LONG BEACH, CA — Long Beach’s new professional baseball team officially has a name — well, two names.

The independent baseball team, which will begin playing May 19, will be known as the Long Beach Coast, while its hip-hop “alter ego” will be the Long Beach Regulators.

The team’s official name was announced during Mayor Rex Richardson’s state of the city speech Tuesday.

“The return of professional baseball marks a new chapter for Long Beach,” said in a Facebook post. “With a team name chosen by our residents and a season beginning in Spring 2026, this is more than a franchise, it’s a point of pride, community connection, and economic activity for our city.”

In a written statement, team President Ena Patel said the names, “a core identity paired with an alter ego, gives us room to explore different aesthetics and push the boundaries of what a baseball brand can look and feel like.”

“We want to build a brand where anyone in Long Beach can see themselves in it – who doesn’t have a little bit of an alter ego or super hero in them?” Patel said.

Minor league baseball teams commonly have a secondary nickname.

“The Long Beach Regulators alter ego taps into Long Beach’s legendary ’90s hip-hop roots, unlocking superhero- level moments, bold creative collaborations, fan-powered energy, and one-of-a- kind in-season activations,” the team wrote in a statement.

The rapper Warren G, a member of the team’s ownership group and a Long Beach native, told “TMZ” in September he wanted Regulators be the team’s nickname in honor of his 1994 single “Regulate,” which the team describes as “an anthem that defined a city and a sound.”

The team likened its alter ego to those of superheroes and musicians such as Bruce Wayne (Batman), Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Eminem (Slim Shady).

The official name comes after a community-driven process, wherein the city asked for name submissions, CBS News reported.

Coast, Regulators and Parrots were announced Oct. 22 as the three finalists for the nickname after 4,862 votes were cast online in 35 states and at ballot boxes across Long Beach. Cruisers, Grit and Groove were the other semifinalists.

“The Long Beach Coast celebrates the connective thread that runs through every part of the city,” the team said. “Few cities embody duality as Long Beach does. Eleven miles of coastline tie together the West Side and East Side — where ocean meets concrete, hustle meets chill, and old-school roots meet new-school energy.”

Three minor league teams once played in the city: Long Beach Armada, which folded in 2009; the Long Beach Breakers, which last played in 2002; and the initial team — which played under the names Long Beach Barracuda, Long Beach Franchise and Long Beach Riptide — before folding in 1996, according to the Long Beach Post.

The Coast will play in the 12-team Pioneer Baseball League, one of four MLB Partner Leagues.

MLB defines the partner leagues as collaborating “with MLB on various initiatives while providing organized baseball to communities throughout the United States and Canada, and also expanding the geographic reach of the game,” as well as providing “development opportunities for young players throughout the country and for veteran players who seek a second chance to reach the major leagues” and “formal, MLB-sponsored programs to give people with diverse backgrounds additional playing and coaching opportunities.”

Unlike minor league teams, teams in partner leagues do not have formal affiliations with major league teams.

The Coast will play their opener May 19 against the Yuba-Sutter High Wheelers in Marysville to begin a 12-game road trip. They will play their home opener at Blair Field June 2 against the PBL Travel Team, which only plays road games.

The Coast will be managed by former Angel star reliever Troy Percival. Their coaching staff includes former Angel Troy Glaus, the MVP of the 2002 World Series.

City News Service contributed to this report.