History
All of our organizations in the Blue Ridge League possess proud histories. In addition to our clubs having developed top-tier talent as summer collegiate organizations, many of our facilities have been focal points of summer baseball for decades within our communities.
The Disco Turkeys' stadium, before Wake Forest University's ownership, had been the traditional home of minor league baseball in Winston-Salem.
The Marion Hungry Mothers' stadium was home to two professional teams, including the Marion Mets where Nolan Ryan made his pro debut and, before that, the Welch/Marion A's.
The Queen City Corndogs' franchise was known as the Carolina Vipers/Venom in the early 2000s.
Below are players who have gone on to pro careers from our programs, along with notable other players to play summer baseball at our facilities.
Carolina Disco Turkeys
Austin St. Laurent - drafted by Seattle Mariners (14th Round / 2024)
Adam Conrad - signed as free agent by San Diego Padres (2024)
Chase Jessee - signed by Sioux City of American Association (2025); spent two previous seasons in Pioneer League where he led the league with 9 wins in 2024
Alex Canty - signed by Billings Mustangs of Pioneer League (2024); spent two previous seasons in Pecos League
Notable players who played summer baseball at the Disco Turkeys' Couch Ballpark during the stadium's time as a minor league park:
Wade Boggs - elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Earl Weaver - elected to Baseball Hall of Fame (as manager)
Jim Lonborg - winner of the 1967 AL Cy Young Award
Sparky Lyle - winner of the 1977 AL Cy Young Award
More than 30 MLB All-Stars, including Jim Abbott, Aaron Boone, Dwight Evans, Gio Gonzalez, Mike Greenwell, Carlos Lee, Jamie Moyer, Rick Burleson, Heathcliff Slocumb, Aaron Rowand, and many others
Marion Hungry Mothers
Notable players who played summer baseball at the Hungry Mothers' Hurricane Stadium during the stadium's time as a minor league park:
Nolan Ryan - elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Former MLB All-Stars Jim Bibby, Jody Davis, Jerry Morales and Birdie Tebbetts
Queen City Corndogs
Dillon Lewis - drafted by New York Yankees (13th Round / 2024)
Rhett Lowder - drafted by Cincinnati Reds (1st Round / 2023 - MLB Debut in 2024)
Austin Parsley - signed as free agent with High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League (2022)
Cooper McKeehan - drafted by Kansas City Royals (16th Round / 2022)
Justin Kunz - drafted by Los Angeles Angels (33rd Round / 2019)
Dillon Hardy - drafted by Houston Astros (18th Round / 2017)
Clay Middleton - drafted by Texas Rangers (22nd Round / 2016)
Eric Kimber - signed as free agent by Kansas City Royals (2015)
Uwharrie Wampus Cats
Ethan Young - drafted by St. Louis Cardinals (5th Round / 2025)
West Virginia Miners
Straton Podaras - signed as free agent by Anaheim Angels (2021)
Dalton Cornett - signed by Billings Mustangs of Pioneer League (2021)
Thomas Walker - signed by Joliet Slammers of Frontier League (2021)
Jack Jett - signed by Gateway Grizzlies of Frontier League (2021)
Dylan Shockley - drafted by Pittsburgh Pirates (34th Round / 2019)
Brandon Nylin - signed by Washington Wild Things of Frontier League (2019)
Tyler Hill - signed by Saranac Lake Surge of Empire League (2019)
Calvin Coker - drafted by Oakland Athletics (15th Round / 2018)
Cal Hernandez - drafted by Seattle Mariners (26th Round / 2018)
Justin Childers - drafted by Detroit Tigers (33rd Round / 2018)
David Sheaffer - signed as free agent with Seattle Mariners (2018)
Dan Ward - signed with Utica Unicorns of United Shore League (2018)
Jeremy Schreiber - signed with Therwil Flyers of Swiss pro league (2018)
Jerry Chavarria - signed with Southern Illinois Miners of Frontier League (2018)
Chris Metrick - signed with Gateway Grizzlies of Frontier League (2018)
Zach Sterry - drafted by Boston Red Sox (8th Round / 2017)
Jake Belinda - drafted by Atlanta Braves (10th Round / 2017)
Gavin Fritz - drafted by Miami Marlins (16th Round / 2017)
