Back in late September 2023, MiLB announced a new logo. You can read the press release here.

Unlike the tweak made to it when MLB first took over in 2021 (revisit my underwhelmed reaction here), the new logo features significant changes. Instead of red, white, and blue it’s now light blue, white, and blue; the familiar MiLB right-handed batter has been replaced by MLB’s switch-hitting silhouette; and all four stars have been lined up to the right of the bat.

Word is that once minor league teams use up their supplies of last year’s balls, they’ll start using this one. The Museum has managed to acquire one, and here it is:

Note that the ink is a slightly lighter blue than the Navy blue that Rawlings has used for the past 20-odd years.

So keep an eye out for these in the wild this season. Spring Training is right around the corner, and hopefully we’ll be seeing these balls in games before too long.

A reminder that the 2nd Edition of the Collector’s Guide is now available! It has lots of updates, including this new MiLB ball. Buy it on Etsy, or drop me a message or email and I’ll let you know how to get it directly from me.

-Tony Baseballs