California, Carolina League To Hold Separate All-Star Games in 2017

For the first time since 1995, the Carolina and California Leagues will hold separate all-star games. Since 1996 the two leagues have combined for one midseason spectacle, which had rotated between sites in the respective leagues.

This year’s version was held in Lake Elsinore, Calif., the home of the high Class A Padres affiliate, and featured a home run derby that took place on the deck of the USS Midway, a decommissioned aircraft carrier.

The Carolina League announced on Wednesday that its all-star game will be held in Salem, Va., home of the Red Sox’s high Class A affiliate. Also on Wednesday, the California League announced its all-star game would take place in Visalia, Calif., home of the Diamondbacks’ affiliate in the league.

California League president Charlie Blaney, reached by phone on Wednesday evening, cited the complicated nature of putting together such an event as a factor for the split.

“It’s a matter of travel, and logistics got a bit much,” he said. “It was time to make a break and go our separate ways.”

Blaney also said the decision to split was relatively recent.

“It’s been discussed the last couple of weeks,” he said. “We’ve had great relationships with the Carolina League and John Hopkins has done a great job, but was time for a change.”

In its announcement, the California League also noted a desire to have more players from California-based parent clubs in their game, rather than prospects from the Carolina League who will eventually make their way to major league teams on the East Coast.

“Returning to the original formula will allow the All-Star Game to be played in California League cities every year,” the release stated, “and feature more top prospects from the MLB teams in California and the West Coast who are affiliated with the California League.”

Of the eight teams in the Carolina League, none is tied to a major league club in either the American League or National League’s West divisions.

That could change, however, possibly as early as next season, when the Carolina League is poised to expand to 10 teams, with new sites in Kinston, N.C., and Fayetteville, N.C. The two cities have been tied to the Rangers and the Astros, respectively, over the past year.

Astros owner Jim Crane, in fact, went on record on Thursday with his desire to purchase a team and move it to Fayetteville. Currently, the team’s high Class A affiliate plays in Lancaster in the Cal League.

“We would try to move there, our (Class A) affiliate. We don’t have a deal yet,” Crane told Fox 26 in Houston. “Number one, they have to build a stadium, which they want do, it appears. It’s a good spot. I went there. We would control our own destiny. We would buy a franchise and move it there. We have the ability to do that.”

Fayetteville city manager Rochelle Small-Toney on June 20 announced the Astros’ intent to have consultants determine the city’s feasibility for a 4,500-seat stadium. The council voted unanimously to consider discussing the proposed ballpark at Wednesday’s council meeting. The proposed stadium could open as early as 2018.

The Rangers are even further along in the process, having signed a two-year lease in July of 2015 with the intention of bringing a club to Kinston. The team is currently in the final year of its player development contract with High Desert of the Cal League.

When the Cubs moved into Myrtle Beach of the Carolina League two seasons ago, the Rangers attempted to affiliate with the Carolina Mudcats, but were forced to High Desert when Carolina chose the Braves instead.

Whether or not the Rangers and Astros eventually shift their teams east, their prospects won’t be pitted against California League prospects in an all-star setting. At least not for the time being.