The Atlanta Braves' AA affiliate, the Mississippi Braves, have resided in Pearl, MS since 2005 and have seen hundreds of both players and fans come through in Trustmark Park. However, it seems like the team's time in Pearl is about to come to an end.
In a press release published Tuesday, the team announced that they will cease operations in Pearl at the end of the season and will relocate to Columbus, GA in time for the 2025 season, bringing, at least for now, an end to professional baseball in the area after nearly twenty years.
A Letter to Our Fans pic.twitter.com/tYSMNywWPM
— Mississippi Braves (@mbraves) January 9, 2024
The Mississippi Braves were the only Braves affiliated team not based in the team's home state of Georgia. It looks like the upcoming 2024 season will be their last in Mississippi, however, the organization did not rule out the possibility of a team playing in Pearl at some point in the future.
"We are hopeful that this is not the end of professional baseball in Pearl, and our organization will support any efforts to bring a team to Trustmark Park in the future," the team said in a press release.
The Mississippi Braves currently roster prospects such as Hurston Waldrep, who ranks as the No. 19 prospect in MLB and the No. 2 prospect in the Braves' organization, according to MLB's prospect rankings. Past and present Braves players have also played for the Mississippi Braves over the years, including Jeff Francoeur, Freddie Freeman, Max Fried, and Michael Harris II.
The Mississippi Brave's final season in Pearl is scheduled to begin on April 5, when they travel to play the Pensacola Blue Wahoos as part of the Southern League. Their full schedule can be found here. Stay tuned here at House That Hank Built for any and all updates surrounding the Braves minor league affiliates.