Even though there is no official announcement yet, the website of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos shows the logo of the Minnesota Twins as its parent club. And with the San Diego Padres signing a deal with the new Amarillo Texas League franchise, the Twins and the Blue Wahoos are the only teams left in AA.
The San Diego Padres will stay with the franchise it has partnered with in the past twelve seasons. The only difference is that the team will move from San Antonio to Amarillo.
The new PDC will run through the 2020 season.
“The San Diego Padres are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Elmore Sports Group as Double-A baseball returns to Amarillo,” said Director of Player Development Sam Geany. “We’re excited to watch our talented farm system develop in a brand new ballpark and bring a Texas League championship back to Amarillo.”
Amarillo Professional Baseball President and General Manager Tony Ensor stated: “We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the San Diego Padres and officially bring professional, affiliated baseball back to the Texas Panhandle for the first time in 37 years. We can’t wait to welcome top-notch talent from the highest-rated farm system in baseball and introduce them to the best fans in Minor League Baseball.”
In the meantime, the Minnesota Twins and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos remain the only
teams that did not sign a PDC for the upcoming two seasons. So it is not hard to do the math. Next to that, the Blue Wahoos website already shows the Minnesota Twins logo.
The Twins had an AA team in the Chattanooga Lookouts in the past four seasons but the Cincinnati Reds returned to the club where they have spent 21 years from 1998 through2008. In 2009, the Reds left the Lookouts for the club that they turn their back to now.
According to Blue Wahoos President Jonathan Griffith “This is a rare time when there are no losers. The Padres and Twins are first class organizations, One would end up playing in the picturesque downtown Pensacola’s Blue Wahoo Stadium and the other in a brand new $44 million ballpark in Amarillo, Texas. Both are great venues in great cities.”
“Both teams’ owners, Ron Fowler of the Padres and Jim Pohlad of the Twins, were very active in the process, which we appreciated,” said Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer. “Both organizations are in a rebuilding process. With the leadership that these owners provide, it is no surprise why they have minor league systems rated in the top five. They both are deeply committed to their respective communities beyond baseball.”
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