1. Fayetteville Woodpeckers
The Woodpeckers are a member of the Class-A Carolina League and play their games at Segra Stadium. They are an affiliate of the Houston Astros. They were known as the Buies Creek Astros for two years and won the 2018 Carolina League Championship. A name the team contest launched upon the move to Fayetteville, and the Woodpeckers name was chosen to honor the red-cockaded woodpecker.
2. Amarillo Sod Poodles
The Sod Poodles are a member of the Class-AA Texas League and will play their games in Hodgetown. They are an affiliate of the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the San Antonio Missions before relocating to Amarillo. A name the team contest launched, and on November 13, 2018, the Sod Poodles was chosen to reference the prairie dogs of West Texas.
3. Rocky Mountain Vibes
The Rocky Mountain Vibes is a brand-new team that will play in the Pioneer League, a rookie league in Colorado Springs, CO. They will play their games at Security Services Field where it was the home of the Colorado Spring Sky Sox. The Vibes is a reference to “good vibes” that people may feel when enjoying outdoor activities.
4. Las Vegas Aviators
For seventeen years, the Las Vegas franchise was known as the 51’s until this year when the franchise signed a two-year affiliation agreement with the Oakland Athletics. With the new affiliation comes a new team name and the Las Vegas 51’s rebranded themselves as the Aviators in honor of aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. The Aviators play their games at Las Vegas Ballpark which is owned by the Howard Hughes Corporation in Summerlin, Nevada and are a member of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.
5. Syracuse Mets
Since 1934, the Syracuse franchise had been known as the Chiefs from 1934 to 1996 before changing their name to the SkyChiefs that went from 1997 to 2006 and going back the Chiefs again from 2007 to 2018. In 2018, the New York Mets bought the franchise and rebranded it as the Syracuse Mets. The Mets adopted the New York Mets color scheme. The Mets currently play at NBT Bank Stadium and are a member of the Triple-A International League. One player who is being mentioned that could play in Syracuse is former Florida Gator quarterback turned baseball player Tim Tebow. Tebow spent last season with the Mets Double-A club the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.
Minor league teams have always had unique names. Discovering their meaning and origin is interesting. So if you love traveling and watching baseball games, consider attending to these teams home games this season. Play ball.
