Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión Continues to Expand and Celebrate More U.S. Hispanic Communities and Fans
Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión Continues to Expand and Celebrate More U.S. Hispanic Communities and Fans
National season-long campaign includes 387 MiLB games in 85 communities, 32 states
NEW YORK CITY, March 31, 2022 — Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today unveiled the schedule of games and the 85 on-field Hispanic identities for this season’s Copa de la Diversión® (Fun Cup™) event series. Continuing its annual expansion into more communities, eight new teams joined Copa de la Diversión (“Copa”) this season, with five teams returning with rebranded personas.
The 387-game event series will kick off April 9 in Hillsboro, Oregon, with Nationwide returning as the Official Insurance Partner of the Copa initiative.
The eight MiLB teams joining Copa for the first time include the Fort Wayne TinCaps, Frisco RoughRiders, Great Lakes Loons, Quad Cities River Bandits, Somerset Patriots, St. Paul Saints, Syracuse Mets and Wichita Wind Surge. Two teams – the Corpus Christi Hooks and Winston-Salem Dash – return with all-new identities, while the Fresno Grizzlies, Lehigh Valley IronPigs and South Bend Cubs are back with updated looks.
Copa de la Diversión is the centerpiece of MiLB’s “Es Divertido Ser Un Fan™” (“It’s Fun to be A Fan™”) Hispanic fan engagement initiative, which was created in 2017. Through the success of the Copa program, now in its fifth season, MiLB has solidified its commitment to the long-term growth of its U.S. Latino communities and its diversity and inclusion efforts across the country.
“It is important to our organization and all of Minor League Baseball that we continue to embrace everyone in and around our communities through the Copa initiative,” said Frisco RoughRiders President Victor Rojas. “We are excited to honor our rich and diverse Latino culture in hopes of creating a deeper connection to our community on a year-round basis.”
During the first four seasons of the initiative, Copa-designated games had a nearly 20% higher average attendance than non-Copa games, and participating teams saw significant increases in merchandise sales, partnerships, and concessions revenues. Extending their reach into local communities, teams partnered with more than 200 local Latino organizations on various events and charitable endeavors.
“The continued growth of the Copa de la Diversión initiative reinforces the importance of connecting with our Latino fans and the Latino community nationwide,” said Kurt Hunzeker, MLB’s Vice President of Minor League Business Operations. “Our teams continue to authentically connect with the Latino population in their communities, leading to a deeper and more meaningful fan experience.”
At the end of the season, MiLB’s Latino Leadership and Community Growth Council, comprised of industry experts and civic leaders, will recognize the top-performing teams in several categories, including ballpark experience, community engagement, and philanthropic impact, and one team will be named the overall Copa de la Diversión champion. Previous winners include the Mariachis de Nuevo México (2018 and 2019) and the Wepas de Worcester (2021).
For more information on Minor League Baseball’s Copa de la Diversión initiative, visit MiLB.com/copa. To purchase tickets and official merchandise, visit MiLB.com/fans/copa/teams.
| Minor League Baseball Team | Copa Brand Name | Translation |
| Akron RubberDucks | Perros Calientes de Akron | Hot Dogs |
| Albuquerque Isotopes | Mariachis de Nuevo México | New Mexico Mariachis |
| Amarillo Sod Poodles | Pointy Boots de Amarillo | – |
| Arkansas Travelers | Diamantes de Arkansas | Diamonds |
| Asheville Tourists | Yacumamas de Asheville | legendary serpent |
| Bowie Baysox | Cangrejos Fantasmas de Chesapeake | Chesapeake Ghost Crabs |
| Bowling Green Hot Rods | Bólidos de Bowling Green | Race Cars |
| Bradenton Marauders | Bradenton Barbanegras | Blackbeards |
| Brooklyn Cyclones | Brooklyn Jefes | Bosses |
| Carolina Mudcats | Pescados de Carolina | Fish |
| Cedar Rapids Kernels | Cinco Estaciones de Cedar Rapids | Five Seasons |
| Charleston RiverDogs | Perros Santos de Charleston | Holy Dogs |
| Charlotte Knights | Caballeros de Charlotte | Knights |
| Chattanooga Lookouts | Montañas de Chattanooga | Mountains |
| Columbia Fireflies | Chicharrones de Columbia | Pork Rinds |
| Columbus Clippers | Veleros de Columbus | Sailboats |
| Corpus Christi Hooks | Corpus Christi Cumbias | traditional style of dance and music |
| Daytona Tortugas | Daytona Tortugas | Turtles |
| Delmarva Shorebirds | Gallos de Delmarva | Roosters |
| Down East Wood Ducks | Avocados Luchadores de Down East | Avocado Fighters |
