Kingsport Mets

The Kingsport Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League and the Rookie affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Kingsport, Tennessee, and are named for the team's major league affiliate. The team plays its home games at Hunter Wright Stadium which opened in 1995 and has a seating capacity of 2,500. The Mets previously played at Dobyns-Bennett High School. In 1983, while Dobyns-Bennett's field was being renovated, the team temporarily moved to Sarasota, Florida, and played in the Gulf Coast League as the Gulf Coast League Mets.

Kingsport Mets
Founded in 1921
Kingsport, Tennessee
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassRookie (1963, 1969–1982, 1984–present)
Previous classes
  • Class D- (1957, 1960–1962)
  • Class D (1955)
  • Class C (1954)
  • Class D (1921–1925, 1938–1953)
LeagueAppalachian League (1955, 1957, 1960–1963, 1969–1982, 1984–present)
DivisionWest Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamNew York Mets (1980–1982, 1984–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (7)
  • 1944
  • 1945
  • 1951
  • 1973
  • 1977
  • 1988
  • 1995
Division titles (5)
  • 1973
  • 1977
  • 1988
  • 1995
  • 1996
Team data
NicknameKingsport Mets (1980–1982, 1984–present)
Previous names
  • Kingsport Braves (1974–1979)
  • Kingsport Royals (1969–1973)
  • Kingsport Pirates (1960–1963)
  • Kingsport Orioles (1957)
  • Kingsport Cherokees (1943–1955)
  • Kingsport Dodgers (1942)
  • Kingsport Cherokees (1938–1941)
  • Kingsport Indians (1921–1925)
ColorsBlue, orange, white
              
MascotSlider (2013-present)
Fowl Ball Freddy (1995-2002, 2005-2012)
Homer the Dragon (2002-2004)
BallparkHunter Wright Stadium (1995–present)
Previous parks
Dobyns-Bennett High School (1969–1982, 1984–1994)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
New York Mets
ManagerRich Donnelley
General ManagerBrian Paupeck

Team history

The first professional team to hail from Kingsport was the Kingsport Indians who played in the Appalachian League from 1921 to 1925. From 1938 to 1941, the Kingsport team was known as the Cherokees, but changed to the Dodgers in 1942 when the team became a farm team of Major League Baseball's Brooklyn Dodgers. They reverted to the Cherokees name in 1943 and continued to play under this moniker through 1955. The Kingsport Cherokees competed in the Mountain States League from 1953 to 1954, before returning to the Appalachian League in 1957 as the Kingsport Orioles after two years of dormancy. After another two years on hiatus, Kingsport returned as the Pirates from 1960 to 1963. From 1969 to 1970, they competed as the Kingsport Royals. Notable players during this period include Al Cowens and U L Washington.

From 1974 to 1979, they were known as the Braves. As an Atlanta Braves affiliate, multiple future major leaguers played for them, including Matt Sinatro, Rick Behenna, Jose Alvarez, Steve Bedrosian, Paul Runge, Brad Komminsk, Milt Thompson, Brook Jacoby, and Mike Payne. Additionally, National League MVP Dale Murphy and Cy Young Award winner Steve Bedrosian played in Kingsport.

In 1980, the team became known as the Kingsport Mets, the name under which the team has competed since then—with the exception of playing the 1983 season in Sarasota, Florida, as the Gulf Coast League Mets while their home stadium underwent renovations. Players Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, Kevin Mitchell, José Reyes, David Wright, Lastings Milledge, and A. J. Burnett made their professional debuts in Kingsport. The Mets won the Appalachian League Championship in 1988 and 1995.

All Silver Anniversary Team

In 2005, the team selected 14 former players and a manager for its All Silver Anniversary Team in commemoration of 25 years as a Mets affiliate.

PositionPlayer
Catcher Brook Fordyce
First baseman Gregg Jefferies
Second baseman Quilvio Veras
Shortstop José Reyes
Third baseman David Wright
Left fielder Kevin Mitchell
Center fielder Preston Wilson
Right fielder Darryl Strawberry
Designated hitter Terrence Long
Utility player Brian Daubach
Right-handed pitcher Dwight Gooden
Left-handed pitcher Pete Schourek
Relief pitcher Randy Myers
Relief pitcher Jason Isringhausen
Manager John Gibbons

Year-by-year record

(from Baseball Reference)

YearRecordWin %FinishGBManagerPostseason
197431–39–1.4437th21.5Hoyt Wilhelm—
197533–33.5006th7Gene Hassell—
197625–42.3738th23.5Bobby Dews—
197743–26.6231st—Bob DidierLeague Champions
197833–37.4715th8.5Eddie Haas—
197939–31.5572nd15.5Gene Hassell—
198035–35–1.5003rd11Chuck Hiller—
198121–49.3006th25Al Jackson—
198228–40.4127th4.5Ed Olsen—
198431–38.4497th9Dan Radison—

Playoffs
  • 1988: Defeated Burlington 2–0 to win league championship.
  • 1995: Defeated Bluefield 2–1 to win league championship.
  • 1996: Lost to Bluefield 2–1 in finals.
  • 2013: Lost to Greeneville 2–1 in semifinals.
  • 2015: Lost to Greeneville 2–1 in semifinals.
  • 2018: Lost to Elizabethton 2–1 in semifinals.

Roster
Kingsport Mets roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 35 Christofer Dominguez
  • 20 Jefferson Escorcha
  • 28 Benito Garcia
  • 44 Brendan Hardy
  • -- Mitch Hickey
  • 40 Cesar Loaiza
  • -- Oscar Rojas
  • 17 Junior Santos
  • 45 Luis Silva
  • 48 Jordany Ventura

Catchers

  • 11 Wilfred Astudillo
  • 24 Andres Regnault

Infielders

  • 29 Sebastian Espino
  • 27 Gregory Guerrero
  •  9 Jaylen Palmer
  •  5 L.A. Woodard

Outfielders

  • 21 Cole Kleszcz
  • 30 Tanner Murphy
  • 11 Scott Ota

Manager

  • -- Chris Newell

Coaches

  • -- Glenn Abbott (pitching)
  • -- Gilbert Gomez (bench)
  • -- Trey Hannam (hitting)


7-day injured list
* On New York Mets 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated August 29, 2019
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Appalachian League
 → New York Mets minor league players

Notable alumni
Hoyt Wilhelm

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

  • A.J. Burnett (1996) MLB All-Star
  • Jacob deGrom (2010) 3 x MLB All-Star; 2014 NL Rookie of the Year; 2018 and 2019 NL Cy Young
  • Mike Difelice (2009-2010, MGR)
  • Dwight Gooden (1982) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1984 NL Rookie of the Year; 1985 NL Cy Young Award
  • Gregg Jeffries (1985) 2 x MLB All-Star
  • Dale Murphy (1974) MLB All-Star; 2 x NL Most Valuable Player (1982-1983)
  • Angel Pagan (2000)
  • Jose Reyes (2000) 3 x MLB All-Star; 2011 NL Batting Title
  • Milt Thompson (1979)
  • U.L. Washington (1973)
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