Lynchburg Hillcats
Founded in 1963 Lynchburg, Virginia
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
Class	Single-A (2022–present)
Previous classes	Low-A (2021) Class A-Advanced (1990–2020) Class A (1966–1989) Double-A (1963–1965) Class B (1943–1955)
League	Carolina League (2022–present)
Division	North Division
Previous leagues	Low-A East (2021) Carolina League (1966–2020) Southern League (1963–1965) South Atlantic League (1962–1963) Appalachian League (1959) Piedmont League (1943–1955) Virginia League (1886–1942, various)
Major league affiliations
Team	Cleveland Indians / Guardians (2015–present)
Previous teams	Atlanta Braves (2011–2014) Cincinnati Reds (2010) Pittsburgh Pirates (1995–2009) Boston Red Sox (1988–1994) New York Mets (1976–1987) Texas Rangers (1975) Minnesota Twins (1970–1974) Chicago White Sox (1963–1969) St. Louis Cardinals (1943–1955)
Minor league titles
League titles (8)	1978 1983 1984 1997 2002 2009 2012 2017
Division titles (1)	2022
First-half titles (1)	2022
Team data
Name	Lynchburg Hillcats (1995–present)
Previous names	Lynchburg Red Sox (1988–1994) Lynchburg Mets (1976–1987) Lynchburg Rangers (1975) Lynchburg Twins (1970–1974) Lynchburg White Sox (1963–1969) Lynchburg Cardinals (1943–1955) Lynchburg Senators (1940–1942) Lynchburg Grays (1939) Lynchburg Shoemakers (1906–1917, various) Lynchburg Climbers (1894–1896)
Colors	Midnight blue, cyan, green, white
Mascot	Southpaw 2.0
Ballpark	Calvin Falwell Field (1963–present)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Elmore Sports Group
President	Chris Jones
General manager	Chris Jones
Manager	Jordan Smith

The Lynchburg Hillcats are a Minor League Baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia that plays in the Carolina League and is the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They were a farm team of the Atlanta Braves from 2011 to 2014, the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, and the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1995 to 2009. The Hillcats play home games at Calvin Falwell Field; refurbished and renamed in 2004, the stadium seats 4,291 fans.

In May 2016, the franchise announced that they would rebrand after the season.^[1] When put to a fan vote for a new moniker with "Derechos," "Doves," "Lamb Chops," "Love Apples," and "River Runners" as options, a majority of fans voted to retain the Hillcats name.^[2] They did, however, unveil new logos and a different color scheme, consisting of seven hills green, Blue Ridge blue, and midnight blue, for the 2017 season.^[3]

Division and league championships

• 1896 State League Champions, No playoffs.
• 1906 Virginia League Champions, No playoffs.
• 1940 Virginia League Champions, Senators over Harrisonburg, 3–2.
• 1944 Piedmont League Champions, Cardinals over Portsmouth Cubs, 4–3.
• 1948 Piedmont League Regular Season Champions, Cardinals lose to Newport News Dodgers, 0–4.
• 1949 Piedmont League Champions, Cardinals over Portsmouth Cubs, 4–2.
• 1962 South Atlantic League Regular Season Champions, White Sox lose to Macon, 0–3.
• 1963 South Atlantic League 2nd-Half Champions, White Sox lose to Augusta, 2–3.
• 1964 Southern League Champions, No playoffs.
• 1973 Carolina League 1st-Half Champions, Twins lose to Winston-Salem, 2–3.
• 1977 Carolina League 1st-Half Champions, Mets lose to Peninsula, 2–3.
• 1978 Carolina League Champions, Mets over Peninsula, 3–0.
• 1982 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Mets lose to Alexandria in one-game Divisional playoff.
• 1983 Carolina League Champions, Mets sweep Northern Division and win over Winston-Salem, 3–0.
• 1984 Carolina League Champions, Mets sweep Northern Division and win over Durham, 3–1.
• 1985 Carolina League Northern Division Champions, Mets sweep Division lose to Winston-Salem, 1–3.
• 1988 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Red Sox over Salem, 2–1, in playoffs, lose to Kinston, 2–3, in Championship.
• 1989 Carolina League 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Red Sox lose to Prince William, 1–2, in playoffs.
• 1991 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Red Sox over Prince William, 2–0, in playoffs, lose to Kinston, 0–3, in Championship.
• 1992 Carolina League Northern Division Champions, Red Sox sweep Division lose to Peninsula, 2–3, in Championship.
• 1997 Carolina League Champions, Hillcats win 2nd-Half Northern Division, over Frederick, 2–0, in playoffs, over Kinston, 3–1, in Championship.
• 2000 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Frederick, 2–0, in playoffs, lose to Myrtle Beach, 0–3, in Championship.
• 2002 Carolina League Champions, Hillcats win Northern Division Wildcard, over Wilmington, 2–1, in playoffs, over Kinston, 3–1, in Championship.
• 2003 Carolina League 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Wilmington, 2–0, in playoffs, lose to Winston-Salem, 0–3, in Championship.
• 2005 Carolina League 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats lose to Frederick, 0–2, in playoffs.
• 2009 Carolina League Champions, 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Wilmington, 3–2, in playoffs, over Salem, 3–0, in Championship.
• 2012 Carolina League Champions, 1st-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Wilmington, 2–1, in playoffs, over Winston-Salem, 3–1, in Championship.
• 2013 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Wild Card, Hillcats lose to Potomac, 0–2, in playoffs.
• 2014 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Wild Card, Hillcats lose to Potomac, 0–2, in playoffs.
• 2015 Carolina League 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats lose to Wilmington, 2–0, in playoffs.
• 2016 Carolina League 1st-Half & 2nd-Half Northern Division Champions, Hillcats over Potomac, 2–1, in playoffs, lose to Myrtle Beach, 3–1, in Championship.
• 2017 Carolina League Champions, Hillcats over Frederick in playoffs, 2–1, declared co-champions with Down East as a result of the playoffs being called off because of Hurricane Irma.^[4]

Roster

Lynchburg Hillcats roster

• v
• t
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Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 16 Franco Aleman 44 Trenton Denholm 15 Reid Johnston 32 Jake Miller 48 Brauny Muñoz 11 Zach Pettway 45 Alonzo Richardson 31 Tyler Thornton 41 Wardquelin Vasquez 40 Samuel Vasquez 45 Hugo Villalobos 23 Miguel Vinicio 32 Ryan Webb 30 Josh Wolf 38 Juan Zapata		Catchers  7 Joe Donovan  6 Victor Planchart Infielders 27 Will Bartlett 25 Juan Benjamin 24 Jordan Brown  1 Jake Fox 10 Angel Genoa 46 Junior Sanquintin  4 Carson Tucker Outfielders 43 Wuilfredo Antunez 34 Jorge Burgos 22 Isaiah Greene  9 Joe Lampe 17 Marlin Made 36 Lexer Saduy		Manager -- Jordan Smith Coaches -- Tony Arnold (pitching) -- Yan Rivera (bench) -- Ordomar Valdez (hitting) 60-day injured list -- Elmson Candelario -- Allan Hernández 7-day injured list * On Cleveland Guardians 40-man roster ~ Development list # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporarily inactive list Roster updated February 7, 2023 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • Carolina League → Cleveland Guardians minor league players

Notable Lynchburg alumni

John Grabow

Darryl Strawberry

• Andrelton Simmons (2011) 4 time gold glove winner
• Tommy La Stella (2016) World Series Champion
• Willi Castro (2016)
• Anthony Santander (2016)
• Bobby Bradley (2016)
• Yu Chang (2016)
• Francisco Mejia (2016)
• Greg Allen (2016)