After a 28-year hiatus, summer baseball will return to Huntington, West Virginia in 2024. The Appalachian League announced on Thursday that a new Appy League team will be based in Huntington and will play their games at Jack Cook Field, the new baseball stadium at Marshall University. The team's nickname and color scheme will be determined by a fan vote, and the hiring of a manager and coaching staff will be announced at a later date.
The current Appalachian League features college freshman and sophomores who use wood bats. Several players from Marshall's baseball team, including pitchers Brady Baxter, Bryce Blevins, and Peyton Jackson, as well as shortstop Jack Smith, have committed to playing on the summer team. Additional players are expected to come from surrounding colleges and universities.
Huntington was previously a member of the Appalachian League in the early 1990s as an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. The last season of Appy League games in Huntington was in 1995, with games taking place at St. Cloud Commons in the city's west end.
The new partnership between the Appy League and Marshall University and the development of the new baseball facilities at the university are seen as a great opportunity. Appalachian League Executive Director Brian Graham expressed his excitement about the team's return to Huntington, stating, "Marshall’s new baseball facilities will provide players with one of the best summer collegiate experiences in the country and furthers our goal of making the Appy League the destination for elite college players in the summer."
Marshall University's Director of Athletics Christian Spears believes that bringing the Appalachian League back to Huntington highlights the versatility of Jack Cook Field as a community resource throughout the year. "That made the decision to go with the Appalachian League a no-brainer. With the backing of MLB and their support, we knew this was best for us all!" Spears said.
The announcement was celebrated by West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, who said, "The new Jack Cook Field will be a state-of-the-art facility that will attract top talent from all over the country. I am confident that the Appy League will see incredible success in Huntington, and I can't wait to see the first pitch thrown in 2024!"
The Appalachian League consists of various cities, many of which were part of the league when Huntington last participated in the 1990s, including Pulaski and Danville, Virginia; Elizabethton, Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol, Tennessee; Bluefield, West Virginia; and Burlington, North Carolina. The Princeton-based team in West Virginia ceased operations at the end of last season.
The new team's first game for the 2024 season is already scheduled, with a home game against the Pulaski River Turtles set for Tuesday, June 4th, 2024. Founded in 1911, the Appalachian League is one of the oldest baseball leagues in history and has completed three seasons as a collegiate summer baseball league in partnership with MLB and USA Baseball. The league plays a crucial role in the identification and development process for the USA Baseball Collegiate National Teams and other national teams.
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