Austin Goss - signed by Shaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League (2017)
Taylor Hillson - signed by Evansville Otters of the Frontier League (2017)
Tanner Levine - signed by Utica Unicorns of the United Shore League (2017)
Tre Porter - signed with Tucson Saguaros of the Pecos League (2017)
Nick Delgado - signed with Alpine Cowboys of the Pecos League (2017)
David Martinelli - drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies (6th Round / 2016)
Matt Anderson - drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates (10th Round / 2016)
JD Hammer - drafted by the Colorado Rockies (24th Round / 2016)
Mike Brosseau - signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Rays (2016)
James Keller - signed by Shaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League (2016)
Brandon Koch - drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays (4th Round / 2015)
Ryan Perez - drafted by the Cleveland Indians (12th Round / 2015)
Grant Massey - drafted by the Chicago White Sox (26th Round / 2015)
Bradley Strong - drafted by the Chicago White Sox (28th Round / 2015)
Cody Pope - drafted by the Los Angeles Angels (29th Round / 2015)
Garrett Wolforth - drafted by the Cleveland Indians (33rd Round / 2015)
Josh Reavis - drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays (38th Round / 2015)
Dale Davis - signed as free agent with Texas Rangers (2015)
Kolin Stanley - signed by Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League (2015)
Ryan Atwood - drafted by San Diego Padres (30th Round / 2014)
Hunter Brothers - drafted by Colorado Rockies (30th Round / 2014)
Ryan Butler - drafted by the San Diego Padres (7th Round / 2014)
Evin Einhardt - drafted by the Chicago White Sox (29th Round / 2014)
David Hess - drafted by Baltimore Orioles (5th Round / 2014)
Pat Kregeloh - signed by Washington Wild Things of Frontier League (2014)
Alex McKeon - drafted by Boston Red Sox (31st Round / 2014)
Jared Messer - signed as free agent by Kansas City Royals (2014)
Jordan Parris - drafted by Colorado Rockies (20th Round / 2014)
Jake Paulson - drafted by Cincinnati Reds (27th Round / 2014)
Evan Potter - signed as free agent by San Francisco Giants (2014)
Zack Tanner - signed by Frontier Grays of the Frontier League (2014)
Robert Tavone Jr. - signed as free agent by Atlanta Braves (2014)
Doug Votoloto - drafted by Texas Rangers (9th Round / 2014)
James Woods - signed by Southern Illinois Miners of Frontier League (2014)
Isaac Ballou - drafted by Washington Nationals (15th Round / 2013)
Hunter Brothers - drafted by Colorado Rockies (24th Round / 2013)
Jake Johansen - drafted by Washington Nationals (2nd Round / 2013)
Thor Meeks - signed as free agent with Washington Nationals (2013)
Clayton Prestridge - signed by Southern Illinois Miners of Frontier League (2013)
Philip Walby - drafted by New York Yankees (12th Round / 2013)
Joey Church - drafted by San Diego Padres (17th Round / 2012)
Austin Cowen - drafted by Los Angeles Dodgers (35th Round / 2012)
Jesse Fernandez - signed as free agent by Baltimore Orioles (2012)
Jake Johansen - drafted by Pittsburgh Pirates (27th Round / 2012)
Sam Lewis - signed as free agent with Kansas City Royals (2012)
Mike Mason - drafted by Colorado Rockies (24th Round / 2012)
Jared Messer - drafted by Washington Nationals (38th Round /2012)
Abe Ruiz - drafted by Chicago White Sox (16th Round / 2012)
Matt Shepherd - drafted by San Diego Padres (31st Round / 2012)
Andrew Smith - signed as free agent by Los Angeles Angels (2012)
Victor Gomez - signed as free agent by Atlanta Braves (2011)
Chris Kay - signed with Traverse City Beach Bums of Frontier League (2011)
Chris Marlowe - drafted by San Francisco Giants (5th Round / 2011)
Rhett Stafford - drafted by Oakland Athletics (22nd Round / 2011)
Greg Williams - drafted by Texas Rangers (12th Round / 2011)
Hunter Ackerman - drafted by Chicago Cubs (4th Round / 2010)
Kevin Shackelford - drafted by Milwaukee Brewers (21st Round / 2010)