The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Southern League, were the Double-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins major-league club until 2008. Starting in 2009, the Mudcats are affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds.

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History

The Mudcats' origins date back to 1959, when the Chicago White Sox' Southern Association/Southern League affiliate began play in Charleston, South Carolina. During the 1960s the team moved several times, finally settling in Columbus, Georgia, in 1969. The club's arrival in Columbus marked the beginning of a period of relative stability. For the next two decades the team played its home games in Columbus' historic Golden Park as an affiliate of the Houston Astros. Following the 1988 season, new owner Steve Bryant held a contest among season-ticket holders to rename the team. As a result, in 1989 the team became known as the Columbus Mudcats . In 1991, Bryant moved the club to North Carolina and renamed it the Carolina Mudcats. ^[1] That move coincidentally allowed the team to retain its logo unchanged - a large C encircling a catfish.

Today, the Mudcats play in Five County Stadium in Zebulon, North Carolina. Built in 1991 and renovated in 1999, the park seats 6,500 fans. The park is located in Wake County, but it is near Nash, Johnston, Franklin and Wilson counties, hence the ballpark's name. The Mudcats have claimed two Southern League championships since moving to North Carolina, the first in 1995 and the second in 2003.

Straight to the Majors

During their years as an affiliate of the Florida Marlins, the Marlins had elected to bring many of their top prospects up to the major leagues directly from Carolina. (This is partially due to the geographic proximity of the Mudcats compared to the Marlins' former Class AAA club in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and partially due to the Pacific Coast League's reputation as a hitter-friendly league.) Some of the players who the Marlins have brought up directly from Carolina include Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, Jason Vargas, Scott Olsen, Logan Kensing (who was brought up directly from Class A Jupiter the previous year), Chris Resop, Josh Johnson, Yorman Bazardo, Jeremy Hermida, Chris Volstad, and Robert Andino.

Current roster

Players				Coaches/Other
Starting rotation Bullpen		Catchers Infielders Outfielders		Manager Coaches † Disabled list ‡ Reserve list § Suspended list

Former Mudcats

Many Mudcats have reached the majors. These are some of the players that have gone on to be successful:

• Bronson Arroyo (1998)
• Daniel Barone (2007)
• Kris Benson (1997)
• Miguel Cabrera (2003)
• Brett Carroll (2007)
• Midre Cummings (1993)
• Chone Figgins (2001)
• Freddy Garcia (1997)
• Harvey Garcia (2007)
• Jason Kendall (1994, 1995)
• Esteban Loaiza (1993, 1994)
• Juan Pierre (2000)
• Anibal Sanchez (2006)
• Gaby Sanchez (2008)
• Doug Strange (1998)
• Ryan Tucker (2008)
• Juan Uribe (2001)
• Andy Van Slyke (1993)
• Rick Vanden Hurk (2007)
• Chris Volstad (2008)
• Dontrelle Willis (2003)
• Tim Wakefield (1991)
• Craig Wilson (1998)

References

1. Mudcats celebrate 15th year in Five County, Wilson Daily Times; retrieved February 2007