Pelicans VP: Carolina League expansion shows quality of the league
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans will soon have two new rivals.
And it appears likely they will both also be in the Carolinas.
Minor League Baseball announced on Monday that the Class-A Advanced Carolina League will add two teams in 2017 as part of “a broader realignment at that level of play,” according to a press release.
Kinston, North Carolina – which had Carolina League clubs in 1956-57, 1962-74 and 1978-2011 – will return and the other site has yet to be determined, although Fayetteville, North Carolina is making a strong push for the spot with “steady progress toward a stadium that would see play beginning with the 2019 season,” the release said. Fayetteville was the site of a Carolina League team from 1950-56 and served as the home of a South Atlantic League club from 1987-2000.
Pelicans Vice President and General Manager Andy Milovich believes the move displays the strength of the Carolina League.
“I think it speaks to the quality of the league from a player development standpoint and a fan interest standpoint,” he said.
Meanwhile, the California League’s Bakersfield (Calif.) Blaze and High Desert (Calif.) Mavericks will cease operations at the completion of the 2016 season.
“This step was taken with the best interests of Minor League Baseball, both leagues and our Major League Baseball partners in mind,” Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner said in the press release. “California League President Charlie Blaney, Carolina League President John Hopkins and the club owners in both leagues worked to address this important issue and I thank them for their efforts. We are happy that professional baseball will return to Kinston and we are pleased with the steps Fayetteville has taken to bring professional baseball back to that great city as well.”
Milovich believes that if Fayetteville gets the second team, the Pelicans – and the city – will benefit.
I think that the team that we have and the way they’ve been playing the last couple months has just been incredible. It’s been an exciting place to be in the ballpark here on a daily basis and we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to continue this momentum into the playoffs and build on the excitement and enthusiasm that we had last year that led to the Mills Cup championship. Overall, the relationship with the Cubs, the quality of the players and the player development people that are coming to town developing these guys has been everything that we’ve dreamed of and then some. So we couldn’t be more excited about the relationship and what’s it’s meant to the community and to the fans at TicketReturn.com Field.
Pelicans Vice President and General Manager Andy Milovich
“The addition of the two teams – and the location of those two teams – will be a great addition from a Pelicans standpoint in terms of both travel and developing interest in travel and tourism from the fans of those teams to Myrtle Beach,” Milovich said. “So I think ultimately the change will be a great thing for not only the Carolina League but [for] minor league baseball and the major league teams that are involved in it. But, specifically, for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans community as well.”
The addition of Kinston – formerly the Indians but yet to be named in its return – brings back a longtime rival of the Pelicans. Fayetteville potentially provides another cross-border rival for Myrtle Beach.
“I think it can develop from a rivalry standpoint,” Milovich said. “And ultimately the more the people in those communities think about Myrtle Beach the better it is for the community in Myrtle Beach. So I think there’s some great upside, not only from a baseball standpoint, but also in terms of travel and tourism for the community.”
The Kinston club will be owned by the Texas Rangers, who have a 12-year agreement with the city of Kinston to provide a team to play at historic Grainger Stadium, the release said. The city of Fayetteville recently approved a memorandum of understanding, a key step toward a new downtown ballpark, according to the release. The affiliate and ownership of that club will be announced at a later date, and the club would play in a temporary location until the ballpark is completed, the release stated.
“Realignment doesn’t happen often, and we are excited to be a part of this process that addresses some issues important to our industry,” Carolina League President John Hopkins said in the release. “It’s flattering that clubs are making a major commitment to become part of our league, enabling us to return Carolina League baseball to an outstanding community where we have some memorable history and we look forward to selecting our 10th city in the near future.”
The Carolina League is one of three Class A-Advanced leagues in minor league baseball.
“I think the Carolina League is the top A league of the three High-A leagues for a variety of reasons,” Milovich said. “The quality of the markets we play in, the quality of the facilities that we have and the support that we get from our communities I think is incredible. It’s a place where minor league teams want to develop their players. It’s reflected in the quality of play you see out here on a daily basis, both from a Pelicans standpoint and the other teams that come from the league. I think expanding the league and adding these teams is a natural.”
David Wetzel: 843-626-0295, @MYBSports
This story was originally published August 22, 2016 at 6:10 PM with the headline "Pelicans VP: Carolina League expansion shows quality of the league."