Hudson asks MLB not to eliminate Minor League teams

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, N.C. District 8, joined a bipartisan effort with more than 100 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives to urge Major League Baseball to abandon its plan to eliminate 42 Minor League teams. This effort follows recent reporting that the MLB’s proposal would eliminate 42 affiliated teams in total and shrink the number of affiliated minor league teams by 25 percent.

In a letter written to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, with every team copied, the members of Congress underscored the damage this move would cause to the local communities where the teams are located.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, N.C. District 8, joined a bipartisan effort with more than 100 of his colleagues in the House of Representatives to urge Major League Baseball to abandon its plan to eliminate 42 Minor League teams. This effort follows recent reporting that the MLB’s proposal would eliminate 42 affiliated teams in total and shrink the number of affiliated minor league teams by 25 percent.

In a letter written to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, with every team copied, the members of Congress underscored the damage this move would cause to the local communities where the teams are located.

“While preliminary reports point to only one North Carolina team on the chopping block, I am concerned this decision sets a dangerous precedent that no Minor League team is safe. I am proud to help lead this effort to protect the communities in our state — like Fayetteville and Kannapolis in my district — that enjoy Minor League baseball and have invested in facilities and infrastructure.”

The MLB plan was offered in spite of the fact that Minor League Baseball just completed its 15th consecutive season with an attendance above 40 million; and it was the ninth-largest single season total in MiLB’s 100-plus year history.

Many of the Minor League clubs would fail without a PDC — leaving as many as 1,200 players out of work and letting down the fans, players, municipalities, stadium vendors and employees who have supported these clubs for decades.