The MLB Draft League will feature a new look in Maryland as the Aberdeen IronBirds join for the 2026 season.
Founded in 1977 as the Utica Blue Sox, the team was purchased by now minority owner Cal Ripken Jr. in 2002 and relocated and renamed to Aberdeen, Md., as the IronBirds, playing at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium. In its deep history of player development, the IronBirds have hosted baseball greats and current stars such as Larry Walker (1985), Miguel Cabrera (2000), Adrian Gonzalez (2000), Manny Machado (2010), Adley Rutschman (2019), Gunnar Henderson (2021) and more.
While new to the MLB Draft League, Aberdeen is no stranger to its teams. Before the league’s inception in 2021, the IronBirds faced off against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, State College Spikes, West Virginia Black Bears and Williamsport Crosscutters as members of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League from 1977 to 2020.
Keeping the league at six teams, the IronBirds will take the place of the Frederick Keys.
The MLB Draft League is a six-team baseball league that began in 2021 featuring a split-season amateur-professional format. The first half features Draft-eligible prospects who aim to improve their stock ahead of the MLB Draft in July. In its five years, a total of 233 players have been selected in the draft with more than 180 more signing free agent deals. After the Draft, the league transitions to a professional format, with paid players comprising the team’s rosters.
For more information about the MLB Draft League, visit mlbdraftleague.com or follow @mlbdraftleague and @draftleaguedata on X, and @mlbdraftleague on Instagram.
