Minor League Baseball season starting in Alabama: What you need to know before first pitch
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April has arrived and that means baseball is back.
All three in-state Minor League Baseball teams start their 2025 seasons at home this week + high expectations are bringing plenty of excitement too.
Last season, the Birmingham Barons knocked off the Montgomery Biscuits for the 2024 Southern League title. Now, the Barons are hoping to repeat while the Biscuits are searching for revenge. And don’t forget about the Trash Pandas!
Keep reading for a quick preview on all three teams including opening weekend, players to watch, promo nights, the Rickwood Classic + more!
Birmingham Barons
- Team: Birmingham Barons
- Affiliate: Chicago White Sox
- Stadium: Regions Field | 1401 1st Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35233
- 2024 record: 72-66, Southern League Champions, first half North Division Champions
- Southern League titles: 8 (Last: 2024)
- Schedule | Facebook | Instagram
The Barons will celebrate last year’s championship on opening night at Regions Field. Birmingham is hosting Knoxville when fans can get a closer look at the championship rings!
The roster will look a little different from last year’s team that won the title. But there are still some big names to keep an eye on this season including:
- P Noah Schultz (No. 15 overall prospect on MLB.com)
- OF Terrell Tatum
- SS Jacob Gonzalez
- P Mason Adams
Names to remember include pitcher Hagen Smith and outfield Braden Montgomery who could be called up to Birmingham at some point this season.
Some of this year’s promotional theme nights at Regions Field include:
- Wet Nose + Wine Wednesdays
- Thirsty Thursdays
- Fireworks Fridays
- Family Day Sundays
Montgomery Biscuits
- Team: Montgomery Biscuits
- Affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays
- Stadium: Riverwalk Stadium | 200 Coosa St, Montgomery, AL 36104
- 2024 record: 80-57, first half South Division Champions, Southern League runner-up
- Southern League titles: 2 (Last: 2007)
- Schedule | Facebook | Instagram
Montgomery is coming off one its best overall seasons ever but the roster is going to see a lot of turnover after seeing that kind of success. Still, Biscuits fans will want to get to the ballpark to watch some special talents including:
- 1B Xavier Isaac
- IF Brayden Taylor
- P Brody Hopkins
If you’re looking for a specific promotional night for your next trip to Riverwalk Stadium, see the team’s full list for the season.
Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Team: Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Affiliate: Los Angeles Angels
- Stadium: Toyota Field | 500 Trash Panda Wy, Madison, AL 35758
- 2024 record: 61-75
- Southern League titles: 0
- Schedule | Facebook | Instagram
The Rocket City Trash Pandas are the newest minor league baseball team in the state and they are hoping to get their hands on their first ever Southern League title this season.
The Trash Pandas will open the season at home this weekend, hosting Chattanooga for a three-game weekend series. And there’s a lot of reasons to think the team will have success early in the season.
Several of the Angels’ top prospects will start the season in Madison including:
- 2B Christian Moore (No. 1 team prospect on MLB.com)
- P George Klassen (No. 3)
- P Sam Aldegheri (No. 5)
- OF Nelson Rada (No. 6)
- SS Denzer Guzman (No. 9)
If you just want to get out and enjoy the atmosphere, there are plenty of promotional nights happening throughout the season at Toyota Field.
2025 Rickwood Classic
Rickwood Field was put into the national spotlight last year with a week full of events including the return of minor league baseball to the stadium with a game between the Barons and the Biscuits.
This season, the Barons will be back at the historic ballpark for the Rickwood Classic against the Trash Pandas. The game is scheduled for June 4 at 12:30PM and will honor the Birmingham Black Barons and the Negro League.
Check out the Barons website for tickets—which will be easier to come by than last season!
Which team are you most excited to watch this season? Let us know by tagging The Bama Buzz on Instagram, X, Facebook + LinkedIn.
