The Houston Astros, who were largely responsible for the return of Minor League Baseball to Fayetteville, have announced they are selling three of their affiliate teams – including the Woodpeckers.

Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) has finalized the purchase of three Houston Astros minor-league teams, bringing the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Corpus Christi Hooks, and Fayetteville Woodpeckers into its portfolio.

“On behalf of our entire organization, I want to personally thank every employee and fan within each of the clubs for helping make the Astros a championship franchise,” Jim Crane, Owner and Chairman of the Houston Astros said in a news release. “The Space Cowboys, Hooks and Woodpeckers all bring a track record of on-field success, strong city relationships and operational excellence. They will continue to provide unforgettable baseball and family-friendly entertainment to their communities under DBH’s leadership, with front office staff remaining in place.”

With this move, DBH’s roster expands to 48 teams. The company has grown significantly since its start in December 2021, switching ownership from Endeavor to Silver Lake in 2022.

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys, located near Houston, compete in the Pacific Coast League. The Hooks and Woodpeckers open doors to key minor-league hubs in Texas and North Carolina for DBH.

All three teams will remain affiliates of the Houston Astros, and will keep their General Managers, including Michelle Skinner in Fayetteville.

“The Woodpeckers are excited to join the Diamond Baseball Holdings family. DBH leads some of the most successful and innovative Minor League Baseball clubs in the country and are fully committed to continued involvement in the Fayetteville, Fort Bragg, and Greater Sandhills communities,” Skinner said in a statement. “Our dedicated Woodpeckers staff look forward to working with DBH to continue building the legacy of baseball in downtown Fayetteville. The Woodpeckers are thankful for the Astros – they have helped shape our organization over the last eight years and we are thrilled to continue working closely with Houston as their Single-A affiliate for years to come.”

“In Fayetteville, the Woodpeckers have emerged as one of the Carolina League’s most dynamic and community-driven teams since their inaugural 2017 season, known for innovative promotions that helped propel them into the top 10 in Single-A attendance this past season.”

Acquiring these teams fits with DBH’s investment approach in promising franchises. Peter Freund, DBH’s CEO, told Sports Business Journal, “This acquisition represents DBH’s commitment to building a stronger baseball network across the country.”

Henry Shepherd, an executive at DBH, said, “The integration of these Astros affiliates brings exciting opportunities for collaboration and growth within our organization.”

Following the acquisition, DBH will work on incorporating the new teams into its existing framework. This transition is expected to enhance operational efficiencies and market prospects.

The Astros moved their team from Lancaster, California in 2017 to North Carolina. The Buies Creek Astros played at Campbell University for two seasons while Segra Stadium was built in Downtown Fayetteville.

“The Astros are excited to be affiliated with the City of Fayetteville. It’s a city with rich history, friendly people and a background in baseball,” Astros Team President Reid Ryan said at the time. “This agreement will be part of a dynamic revitalization of downtown Fayetteville, which will bring great crowds and a Major League environment for our players to develop. Player development is a huge part of the Astros success and Fayetteville will be a home for the club’s top prospects as they make their way to the Major Leagues.”

The team was the first affiliated club to play in Fayetteville since the Detroit Tigers moved their affiliate – the Fayetteville Generals – in 1998.