Carolina Mudcats
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| Carolina Mudcats Founded in 1991 Zebulon, North Carolina |
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| League titles | 1995,2003 | ||
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| Owner(s)/Operated by: Steve Bryant and Carolina Mudcats Professional Baseball Club, Inc. | |||
| Manager: Brandon Hyde | |||
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The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins major-league club.
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[edit] 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. The Mudcats have claimed two Southern League championships since moving to North Carolina, the first in 1995 and the second in 2003.
[edit] Straight to the Majors
Since becoming an affiliate of the Florida Marlins, the Marlins have 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' 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, and Robert Andino.
[edit] Current roster
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Carolina Mudcats roster
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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[edit] 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)
- Brett Carroll (2007)
- Midre Cummings (1993)
- Chone Figgins (2001)
- Freddy Garcia (1997)
- Harvey Garcia (2007)
- Jason Kendall (1994, 1995)
- Esteban Loaiza (1993, 1994)
- Juan Pierre (2000)
- Anibal Sanchez (2006)
- Doug Strange (1998)
- Juan Uribe (2001)
- Andy Van Slyke (1993)
- Rick Vanden Hurk (2007)
- Dontrelle Willis (2003)
- Tim Wakefield (1991)
- Craig Wilson (1998)
[edit] References
- ^ Mudcats celebrate 15th year in Five County, Wilson Daily Times; retrieved February 2007
[edit] External links
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| AAA | AA | A | Rookie |
| Albuquerque Isotopes | Carolina Mudcats |
Jupiter Hammerheads Greensboro Grasshoppers Jamestown Jammers |
Gulf Coast Marlins VSL Marlins |
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