History
The organizations, ballparks and communities of the Blue Ridge League possess proud baseball 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 their 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 — Nolan Ryan's first professional team — and, before that, the Welch/Marion A's. Ryan made his professional debut with Marion in 1965.
The Queen City Corndogs' franchise was known as the Carolina Vipers/Venom in the early 2000s.
Below are players who have gone on to professional 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; signed with Kansas City Royals organization (2025)
Alex Canty - signed by Billings Mustangs of Pioneer League (2024); spent two previous seasons in Pecos League
Ryan Lee - signed by Idaho Falls Chukars of Pioneer League (2026); advanced to Joliet Slammers of Frontier League (2026) and Lake Country DockHounds of American Association (2026)
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)
Luke Harris - signed by North Platte 80s of Pecos League (2025), Roswell Invaders of Pecos League (2026)
Reed Garland - signed by Boise Hawks of Pioneer League (2024)
Braylin Marine - signed by Yolo High Rollers of Pioneer League (2024), advanced to Joliet Slammers of Frontier League (2025)
Parker Kruglewicz - signed by New York Boulders of Frontier League (2025), advanced to Gastonia Ghost Peppers and Charleston Dirty Birds of the Atlantic League
Rhett Lowder - drafted by Cincinnati Reds (1st Round / 2023 - MLB Debut in 2024)
Jeremiah Boyd - signed as a free agent by Arizona Diamondbacks (2023)
Austin Kaplan - signed by New York Boulders of Frontier League (2022)
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)
Corey Avant - drafted by Oakland Athletics (9th Round / 2023)
Aaron McKeithan - drafted by St. Louis Cardinals (16th Round / 2021)
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)
Joanna Hornets
Among those confirmed to have played on the Joanna Stadium field are Tommy Lasorda (1947 Hornet), Guy Prater, Ralph "Snow" Prater, Johnny Moore, Bruce Galloway, Billy O'Dell and Cecil "Wheeze" Farmer.
Greenwood Flying Monkeys
Among the notable players and coaches who passed through Greenwood during its MiLB days are:
Dale Murphy – Two-time National League MVP
Bruce "Eggs" Benedict – All-Star catcher for the Atlanta Braves
Glenn Hubbard – Gold Glove-winning infielder and later a Braves coach
Dusty Baker – All-Star player and legendary MLB manager
Brett Butler – All-Star player
Brian Snitker – former Braves manager
Hoyt Wilhelm – managed in Greenwood after his Hall of Fame playing career
Bip Roberts – two-time All-Star
Rick Renteria – former MLB manager