades one way or another, but I don't want to speculate that they are in danger. Maybe we can crowdsource a list of the few teams that seem to be in danger of not hitting the mark. So far I just have three:

Eugene Emeralds - Unless they pull off some buzzer beater, it doesn't look like a new ballpark is coming. The owner said that there is interest in minor league baseball from other cities in the region. So this could be a pretty straightforward relocation.

Modesto Nuts - They extended the lease for one more season, but is that just to give Ontario (CA) enough time to complete their new sports complex? There was some recent reporting about the Mariners exploring the option of helping to pay for upgrades, but that could be hot air. Plus, every other Cal League team looks good and there doesn't seem to be a clean way to add Ontario while also keeping Modesto.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans - This situation was looking a lot shakier earlier this year, but now the lease is extended for another year and at least some funds have been approved for stadium maintenance. It seems that the city and team are currently in negotiations to see if they can work out funding for full upgrades. I could see it going either way, but at least there is some progress. Pressure is certainly on, especially with $39 million already approved for upgrading the stadium in Frederick, and MLB likely eager to solve some of the geographic quirks with the SAL and Carolina league maps.

Any others?

The city of Ontario just broke ground on a new park ready for the 2026 season, saying they will be the new Dodgers affiliate. However, from my understanding, the Quakes have a 10 year agreement with the Dodgers expiring in 2030, as well as a new 15 year agreement with the city of Rancho Cucamonga expiring in 2039.

Anyone know how Ontario is getting the Dodgers affiliate status?

Thanks!

This is signed by the third baseman of the spokane indians in the late 60s-early 70s does anyone know who it is my grandpa can’t recall.

Game times for all 120 MiLB teams were loaded into the MiLB website yesterday. There are about 10 TBA games in the schedule - Sunday games in cities with NFL conflicts, Easter Saturday doubleheaders, and a couple of other random omissions. Otherwise, feel free to start working on your multi-city road trips...

https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-short-but-exciting-life-of-the-havana-sugar-kings/

Hello everyone,

You may have saw the Hudson Valley Renegades had a Bhutan Night promotion this year. The Renegades helped bring over 15 kids from Bhutan and wore Bhutan themed jerseys. It was a great time and really was incredible opportunity for our kids. For all the kids it was their first time out of Bhutan and seeing real professional baseball.

While we are continuing to work with the Renegades, we would really love to bring this promotion to other MiLB teams. If any MiLB teams are interested in doing a Bhutan Night with your team send us a message we would love to explore it. Or if are connected with a team pass it along.

According to the link I followed on the story, the agreement keeps the Quakes in RC for another 15 years. I thought I saw rumblings around here that they were headed to Ontario and that the 66ers (Angels Affiliate) moving here to RC from San Bernardino. Anyone have any other input?

Does anyone know of a good resource that archives historical attendance data where data is available broken down month-by-month? There are tons of resources for total attendance at the end of the year, but I can't find anything where it's broken down by month.

Alternatively, if you have access to a couple of years of an individual team's data, I would love to talk to you! I'm a former MiLB box office manager working on my doctoral dissertation, and this data would be a big help!

I’ve copies of the minor league baseball analyst and it’s a good entry, but out of date almost as soon as it is printed.

Are there any good sites, spreadsheets or tools that are useful in searching players, looking at scouting grades and giving eta or major arrival times?

Any input appreciated!

Hi guys! I recently started finding enjoyment in watching sports again for the first time in many years.

I was curious how does the minors work? I live in an area where I’m by 4 spring training complexes(Mets, cardinals, astros, and nationals) also two minor league teams which are the palm beach cardinals and the Jupiter hammerheads.

How do I keep up and what are the events like?

Hello everyone! I have never watched baseball and would like to see a game while I am in NYC. My question is, are there any minor league baseball games coming this week? Thanks!

I have a general question for those in the know around here...From a pure status/fan preference standpoint, every non-affiliated independent team wants MLB affiliation. However, given that MLB imposes higher wages for the players, a bigger cut from the licensing, and all of the other requirements to be an affiliated club including millions in stadium improvements...Would an ownership group like LONG Island (Originally had Staten Island in here by mistake) or Kane County end up making more money in Atlantic /AA League(s) where they have fantastic attendance (as high or higher than many Eastern League or Sally League teams) and lower overhead? I am speaking specifically for those teams with high attendance in 100-126 game leagues like the Atlantic League and AAssoc. etc. (Staten Island, York, Lancaster, Kane County, etc.) I realize that for a lower attendance team (or a low game number team with bonkers attendance, like Trenton), affiliation would be a great business move and is a no-brainer. No argument there. But how much higher would attendance be in those places I named above with MLB affiliation with a far-away MLB expansion franchise? You would have to factor in the the higher ticket prices that would have to be charged to cover the additional overhead/stadium improvements MiLB requires, and that may drive attendance down. That's the question I have from a pure busine$$ perspective for these high-attendance Indy teams.

Also, are these attendance figures in indy ball accurate?

I want to see Hudson Valley do Sandlot night. When Scranton did it they had a star from the show throw out the first pitch & after the game they watched the actual movie on the videoboard. Who knows what my team is gonna do for their promotional schedule next year, guess i’ll have to wait and find out

So, I have a home run ball from a player from 8/31/2019 and I wanted to get the clip from it. Any help is appreciated!

Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the official start time for the 2024 Triple-A Championship Game, set for Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:09 p.m. PT/10:09 ET, at Las Vegas Ballpark in Las Vegas, Nevada.

https://www.nyrdcast.com/2024/09/2024-triple-a-championship-game-heading-to-las-vegas-this-saturday/

Last night I checked the minor league scoreboard to see who Scranton is playing after their excellent finish to a great season ........................... and discovered they are not in the playoffs!

In recent years the minor leagues have implemented a first half and second half winner system which as shown in 1981 has a major flaw to it in which the team with the best overall record can miss the playoffs AND Triple A especially the International League takes it to an even worse extreme! The International League and the Pacific League each have two divisions with the IL having 10 teams in each division and the PL having 5 teams in each division.

In other levels four teams make it from each league (2 per division per half) but in Triple A the highest level of the minors it turns out it's FOUR TOTAL TRIPLE A teams (two IL teams and two PL teams) which means only 2 of 20 IL teams get in and it's possible for NOBODY in a division to make the playoffs! Like why even have divisions (if there isn't someone guaranteed)?

Having half winners per division is okay as long as their is a fail safe for the overall winner if that team doesn't win either half with their wins more spread out. If the overall winner is the same as a half winner nothing changes but if not the two half winners should face off then the winner faces the overall winner.

In AAA you can even win one or both halves in your division and still not get in since it apparently is only the first and second half winners of the WHOLE LEAGUE. Like why even have divisions? And yes the NBA should have gotten rid of divisions in 2017 when it became possible for a team to top their division and miss the playoffs.