Baseball season returned to North Carolina with the state’s two Triple-A teams starting play last weekend. The state’s eight Class-A teams take the field this week as some of baseball’s top prospects will get some N.C. seasoning on their way to the big leagues.
Here’s a look at each of the state’s professional minor league teams as we get our peanuts and Cracker Jack ready.
Durham Bulls
Triple-A International League
MLB affiliation: Tampa Bay Rays
2022 record: 86-64, first place in I.L. East, International League Champions, Triple-A National Champions
Manager: Michael Johns
Opening day: March 30
The Bulls are the defending back-to-back national champions, giving the powerhouse eight league titles and four national championships since joining Triple-A in 1997. The Bulls are the last stop for a Tampa Bay organization that prides itself on finding talent and developing major leaguers. This year is no exception as four of the Rays’ top seven prospects open the year in Durham: No. 1 Taj Bradley, pitcher; No. 2 Curtis Mead, infielder; No. 4 Kyle Manzardo, first baseman; and No. 7 Osleyvis Basabe, infielder. The Bulls will have a new manager after Brady Williams earned a promotion to the big league staff. Longtime Rays minor league manager, coach and coordinator Michael Johns takes the helm.
Charlotte Knights
Triple-A International League
MLB affiliation: Chicago White Sox
2022 record: 58-92, last place in International League East
Manager: Justin Jirschele
Opening day: March 30
The Knights are looking to bounce back after back-to-back last-place finishes. They’ll start the year with two of the White Sox’s top prospects in pitcher Sean Burke, who is fifth in the organization, and infielder Lenyn Sosa, who is eighth. Charlotte will also have a new skipper as Justin Jirshele continues to move up the Chicago organization after managing Double-A Birmingham the last two years.
Hickory Crawdads
High A South Atlantic League
MLB affiliation: Texas Rangers
2022 record: 66-65, sixth place
Manager: Chad Comer
Opening day: April 6
The Crawdads will be looking to move up in the South Atlantic after finishing in the middle of the pack last year. Most of the Rangers’ top prospects, however, have already advanced to the upper levels of the minor league system. The top Texas prospect to open the year in Hickory will be pitcher Dane Acker, who is No. 23 on the organization’s prospect rankings.
Asheville Tourists
High A South Atlantic League
MLB affiliation: Houston Astros
2022 record: 62-69, eighth place
Manager: Nate Shaver
Opening day: April 6
The Astros are the defending World Series champions, and there is plenty of talent still in the pipeline. After a down year last season, the Tourists should be packed with talent to start the year. Outfielders Drew Gilbert and Jacob Melton are slated to start the year with the team. They are third and fourth, respectively, on the Houston prospect rankings.
Greensboro Grasshoppers
High A South Atlantic League
MLB affiliation: Pittsburgh Pirates
2022 record: 58-70, ninth place
Manager: Robby Hammock
Opening day: April 18
The Hoppers have a new manager with the most big league credentials of any of the state’s minor league managers in Robby Hammock, who played for the Diamondbacks for several seasons. He also managed in the organization for a decade before moving on to the Pirates minor leagues. He’ll have some gems to work with as right-hander Bubba Chandler and southpaw Anthony Solometo, seventh and 10th on the Pirates prospects rankings, respectively, will open the year in Greensboro.
Winston-Salem Dash
High A South Atlantic League
MLB affiliation: Chicago White Sox
2022 record: 58-74, 10th place
Manager: Guillermo Quiroz
Opening day: April 11
One of three White Sox franchises in North Carolina, the Dash will open the year with outfielder Terrell Tatum, the No. 25 prospect in the Chicago organization.
Carolina Mudcats
Low A Carolina League
MLB affiliation: Milwaukee Brewers
2022 record: 69-62, fifth place
Manager: Victor Estevez
Opening day: April 11
Several Brewers stars went through Zebulon on the way to Milwaukee. The next one might be right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, No. 7 on the organization’s prospect list.
Down East Wood Ducks
Low A Carolina League
MLB affiliation: Texas Rangers
2022 record: 65-66, sixth place
Manager: Carlos Maldonado
Opening day: April 6
Down East will get things started this week with outfield prospect Yeison Morrobel, who is the 13th-best player in the Rangers’ minor league organization.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Low A Carolina League
MLB affiliation: Chicago White Sox
2022 record: 58-74, ninth place
Manager: Pat Leyland
Opening day: April 18
The Cannon Ballers will have their namesake on the roster to start the year as pitcher Jonathan Cannon, the 10th-best minor leaguer in the White Sox organization, will start the year in Kannapolis.
Fayetteville Woodpeckers
Low A Carolina League
MLB affiliation: Houston Astros
2022 record: 55-75, 10th place
Manager: Ricky Rivera
Opening day: April 7
The Astros never seem to be out of prospects, and they stocked Fayetteville with their sixth-best minor leaguer, outfielder Ryan Clifford.
High Point Rockers
Independent Atlantic League
MLB affiliation: None
2022 record: 71-61, second in Atlantic League South, Wild Card, Lost in championship series
Manager: Jamie Keefe
Opening day: April 22
The last team to throw out their first pitch will be the state’s only independent league team. The Rockers played for a title last year and will be looking to finish the job in 2023.
