Take a look at MiLB's 8 new Copa de la Diversión teams coming in 2025
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Copa de la Diversión -- literally, the Fun Cup -- is back for its eighth season, with Minor League teams nationwide assuming alternate identities on select dates. The goal, as always, is for teams to engage with and celebrate their region's Latino fan base.
Ninety-two teams are participating in Copa de la Diversión in 2025, representing over three quarters of the Minor League Baseball landscape. This copious roster includes eight new looks, most of them from teams who had previously participated in Copa under a different identity. Let's take a look at what’s new.
Aberdeen IronBirds (High-A BAL)
Cencerros Increibles de Aberdeen
Cowbells have long been part of the IronBirds' fan experience, but please note that they are called "Cal bells" in honor of original team owner (and Aberdeen native) Cal Ripken. Cencerros Increibles -- Incredible Cowbells -- adds the “rich history of Latin American culture and music” into the mix, paying homage to genres such as "salsa, merengue, bachata, cumbia [and] reggaetón." The vibrant logo features a yellow baseball bat striking a blue and orange cowbell; clearly, these hitters have found their rhythm.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Single-A CWS)
Ajolotes de Kannapolis
The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers serve exemplary grilled corn on the cob at the ballpark, but don’t get this identity confused with Elotes. Kannapolis, participating in Copa for the first time since 2019, has unveiled the Ajolotes. An axolotl salamander, in other words, looking pretty in pink. The team explains that Ajolotes "are the only amphibian species that can retain their aquatic traits throughout their evolution, enabling them to thrive on both land and in water." This is, you guessed it, a metaphor: Ajolotes "embodies the inclusive Kannapolis culture, which allows our Hispanic community to embrace American traditions while preserving their rich Hispanic heritage."
Norfolk Tides (Triple-A BAL)
Caballitos del Mar de Norfolk
The Tides are no stranger to Copa, having previously taken the field as the Pajaritos (as in Baby Birds, a nod to the team’s Orioles affiliation). They’ve rebranded for the 2025 campaign and will now suit up as the Caballitos del Mar, Spanish for seahorse. The Tides' primary logo already features a seahorse, but the Caballitos del Mar logo is rendered with a sugar skull-style design. The team created this identity in partnership with their local Chamber for Hispanic Progress, noting that the seahorse is native to the region and "also important to Hispanic culture both environmentally and economically."
Rome Braves (High-A ATL)
Los Pingüinos
In 2024, following 20 seasons as the Braves, Rome, Ga.'s South Atlantic League team changed its name. Thus began the reign of the Rome Emperors, whose primary logo features an emperor penguin. Los Pingüinos is an extension of this new look, with the penguin depicted in full body side profile. The logo was "inspired by Mexican folk art and Dia de Los Muertos symbolism," serving as "an icon of communal bonding." Pingüinos replaces Rome's previous Copa identity, the peach-themed Duraznos de Roma.
Stockton Ports (Single-A ATH)
Stockton Cheladas
Beverages are already well represented in the Copa ecosystem, with examples including (but not limited to) El Paso Margaritas, Lehigh Valley Mamajuana and Limonadas de Hill City. Grab a clean glass, squeeze a lime and salt the rim, because the Stockton Cheladas have now arrived. Cheladas, a shortened form of michelada, have "many diverse flavors just like the diversity we celebrate here in the city of Stockton." Cheladas is the Ports' second Copa identity, replacing the Caballos (Horses).
Sugar Land Space Cowboys (Triple-A HOU)
Payasos del Rodeo de Sugar Land
A serious clown sounds like a contradiction in terms, but that’s just what the Space Cowboys convey with Payasos del Rodeo de Sugar Land. It's a tribute to the Houston area’s rodeo scene, whose "unsung protectors" are the rodeo clowns. Sure, the clowns entertain the crowd between events, but "the real core of their existence is to protect the bull riders and help corral the angry toros after they’ve bucked their riders." Payasos del Rodeo pays homage to the "contributions of the Hispanic community to the birth, growth and continued success of rodeo in southeast Texas and around the country." The Space Cowboys had previously participated in Copa with their more sweet-natured Dulces de Sugar Land identity.
Winston-Salem Dash (High-A CWS)
Humo de Winston-Salem
After stints as the Rayados (Striped Ones) and Salsa, the ever-changing Dash are adopting yet another Copa identity. El Humo translates to The Smoke, referencing the city’s famous R.J. Reynolds smokestacks. Winston-Salem has evolved since the days when tobacco was king, and El Humo “highlights the thriving Hispanic and Latin-owned businesses that fuel the community’s entrepreneurial spirit.” The smoke, as if cognizant of its power to create a logo, drifts out of the top of one smokestack and then loops around the other to form an H.
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (High-A MIL)
Granjeros de Wisconsin
The Appleton-based Timber Rattlers, located in the heart of dairy country, have employed an Udder Tuggers alternate identity since 2019. This ridiculous name and look now has a moo-mentous new counterpart: Granjeros de Wisconsin (Farmers of Wisconsin). The logo is a variation on the Udder Tuggers, with the cow depicted as part of a psychedelic sugar skull design. On May 4, the first of three Granjeros games, the first 1000 fans receive a sugar skull cow bobblehead. Get in line now.
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring