This is an excerpt from The Baseball Traveler Newsletter, formerly known as Ben's Biz Newsletter, delivering Minor League Baseball business and culture news to your inbox each and every Thursday. Check out the full newsletter and background on the name change HERE.

MESA, Ariz. -- Three years into his Major League career, Bobby Witt Jr. has already had 2,035 regular-season plate appearances. That’s a lot of chances to make an impression. But when it comes to your wedding, you only get one chance to hit it out of the park.

Fans typically buy a sports jersey because of who's wearing it. But in the Minor Leagues, what’s on a jersey can often mean so much more. Teams have a way of making fans part of franchises by bringing local culture into their jersey and theme nights. “It's taking pride in

During last month’s MiLB Awards Show on the MLB Network, the Jersey Diners won the “Best Alternate Identity” award. This alter-ego of the Somerset Patriots triumphed over the Great Lakes Pontooners, Spokane King Carl, Biloxi King Cakes, Wichita Chili Buns, Chattanooga Wreckers and Winston-Salem Hype Hens. Now it’s time to

Where can you find a collection of talent like Paul Skenes, Myles Garrett and Giannis Antetokounmpo in one place? The Asheville Tourists’ online auction for Hurricane Helene relief. The Astros’ High-A affiliate is bringing the sports world together in an effort to help its local community. Proceeds will go to

Founded in 1992, the Arizona Fall League brings prospects from all 30 organizations together to compete for six weeks in the only stateside offseason circuit. In the Fall League, top prospects get the opportunity to face upper-level competition for possibly the first time, or a player can make up for

In the wake of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina-based Hickory Crawdads are giving back. The Single-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers launched an online auction Wednesday featuring over 80 game-worn player jerseys. The auction runs through Saturday, Oct. 12, with all proceeds benefiting Red Cross Hurricane

The Jersey Diners have a new addition to the menu: The Best Alternate Identity Award. This honor, determined via online vote, was announced during Monday evening’s MiLB Awards broadcast on the MLB Network. Jersey Diners, an alternate identity of the Somerset Patriots, triumphed over six other nominees: Wichita Chili Buns,

The MLB Postseason opens with Wild Card games on Oct. 1, but eager fans can go ahead and get into playoff mode right now. At the Rookie and A-ball levels, titles have already been decided or will be in the next couple days. At the Double-A and Triple-A levels, the

Welcome to the dog days of summer. The races for postseason spots are coming into focus in the Majors. In the Minors, top prospects are eyeballing September roster expansions. Whether you're holding on tight to the long days and balmy nights or patiently waiting for the leaves to fall and

Professional baseball has finally achieved Maximum Muncy. At long last, the sport's two infielders named Max Muncy -- improbably born exactly 12 years apart and completely unrelated -- finally met and played in the same game, an eventual 10-8 victory by rehabbing Muncy's Triple-A Oklahoma City over prospect Muncy's Las

Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The edition, rounding up the month of July, features intra-organizational no-nos, wild romps, unexpected mound dominance and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get

More than 85 years have passed since Lou Gehrig issued his famous farewell speech to baseball. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS and perhaps more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, continues to mystify medical experts. The Mayo Clinic defines it as “a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in

This year's Futures Game featured more old-fashioned, Minor League-style fun than ever, and the most visible addition was one fans could see at every moment. Each of the 45 players who appeared in the game wore on his head the cap of his Minor League team. As a result, some

ARLINGTON -- In case you haven’t noticed, Globe Life Field is BIG. It measures 1.8 million square feet. The distance from the playing field to the highest point of the 5.5-acre retractable roof is 278 feet. Each exterior side measures 785 by 815 feet. There isn’t just a “third deck,”

Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. The June edition features a doubles deluge, oppositional surnames, way too many walks and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in touch if

Welcome to Promo Preview, a monthly roundup of Minor League Baseball promotions to look forward to. Incendiary Independence Day ballpark spectacles are now in the rearview mirror, but July has plenty more in store. Highlights include meaty aromas, computer-generated jerseys and taking it easy on the water. Jump in.

PORTLAND, Maine -- Randy and Sarah Bellavance love coming to Double-A games here at Hadlock Field. This year -- the second year the diehard Portland Sea Dogs fans have had season tickets -- their local ballpark feels more welcoming than ever. The Bellavances, a married couple who are both blind,

Years ago, Dylan Heuer attended Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf and eventually became the bat boy for Triple-A Iowa. When he returned as team photographer for the Cubs affiliate and found out the camp no longer existed, he brought it back. He wanted others in the deaf community to

Because there's no better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than getting out to a ballgame, earlier in the week we presented a breakdown of must-catch Minor League games with Independence Day celebrations, with one entry for each farm system. But let's say you're not satisfied with one Independence

Have you made plans for the Fourth yet? If not, we're here to help. If so, change 'em! There's no better way to celebrate America's Independence Day than taking in a baseball game amid your compatriots.

When Trevor Hoffman used to jog in from the bullpen ahead of the ninth inning at home, AC/DC's “Hells Bells” boomed out of the speakers and batters knew they had a tall task ahead of them. When Wyatt Hoffman, son of the Hall of Famer, took the mound Wednesday night

Welcome to Crooked Numbers, a monthly column dedicated to Minor League Baseball on-field oddities and absurdities. This edition, covering the month of May, features reptile cameos, offensive explosions, oppositional surnames and, of course, much more. Keeping track of this type of thing is a team effort, so get in touch

2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Adrian Beltré and star infielder Michael Young both left their mark on the MLB All-Star Game with the Texas Rangers. Beltré was a three-time selection with the Rangers while Young made seven All-Star appearances, trailing only Ivan Rodriguez (10) for the most in

Welcome to Promo Preview, a monthly round-up of Minor League Baseball promotions to look forward to. June highlights include iconic socks, bipedal cows, regional food battles and, of course, much more. Dive in.