Carolina Mudcats

Carolina Mudcats Founded in 1959 Zebulon, North Carolina
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-level
High-A (2012-Present) AA (1991-2011)
Minor league affiliations
Carolina League (2012-Present) Southern Division Southern League (1991-2011)
Major league affiliations
Cleveland Indians (2012-Present) Cincinnati Reds (2009-2011) Florida Marlins (2003-2008) Colorado Rockies (1999-2002) Pittsburgh Pirates (1991-1998) Houston Astros (1970-1990) Chicago White Sox (1959-1969)
Name
Carolina Mudcats (1991-Present) Columbus Mudcats (1989-1990) Columbus Astros (1970-1988) Columbus White Sox (1969) Evansville White Sox(1966-1968) Lynchburg White Sox (1963-1965) Savannah White Sox (1962) Charleston White Sox (1959-1961)
Ballpark
Five County Stadium (1991-Present) Golden Park (Columbus, GA) (1969-1990)
Minor league titles
League titles	1995, 2003
Division titles	2008
Owner(s)/Operated by: Steve Bryant (majority owner) and Carolina Mudcats Professional Baseball Club, Inc and Quint Studer.
Manager: David Bell
General Manager: Joe Kremer

The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.

History

The Mudcats' origins date back to 1959, when the Chicago White Sox' Southern Association/Southern League affiliate began play in Charleston, South Carolina. During the 1960s the team moved several times, finally settling in Columbus, Georgia, in 1969. The club's arrival in Columbus marked the beginning of a period of relative stability. For the next two decades the team played its home games in Columbus' historic Golden Park as an affiliate of the Houston Astros. Following the 1988 season, new owner Steve Bryant held a contest among season-ticket holders to rename the team. As a result, in 1989 the team became known as the Columbus Mudcats. In 1991, Bryant moved the club to North Carolina and renamed it the Carolina Mudcats.^[1] That move coincidentally allowed the team to retain its logo unchanged - a large C encircling a catfish.

Today, the Mudcats play in Five County Stadium in Zebulon, North Carolina. Built in 1991 and renovated in 1999, the park seats 6,500 fans. The park is located in Wake County, but it is near Nash, Johnston, Franklin and Wilson counties, hence the ballpark's name. In 2010, the Mudcats are celebrating their 20th year in Wake County. The Mudcats have claimed two Southern League championships since moving to North Carolina, the first in 1995 and the second in 2003 and have seen four different MLB teams play at Five County Stadium. The Mudcats received the Bob Freitas Award in 1996 for excellence in minor league baseball.

The AA affiliation will end following the 2011 season as the Reds will move their affiliate team to Pensacola, Florida, for the 2012 season, where they will be known as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. The team will become the new Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, as the team moves to the Carolina League, taking the place of the Kinston Indians.^[2]

Straight to the Majors

During their years as an affiliate of the Florida Marlins, the Marlins had elected to bring many of their top prospects up to the major leagues directly from Carolina. (This is partially due to the geographic proximity of the Mudcats compared to the Marlins' former Class AAA club in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and partially due to the Pacific Coast League's reputation as a hitter-friendly league.) Some of the players who the Marlins have brought up directly from Carolina include Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, Jason Vargas, Scott Olsen, Logan Kensing (who was brought up directly from Class A Jupiter the previous year), Chris Resop, Josh Johnson, Yorman Bazardo, Jeremy Hermida, Chris Volstad, and Robert Andino.

Current roster

The Mudcats (white) play the Montgomery Biscuits in a home game on August 13, 2011

Carolina Mudcats rosterview · talk · edit
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 21 James Avery 38 Justin Freeman 30 Tim Gustafson  8 Tim Hamulack -- Jordan Hotchkiss 37 Brandon Hynick 49 Donnie Joseph 33 Matt Klinker 27 Justin Lehr 28 Kyle McCulloch  7 Chris Mobley 19 Curtis Partch 15 Josh Ravin 20 Pedro Villarreal		Catchers 22 Kevin Coddington 17 Mark Fleury Infielders 34 Eric Campbell  9 Brodie Greene  4 Didi Gregorius  3 Jake Kahaulelio  6 Cody Puckett 39 Henry Rodriguez 11 Miguel Rojas Outfielders -- Shane Carlson ∞  2 Josh Fellhauer 24 Ryan LaMarre 16 Bill Rhinehart		Manager 25 David Bell Coaches 26 Tom Brown (pitching) 14 Ryan Jackson (hitting) Edwin Rodriguez (Manager) 7-day disabled list * On Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated September 6, 2011 Transactions → More rosters

Former Mudcats

Many Mudcats have reached the majors. These are some of the players that have gone on to be successful:

• Bronson Arroyo (1998)
• Daniel Barone (2007)
• Kris Benson (1997)
• Miguel Cabrera (2003)
• Ken Caminiti (1987)
• Brett Carroll (2007)
• Midre Cummings (1993)
• Chone Figgins (2001)
• Freddy García (1997)
• Harvey Garcia (2007)
• Jason Kendall (1994, 1995)
• Esteban Loaiza (1993, 1994)
• Juan Pierre (2000)
• Aníbal Sánchez (2006)
• Gaby Sanchez (2008)
• Doug Strange (1998)
• Ryan Tucker (2008)
• Juan Uribe (2001)
• Andy Van Slyke (1993)
• Rick Vanden Hurk (2007)
• Chris Volstad (2008)
• Dontrelle Willis (2003)
• Tim Wakefield (1991)
• Craig Wilson (1998)

References

1. ^ Mudcats celebrate 15th year in Five County, Wilson Daily Times; retrieved February 2007
2. ^ [1], Ballpark Digest; retrieved December 2010

External links

• Carolina Mudcats official site
• Carolina Mudcats games listen live