David Thomas

The Jackson Sun

Four days after winning the Southern League championship, the Jackson Generals announced Monday they have signed a four-year working agreement with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The move means the end of a 10-year run by the Seattle Mariners.

“It was a great 10-year run with the Mariners, and we made a lot of great friends and contacts,” Jason Compton, general manager of the Generals said. “We wish the Mariners the best as we look forward to the next chapter of Jackson Generals’ baseball.”

Generals win Southern League title

The Diamondbacks move to Jackson from Mobile, where they spent the last 10 years as the Mobile BayBears. The organization won two of its four Southern League titles as an affiliate of the Diamondbacks.

The BayBears went back-to-back in 2011-12, defeating the Generals three games to one in the 2012 final.

Through this season, there have been 134 former Mobile BayBears players promoted to the Major Leagues - 53 are through affiliation with the Diamondbacks.

Former BayBears include first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who plays with the parent club in Phoenix, outfielder Adam Eaton, now with the Chicago White Sox and Trevor Bauer, who pitches for the Cleveland Indians.

Business of Baseball: Behind the plate with Gens chief

“The Diamondbacks are a class organization, and we are making this transition as easy as possible,” Compton said. “They are a National League club, and fans from this area will also be able to see them on a regular basis in St. Louis and Atlanta.”

The Generals play at the Ballpark at Jackson, which opened in 1998.

Originally Pringles Park, the stadium was home to the Chicago Cubs for the first nine seasons, before a decade-long arrangement with the Mariners.

When the Generals begin play in April 2017, it will also mark the first time since the 2006 season the designated hitter will not be used in a home game.

“I speak on behalf of the entire Diamondbacks organization when I say we are ecstatic for our new partnership with the Jackson Generals. It did not take long to figure out we were a perfect match,” Diamondbacks Director of Player Development Mike Bell said in a press release. “We have the same priorities: community, character in people and players, and, of course, winning. We are excited to continue the Generals' winning tradition and look forward to immersing ourselves in the great Jackson community.”

David Thomas, 425-9637