Back in 2014, I wrote a series of blog posts about the origin of minor league team names. Since then, the minor league landscape has changed a lot. Clubs moved, adopted new names. All reasons to have a new series in which the new names are added and explained.
We continue with the letter:
K
Kane County Cougars:
When the Wasau Timbers moved to Geneva Illinois, a naming contest was held. 52 entries suggested Cougars and that’s the name it would be even though the species doesn’t live in the area.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers:
As the Kannapolis Intimidators, who was named after Dale Earnhardt, would move into 
a new stadium for the 2020 season, the brass of the club thought it was time for a new moniker. Of course, a name the team contest was organized. Cannons was one of the most popular. As a matter of fact, the former ballpark where the Intimidators played was originally called the Fieldcrest Cannon. So there was a link. But the brass refined the name Cannons into Cannon Ballers in order to evoke a theme of human cannonball acts, which reflected Earnhardt’s legacy as a risk-taker. The club looked for a name that could reflect on both the city’s heritage and its association with auto racing. Thus it happened.
Kingsport Mets:
From 1969 affiliated baseball is played in Kingsport. From that year on, three MLB teams signed PDC’s with the club (Kansas City Royals 1969-1973; Atlanta Braves 1974-1979; New York Mets 1980- )
Like most of the Mets’ minor league affiliates, the Kingsport team adopted the name of the parent club.
Dutch Baseball Hangout 