The Lansing Lugnuts and the Toronto Blue Jays announced a two-year extension of their affiliation Wednesday. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)
The Lansing Lugnuts and their parent club, the Toronto Blue Jays, announced Wednesday that they’ve extended their Player Development Contract through the 2020 season.
The two teams have been affiliated since the 2005 season. The Lugnuts previously were affiliated with the Kansas City Royals (1996-98) and the Chicago Cubs (1999-2004). They won Midwest League titles in 1997 and 2003, and most recently played in the MWL championship series in 2011.
Many notable Blue Jays prospects have played for the Lugnuts over the past 14 seasons, including current New York Mets ace Noah Syndergaard (2011-12) and last year’s dynamic prospect duo, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. played 71 games with the Lansing Lugnuts last year. He is widely considered one of the top prospects in baseball. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)
Lansing will host the 2018 MWL All-Star Game on Tuesday, June 19. The city previously hosted a MWL All-Star Game in 2002. The rosters for that game included future major-leaguers Joe Mauer (Quad City River Bandits), Edwin Encarnacion (Dayton Dragons), Dontrelle Willis (Kane County Cougars), Dan Haren (Peoria Chiefs), Don Kelly (West Michigan Whitecaps) and Shin-Soo Choo (Wisconsin Timber Rattlers).
Lansing’s ballpark looks much different than it did during the 2002 All-Star Game. In recent years, Cooley Law School Stadium has undergone significant renovations, including addition of an outfield-area apartment complex, a new scoreboard, and new turf.
Outfield apartments and a new scoreboard are among the additions to Cooley Law School Stadium in recent years. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)
Other Lugnuts news from this offseason:
The Midwest League Traveler 