The Houston Astros are selling three teams, including the Hooks, to Diamond Baseball Holdings, with all three clubs staying as Astros affiliates.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Houston Astros announced Friday that they have agreed to sell three of their minor league affiliates to Diamond Baseball Holdings, though all will remain part of the Astros’ farm system.

In a sense, the Astros have sold the farm. 

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The deal includes the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks and the Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers. All three clubs will continue operating under their current front-office leadership: Tyler Stamm in Sugar Land, Brady Ballard in Corpus Christi and Michelle Skinner in Fayetteville.

Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane said DBH’s experience and community-focused model made the organization the right fit.

“Diamond Baseball Holdings is the perfect partner for the Astros,” Crane said in the announcement. He added that the Astros “remain committed to these communities” as they continue developing players.

Hooks General Manager Brady Ballard told 3NEWS that he and his team are looking forward to the  partnership.

“DBH has a strong track record of enhancing the fan experience while honoring each club’s unique identity and community roots,” he said. “The Hooks front office is excited to partner with DBH and continue to strive to provide the best possible fan experience. We’re confident that the combination of our staff’s experience, continued affiliation will further strengthen our community impact, Whataburger Field experience and year round activities.”

“The clubs will remain firmly rooted in their communities, with the Space Cowboys playing at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, the Hooks at Whataburger Field on Corpus Christi’s waterfront, and the Woodpeckers at Segra Stadium in downtown Fayetteville,” DBH stated in a press release.

DBH also said the clubs bring strong attendance, community engagement and on-field results to their growing portfolio. 

Sugar Land capped its 2024 season with both the Pacific Coast League and Triple-A National Championships. Corpus Christi recently marked its 20th anniversary with a rebrand, and Fayetteville ranked among Single-A’s top 10 in attendance thanks to its promotional lineup and local partnerships.

Astros general manager Dana Brown emphasized the importance of the affiliates in player development.

“Our affiliates are critical partners to the success of our major league franchise,” Brown said. “We look forward to working alongside DBH and the local communities to ensure our players continue to have the best-in-class minor league experience.”

DBH, founded in 2021, owns and operates several Minor League Baseball clubs nationwide. Executive chairman Pat Battle and CEO Peter Freund said the three Astros affiliates represent “deep community roots and a strong player development culture.”

The sale is expected to close in the coming weeks, pending league approval and standard closing conditions.