Get to know the teams in the High-A East

As the 2021 season approaches, MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of Minor League Baseball across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team introduction to the High-A East, including affiliation, previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's continuous operation in that market regardless of league or level.) Learn about other leagues here: Triple-A East, Triple-A West, Double-A Northeast, Double-A Central, Double-A South.

A mashup of members from the Carolina, South Atlantic, Midwest and New York-Penn Leagues, this 12-team circuit spans eight states with a geographic footprint that stretches from New York to Georgia.

Of the dozen, only Wilmington and Winston-Salem remain at the same level from previous years as former participants in the Carolina League. In fact, a majority of the High-A East clubs -- Asheville, Lakewood, Greensboro, Greenville, Hickory and Rome -- are moving up a level, since all six come aboard from the Class A Sally League, while Bowling Green joins from the Class A MWL.

The other three teams -- Aberdeen, Brooklyn and Hudson Valley -- jump two levels from their previous standing as Class A Short Season teams. Of course, that also means Opening Day will come earlier for that trio, which had been accustomed to starting play in mid-June.

North Division

ABERDEEN IRONBIRDS

Affiliate: Baltimore Orioles (since 2002)
Location: Aberdeen, Maryland (36 miles from Camden Yards)
Ballpark: Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium (opened June 18, 2002)
Established: 2002
Previous league: Class A Short Season New York-Penn League
Last championship: None

Did you know? A stone's throw from Camden Yards, Aberdeen is the hometown of IronBirds founding owner and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr.

BROOKLYN CYCLONES

Affiliate: New York Mets (since 2001)
Location: Brooklyn, New York (21 miles from Citi Field)
Ballpark: MCU Park (opened June 25, 2001)
Established: 2001 (previous Brooklyn clubs date back to 1872)
Previous league: Class A Short Season New York-Penn League
Last championship: 2019

Did you know? The Cyclones have paid tribute to the Seinfeld sitcom every year since 2014.

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES

Affiliate: New York Yankees (since 2021)
Location: Fishkill, New York (60 miles from Yankee Stadium)
Ballpark: Dutchess Stadium (opened June 18, 1994)
Established: 1994
Previous league: Class A Short Season New York-Penn League
Last championship: 2017

Did you know? The Renegades are owned by The Goldklang Group, which also has stakes in the Charleston RiverDogs and St. Paul Saints.

JERSEY SHORE BLUECLAWS

Affiliate: Philadelphia Phillies (since 2001)
Location: Lakewood, New Jersey (72 miles from Citizens Bank Park)
Ballpark: FirstEnergy Field (opened April 6, 2001)
Established: 2001 (as the Lakewood BlueClaws)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2010

Did you know? Since 2007, the BlueClaws have occasionally played as the Pork Rolls in celebration of the regional delicacy. Games also feature a race between Pork Roll, Egg and Cheese.

WILMINGTON BLUE ROCKS

Affiliate: Washington Nationals (since 2021)
Location: Wilmington, Delaware (109 miles to Nationals Park)
Ballpark: Daniel S. Frawley Stadium (opened April 16, 1993)
Established: 1993 (previous Wilmington clubs date back to 1883)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Carolina League
Last championship: 2019

Did you know? Originally known as Legends Stadium when it opened, the ballpark was renamed for Wilmington mayor Daniel Frawley after he spearheaded the effort to get the Blue Rocks to return to town. The field was named separately for local Negro League legend Judy Johnson.

South Division

ASHEVILLE TOURISTS

Affiliate: Houston Astros (since 2021)
Location: Asheville, North Carolina (991 miles from Minute Maid Park)
Ballpark: McCormick Field (opened April 3, 1924)
Established: 1959 (previous Asheville clubs date back to 1897)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2014

Did you know? The team's nickname was first used in 1915 as a nod to the city's standing as a popular tourist destination. In 2015, the team employed an old-school method to help maintain the grounds around historic McCormick Field, bringing in a herd of goats to clear vegetation beyond the outfield fence.

BOWLING GREEN HOT RODS

Affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays (since 2009)
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky (790 miles from Tropicana Field)
Ballpark: Bowling Green Ballpark (opened April 17, 2009)
Established: 2009
Previous league: Class A Midwest League
Last championship: 2018

Did you know? The team's nickname is a nod to the city's connections to the automotive and racing industries. The Chevrolet Corvette is built at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant, and the city is home to the National Corvette Museum.

GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS

Affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates (since 2019)
Location: Greensboro, North Carolina (426 miles to PNC Park)
Ballpark: First National Bank Field (opened April 3, 2005)
Established: 1979 (as the Greensboro Hornets; previous Greensboro clubs date back to 1902)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2011

Did you know? Before changing to the Grasshoppers in 2005, the club's previous names included the Bats (1994-2004), Hornets (1979-93), Yankees (1958-67) and Patriots (1945-57, 1968).

GREENVILLE DRIVE

Affiliate: Boston Red Sox (since 2005)
Location: Greenville, South Carolina (932 miles to Fenway Park)
Ballpark: Fluor Field at the West End (opened April 6, 2006)
Established: 2005 (as the Bombers; previous Greenville clubs, including the Braves, date back to 1907)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2017

Did you know? Fluor Field features a 30-foot-high "Green Monster" in left field as a tribute to Fenway Park and the Red Sox, the club's longtime affiliate.

HICKORY CRAWDADS

Affiliate: Texas Rangers (since 2009)
Location: Hickory, North Carolina (1,048 miles to Globe Life Field)
Ballpark: L.P. Frans Stadium (opened April 16, 1993)
Established: 1993 (previous Hickory clubs date back to 1936)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2015

Did you know? The Crawdads have an all-time record of 1,898 wins and 1,845 losses.

ROME BRAVES

Affiliate: Atlanta Braves (since 2003)
Location: Rome, Georgia (69 miles from Truist Park)
Ballpark: State Mutual Stadium (opened April 6, 2003)
Established: 2003 (previous Rome clubs date back to 1903)
Previous league: Class A South Atlantic League
Last championship: 2016

Did you know? Hall of Famers Tom Glavine, Chipper Jones and John Smoltz all made rehab appearances with the R-Braves.

WINSTON-SALEM DASH

Affiliate: Chicago White Sox (since 1997)
Location: Winston-Salem, N.C.
Ballpark: Truist Stadium
Established: 1945 (as the Cardinals; previous Winston-Salem clubs date back to 1892)
Previous league: Class A Advanced Carolina League
Last championship: 2003

Did you know? Winston-Salem lays claim as the only franchise to have operated in every season since the establishment of the Carolina League in 1945. The names have changed (Winston-Salem Cardinals, Twins, Red Birds, Red Sox, Spirits, Warthogs -- and lastly -- Dash), but the franchise has remained the same.