| Durham Bulls | Cervezas de Durham | Beers |
| El Paso Chihuahuas | El Paso Margaritas | – |
| Erie SeaWolves | Erie Piñatas | – |
| Eugene Emeralds | Monarcas de Eugene | Monarchs (Butterflies) |
| Everett AquaSox | Everett Conquistadores | Fighting Spirit |
| Fayetteville Woodpeckers | Guerreros de Fayetteville | Warriors |
| Fort Wayne Tin Caps | Manzanas Luchadoras de Fort Wayne | Fighting Apples |
| Fresno Grizzlies | Fresno Lowriders | – |
| Frisco RoughRiders | Quesos de Frisco | Cheese |
| Great Lakes Loons | Pepinillos Picantes del Norte | Spicy Pickles |
| Greenville Drive | Ranas de Río de Greenville | River Frogs |
| Gwinnett Stripers | Xolos de Gwinnett | breed of Mexican hairless dogs |
| Harrisburg Senators | Playeros | Beachy |
| Hartford Yard Goats | Los Chivos de Hartford | Goats |
| Hickory Crawdads | Llamas de Hickory | – |
| Hillsboro Hops | Soñadores de Hillsboro | Dreamers |
| Hudson Valley Renegades | Fenómenos Enmascarados de Valle de Hudson | Masked Phenomena |
| Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino | Cucuys de San Bernardino | Bogeymen |
| Iowa Cubs | Demonios de Des Moines | Demons |
| Jersey Shore Blue Claws | Medusas de Jersey Shore | Jellyfish |
| Lake County Captains | Picantes de Lake County | Spicy Peppers |
| Lake Elsinore Storm | Cadejos de Lake Elsinore | legendary supernatural spirits |
| Lansing Lugnuts | Lansing Locos | local “Go ’Nuts!” cheer |
| Las Vegas Aviators | Las Vegas Reyes de Plata | Silver Kings |
| Lehigh Valley IronPigs | Lehigh Valley Coquís | Singing Tree Frogs |
| Louisville Bats | Murciélagos de Louisville | Bats |
| Memphis Redbirds | Memphis Música | Music |
| Midland RockHounds | Matamoscas de Midessa | Midland-Odessa Fly Swatters |
| Modesto Nuts | Alebrijes de Modesto | Spirit Animals |
| Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Pelícanos de Myrtle Beach | Pelicans |
| Nashville Sounds | Nashville Vihuelas | Guitars |
| New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Gatos Feroces de New Hampshire | Fisher Cats |
| Norfolk Tides | Pajaritos de Norfolk | Baby Birds |
| Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Naturales de Northwest Arkansas | Naturals |
| Oklahoma City Dodgers | Cielo Azul de Oklahoma City | Blue Sky |
| Omaha Storm Chasers | Cazadores de Tormentas de Omaha | Storm Chasers |
| Peoria Chiefs | Peoria en el Río | Peoria on the River |
| Portland SeaDogs | Alces de Maine | Moose |
| Quad Cities River Bandits | Bandidos del Rio de las Ciudades Cuádaruples | River Bandits |
| Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Rancho Cucamonga Temblores | Quakes |
| Reading Fightin Phils | Luchadores de Reading | Fighters |
| Reno Aces | Corazones de Reno | Hearts |
| Richmond Flying Squirrels | Ardillas Voladoras de Richmond | Flying Squirrels |
| Rochester Red Wings | Cocos Locos de Rochester | Crazy Coconuts |
| Round Rock Express | Round Rock Chupacabras | legendary creature |
| Sacramento River Cats | Sacramento Dorados | Golden |
| Salem Red Sox | San Bernardos de Salem | Saint Bernards |
| Salt Lake Bees | Abejas de Salt Lake | Bees |
| San Antonio Missions | Flying Chanclas de San Antonio | Flying Sandals |
| San Jose Giants | San Jose Churros | – |
| Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders | Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Vejigantes | Puerto Rican Folkloric Character |
| Somerset Patriots | Zorros de Somerset | Foxes |
| South Bend Cubs | Cabritos Maldichos de South Bend | Cursed Kids (young goats) |
| Springfield Cardinals | Cardenales de Springfield | Cardinals |
| St. Paul Saints | Santos de St. Paul | Saints |
| Stockton Ports | Caballos de Stockton | Horses |
| Syracuse Mets | Congueros de Syracuse | Conga drums |
| Tacoma Rainiers | Familia de Tacoma | Family |
| Tri-City Dust Devils | Viñeros de Tri-City | Winemakers |
| Visalia Rawhide | Visalia Toros | Bulls |
| West Michigan Whitecaps | Calaveras de West Michigan | Skulls |
| Wichita Wind Surge | Tumba Vacas de Wichita | Cow tippers |
| Winston-Salem Dash | Winston-Salem Salsa | – |
| Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Cascabeles de Wisconsin | Rattlers |
| Worcester Red Sox | Wepas de Worcester | emphatic “Woo!” cheer |
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About Minor League Baseball
Minor League Baseball consists of 120 teams across four classification levels (Single-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A) that are affiliated with Major League Baseball’s 30 teams. Fans flock to MiLB games to see baseball’s future stars and experience the affordable family-friendly entertainment that has been a staple of MiLB since 1901. For more information, visit MiLB.com. Follow MiLB on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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