SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Missions are moving up in the baseball ranks.
The team announced on Wednesday it will start playing AAA in 2019.
The Missions currently play in the AA Texas League. They'll move to the Pacific Coast League in two years. There is currently no information on what major league franchise they'll be an affiliate of.
The Missions will play their final season in the Texas League in 2018. Upon the rise to AAA in 2019, the Missions will continue to be led by President Burl Yarbrough and his staff, as they have been for the previous 30 seasons.
"I am thrilled to be able to lead the Missions and our fan base into a new era of Professional Baseball in San Antonio," said Yarbrough.
Initially, the AAA Missions will continue to play their home games at Nelson Wolff Stadium, but their ownership group will look at new stadium options.
"While we have not yet determined what the specific baseball stadium needs are to advance to AAA, nor have we secured private sector development partners or a stadium development plan, we will begin that process immediately," Yarbrough added.
The AA team that is playing now in San Antonio will move to Amarillo, to make way for the Colorado Springs, Colorado, club to move in.
"Congratulations to the San Antonio Missions for advancing to Triple-A", said new San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. "San Antonio has a long and rich history, and this move takes us to the next level. We have a good relationship with the Missions owner, the Elmore Sports Group, and have had discussions with them about bringing a Triple-A team to San Antonio. We understand that Wolff Stadium has been approved for Triple-A play in the short run. As far as any new stadium is concerned, the Elmore Sports Group has not yet presented the City with a stadium development plan that includes a private investment team, nor has a specific site been selected for a new stadium development. Until we see all of that, I have no further comment. We look forward to hearing more about their plans in the near future."
All of the moves are contingent upon final approval from Minor League Baseball, the Pacific Coast League, and Texas League.
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