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Do You Know Every North Carolina Minor League Baseball Team?

Baseball is widely regarded as America’s pastime. Without a major league team closer than Atlanta or DC minor league baseball takes the stage in North Carolina. So it’s a good…

North Carolina baseball team
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Baseball is widely regarded as America's pastime. Without a major league team closer than Atlanta or DC minor league baseball takes the stage in North Carolina. So it's a good thing that we have plenty of North Carolina minor league baseball teams to be a fan of! It can seem like there are so many teams that it's hard to make sense of what they all mean. It seems like every town has a baseball team. Are they all the same level?

The short answer is no. Minor league baseball is made up of several different levels. These are used for player development and getting players ready to hopefully one day compete in the "big leagues". Each major league team has 4 minor league teams affiliated with them for a total of 120 teams in the country. Additionally, there are other independent baseball leagues that players can play in and fans can take in games.

Minor league baseball can be a fun and relatively inexpensive outing for families and friend groups alike. Most tickets are very affordable with fun promotions as well as food and drink specials. North Carolina is home to 10 official minor league teams in the triple A, high A, and single A levels. We also have 5 independent baseball teams. Keep reading to learn a little about each of the teams, where they are located, their major league affiliate, and their level!

Triple A Teams

Triple-A is the level just under the major leagues. These players are often good enough to play in the major leagues but there just isn't space on them on the roster. They can easily be called up due to injury or other situations. North Carolina has 2 Triple-A teams.

Charlotte Knights

Major League Team: Chicago White Sox

Location: Charlotte, NC

Durham Bulls

Major League Team: Tampa Bay Rays

Location: Durham, NC

High A Teams

High-A formerly known as Class A-Advanced the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball. North Carolina has four High A Teams. 

Asheville Tourists

Major League Team: Houston Astros

Location: Asheville, NC

Greensboro Grasshoppers

Major League Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Location: Greensboro, NC

Hickory Crawdads

Major League Team: Texas Rangers

Location: Hickory, NC

Winston-Salem Dash

Major League Team: Chicago White Sox

Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Single A Teams

Single A or Class A is is the fourth-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball. North Carolina has 4 single A teams.

Carolina Mudcats

Major League Team: Milwaukee Brewers

Location: Zebulon, NC

Down East Wood Ducks

Major League Team: Texas Rangers

Location: Kinston, NC

Fayetteville Woodpeckers

Major League Team: Houston Astros

Location: Fayetteville, NC

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Formerly Intimidators)

Major League Team: Chicago White Sox

Location: Kannapolis, NC

Independent League Baseball Teams

North Carolina is also home to 5 teams that play in independent baseball leagues that are not part of Major League Baseball.

Burlington Sock Puppets

League: Appalachian League

Location: Burlington, NC

Gastonia Honey Hunters

League: Atlantic League

Location: Gastonia, NC

High Point Rockers

League: Atlantic League

Location: High Point, NC

High Point Thomasville HiToms

League: Coastal Plain League

Location: Thomasville, NC

Wilson Tobs

League: Coastal Plain League

Location: Wilson, NC

Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.