AFTER PERSONAL INTERVENTION WITH MLB AND WASHINGTON NATIONALS, SCHUMER SECURES COMMITMENT THAT NATIONALS WILL BE CHOOSING ROCHESTER RED WINGS AS NEW MINOR LEAGUE AFFILIATE TEAM, ENSURING HIGH-LEVEL BALL STAYS IN ROCHESTER

Last Tuesday, The Minnesota Twins Ended Their Nearly Two-Decades-Long Affiliation With The Rochester Red Wings; Nats Pick Up The Beloved Team, Becoming Only The Fourth Red Wings’ Parent Team In Its Nearly Century-Long History

Schumer, In A Direct Call To MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred Last Week, Urged Swift Decision On New Affiliation

Schumer: Nats Slide Into Home In Rochester

An avid fan of baseball and supporter of Minor League teams in New York, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that following his direct call to Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Rob Manfred today and last week, the Washington Nationals have picked the Rochester Red Wings as their new Triple-A Minor League affiliate team. The Nationals will be only the fourth parent team for the Red Wings in the team’s nearly century-long history, replacing the Minnesota Twins, which were affiliated with the team from 2003 to 2020.

“I’m thrilled to join alongside all of Rochester’s Red Wings fans today in celebration to announce that Red Wings baseball is ‘safe at home’ thanks to its new Major League affiliate, the Washington Nationals,” said Senator Schumer. “When I spoke with Commissioner Manfred and Nationals owner Mark Lerner, I highlighted that as the longest continuously operating franchise in Minor League Baseball, the Red Wings have a stellar reputation – with top-notch fans and a passionate world-class organization led by Naomi Silver and General Manager Dan Mason. There is no doubt the Red Wings, now together with the Nats, will continue to knock it out of the park for fans throughout the Rochester Finger Lakes region.  For Spikes, Mittsy, Milo, and all members of the Red Wing’s world-class organization, especially Naomi Silver and Dan Mason, I’m excited we can add the next great chapter of Red Wings baseball to our ‘things to be thankful for’ list this Thanksgiving.”

Naomi Silver, President, CEO & COO of the Rochester Red Wings said, “I am extremely grateful for Senator Schumer’s assistance in securing our affiliation with the Washington Nationals. On behalf of the Red Wings and the entire community, we want to express our appreciation to the Senator for reaching out to both the Nationals and the Commissioner. It is clear the Senator has the best interest of our Minor League teams in New York State at heart, and we owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Schumer stressed on last week’s call that the Red Wings and their fans deserve to know ASAP that high-level professional baseball will remain in Rochester and what the new affiliation was going to be, because not only does the team have a great reputation for being one of the best-run operations in Minor League Baseball, but Rochester’s huge and loyal fan base puts the Red Wings in the top half of attendance for Triple-A teams. Since 1928, the Red Wings have had three parent teams: the St. Louis Cardinals from 1928 to 1960, the Baltimore Orioles from 1961 to 2002, and the Minnesota Twins from 2003 to 2020.

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