Virginia’s Minor League Baseball Teams

Get to know Virginia’s three minor League Baseball teams – the Norfolk Tides the Richmond Flying Squirrels and the Potomac Nationals.

The Norfolk Tides

The Norfolk Tides are a professional minor league baseball team in the Triple-A National League They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. The Tides were tenants of the Baltimore Orioles from 2007 to 2020, after spending thirteen seasons as the top farm team of the New York Mets In 2021, they became an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays

The franchise began in 1961 as the Tidewater Tides, a Washington Senators affiliate based in Portsmouth, Virginia. The Senators moved their Triple-A club to Arlington after the 1971 season, but MLB awarded a new Tidewater franchise to Portsmouth three years later. This reincarnation of the franchise played as part of the A-level Carolina League through 1986; on October 6 of that year, MLB announced that the Tides would be moving up toDouble-A baseball as members of the Eastern League for 1987. Thus began a nomadic phase in which the franchise was affiliated with five different MLB teams until June 18, 1992, when they became an affiliate of their present-day parent club, then known asthe Mets.

The Richmond Flying Squirrels

The Richmond Flying Squirrels are a minor league baseball team based in Richmond, Virginia. The team, which plays in the Eastern League is the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants They were previously known as the Connecticut Defenders.

The Flying Squirrels play their home games at The Diamond, located in Richmond’s historic Shockoe Bottom neighborhood. The ballpark has a capacity of 12,134 people and opened in 1985. It underwent a $10 million renovation in 2010.

The Potomac Nationals

The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team in Woodbridge, Virginia. The team, which plays in the Carolina League is the High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals of the Major League Baseball (MLB). They are owned and operated by Mark Scialabba and play their home games at Pfitzner Stadium which opened in 1984 and seats 6,000 fans.

The Lynchburg Hillcats

The Lynchburg Hillcats are a Minor League Baseball Team in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. They are a Class A Advanced affiliate of the Cleveland Indians The team plays in the Carolina League. The Hillcats moved to Lynchburg from Wilmington, North Carolina in 1963, and have played at Lynchburg City Stadium since 1966. The Hillcats’ mascot is named Mister Twister.

The Salem Red Sox

The Salem Red Sox are a minor league baseball team in Salem, Virginia. They are members of the Carolina League and are the Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox The team plays its home games at Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks

The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League baseball team based in Wilmington, North Carolina The Blue Rocks play in the Carolina League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Kansas City Royals They are named for the state bird of North Carolina the northern cardinal. Their home stadium is Frawley Stadium, which opened in 1993 and has a capacity of 6,532 fans.

The Frederick Keys

The Frederick Keys are a minor League Baseball team that plays in the Carolina League. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland, and play their home games at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. The team is affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles

The Keys were founded in 1989 and have won two Carolina League championships, in 1992 and 2001. The team has also been to the playoffs nine times overall. Notable alumni of the Keys include former Orioles All-Star Cal Ripken Jr., Future Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and pitcher Mike Bordick.

The Carolina Mudcats

The Carolina Mudcats are a Minor League Baseball Team based in Zebulon, North Carolina The Mudcats play in the Carolina League and are the Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds They are currently managed by Luis Bolivar and play their Home Games at Five County Stadium.

The Winston-Salem Dash

The Winston-Salem Dash is a professional Minor League Baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina They are a Class A Advanced affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and play in the Carolina League. The Dash began play as the Winston-Salem Spirits in 2009.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Myrtle Beach Pelicans is a Minor League Baseball team in Myrtle Beach South Carolina The Pelicans are affiliated with the Chicago Cubs and play in the Carolina League.

The franchise began in 1963 as the Toledo Mud Hens an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers In 2009, the team became the Pelicans after relocating to Myrtle Beach

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans play their home games at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark, located just minutes from the beach. The ballpark has a seating capacity of 6,599 fans and features a open-air concourse, state-of-the-art video scoreboard, and a variety of food and beverage options.