Brewers' minor league affiliate rebrand is as close to perfect as it gets

Since 2017, the Carolina Mudcats have been the Low-A affiliate for the Milwaukee Brewers after previously being a part of the Braves, Indians, Reds, Marlins, Rockies and Pirates organizations since their inception in 1991.

Jackson Chourio, Aaron Ashby, Freddy Peralta and Devin Williams (for now) are all current Brewers stars that began their professional careers as members of the Mudcats. Now, the club with that iconic catfish logo is going to move 25 miles east and change their look and their name.

Beginning in 2026, the Mudcats are going to be getting a complete makeover that will see them rebrand to the Wilson Warbirds. The Warbirds will call Wilson, N.C. home and they'll play in a new $75.5 million stadium in downtown Wilson.

The name "Warbirds" comes from “vintage military aircraft that continue flying long after their service days,” per the Brewers’ official press release.

As relayed by MLB.com's Adam McCalvy, Tyler Barnes, the Brewers' VP of communications and affiliate operations, said the name comes with "a sense of power, patriotism, Americana the persistence to keep these old planes flying as a tribute to American history and willpower."

Recent minor league affiliates rebranding prove the move can be great

In many instances, rebrands for minor league affiliates can boost attendance and these types of changes almost always put the team right in the media spotlight. In recent times, the Angels' Double-A affiliate, the Rocket City Trash Pandas, stole the headlines with their unique name and even more unique mascot. The mascot alone has brought in millions of dollars in merchandise sales that wasn't there before the change.

Rebranding can be a fun way to get the community involved with their minor league affiliates. Outside of the Trash Pandas, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, Jersey Diners, Exploding Whales and Amarillo Calf Fries are all prime examples of organizations capitalizing on trendy local topics that have a sense of importance to their cities.

When the Mudcats make their switch, Wilson will have Carolina League baseball being played in their city for the first time since all the way back in 1968.

"The ability to place this ballpark in the heart of a historic downtown, a very walkable downtown in a relatively small community, it’s going to create significant excitement in and around that area," Barnes said, as relayed by McCalvy. "The community was already in a resurgence well before the announcement of the ballpark and the team coming to town. The addition of the ballpark helps culminate that transformation."

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