Independent leagues add franchises in cities abandoned by affiliated minor league teams.
Andrew Dunn kept a close eye on the minor league movement out west last summer.
When news broke that the Bakersfield and High Desert franchises would be leaving the California League, Dunn, the commissioner of the Pecos League, started to receive calls about adding teams to his independent league.
The Pecos League already had teams in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and Kansas. Knowing there would soon be two cities without baseball teams, Dunn saw an opportunity to expand. The Pecos League added the High Desert Yardbirds and the Bakersfield Blaze this season.
“Logically, there’s people who are gonna want baseball there,” Dunn said.
The next minor league shuffle is scheduled for 2019, when Rookie-level Helena of the Pioneer League leaves for Colorado Springs.
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