Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Alabama’s minor league baseball teams ready for 2024 season: Here’s what to know
April has arrived and you can just feel the baseball in the air. Major League Baseball (MLB) has already gotten started in 2024 and minor league players have reported to their respective teams which means opening day for teams around the state is close.
Alabama has always been a hotbed for minor league baseball teams and three of them will get their seasons started this week in the Southern League (Double-A):
- Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox affiliate)
- Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays affiliate)
- Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels affiliate)
Each team begins their season Friday night. So let’s take a look at what you need to be on the lookout for during the 2024 season for each team including key players, fun promotion nights and more!
Birmingham Barons
The Barons’ players officially arrived in the Magic City on Monday night and there will be a mix of familiar names and newcomers for Birmingham fans. There has been a long line of talent moving through Regions Field in recent years such as Luis Robert, Eloy Jimenez, Colson Montgomery, and more.
Here are some of the top prospects who will begin the 2024 season with the team:
- P Drew Thorpe (No. 3 in White Sox system, No. 82 overall prospect on MLB.com)
- 3B Bryan Ramos (No. 4 in White Sox system)
- C Edgar Quero (No. 5 in White Sox system, No. 9 overall catcher)
You can also keep an eye out for pitcher Noah Schultz who is starting in Single-A but could make a stop in Birmingham before the year is up!
While seeing the top prospects is always exciting, we all know rosters are always changing at the minor league level. But even if you don’t get to know the team well, the Barons have plenty of reasons to draw a crowd this season. Here are some of the key games you need to have on your calendar for 2024:
- Home opener – April 5
- Star Wars night – May 4
- Jalen Milroe night – May 18
- Los Barons Night – June 1
- Rickwood Game – June 18
- Pride Night – June 27
- Super Hero Night – August 3
- Fan Appreciation Day – September 8
Along with those special nights, the Barons will continue with promo nights during each home series including Taco Tuesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, Friday Fireworks, and Family Sundays. They will also host one Wet Nose Wednesday each month where dogs are welcomed to the ballpark.
Montgomery Biscuits
One of the biggest draws for games in Montgomery this season will almost certainly be the loaded Tampa Bay Rays farm system. Here are some of the top talents that will begin this season in Alabama.
- SS Carson Williams (No. 2 in Rays system, No. 19 overall prospect on MLB.com)
- C Dominic Keegan (No. 6 in Rays system)
- P Cole Wilcox (No. 13 in Rays system)
Former top prospect Brendan McKay is also back in Montgomery, making his return to the diamond after recovering for nearly two years from an injury.
The Riverwalk Stadium will also likely bring big crowds with their many giveaways scheduled this season. You can see the full list on their Instagram post below!
Montgomery’s opening home game will be on Tuesday, April 9. Their weekly promotions for home series include Thirsty Thursdays, firework shows on Saturdays and Bark in the Park on Sundays.
Rocket City Trash Pandas
Well the Shohei Ohtani era with the Angels is over which means the dream of seeing a rehab stint in Alabama for the international star is probably off the table for good. (Do I hear a Mike Trout possibility?) But there are still names to keep an eye on this season if you’re going to a Trash Pandas game.
- Infielder Kyren Paris (No. 3 in Angels system)
- P Ben Joyce (No. 4 in Angels system)
- 2B Adrian Placencia (No. 14 in Angels system)
A lot of the Angels’ top-tier talent is still in rookie or low-A ball which means you could see some names climb the ladder and make it to Huntsville before the end of the season. Names to look for include 18-year-old outfielder Nelson Rada and pitcher Caden Dana.
The state’s newest minor league team also has several promotions on the calendar for this season. Here’s a quick breakdown the team gave of what to expect in 2024:
- 27 firework shows
- 17 gate giveaways
- 5 collection drives
- 9 dog days (+1 cat night!)
Rocket City will open its season at home next week, hosting the Barons with the first game scheduled for Tuesday, April 9.
Will you be heading out to any of the home openers across the state? Post it to social media and tag The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn!
