Amarillo Sod Poodles

The Amarillo Sod Poodles are the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, playing in the Texas League at HODGETOWN in downtown Amarillo, Texas. The franchise relocated from San Antonio in 2019 as part of a three-team shuffle orchestrated by Elmore Sports Group, bringing professional baseball back to Amarillo for the first time since the Dillas folded in 2010. The name "Sod Poodles"—a colloquial term for prairie dogs—was selected through a community naming contest and quickly became one of the most beloved brands in minor league baseball.

HODGETOWN, a state-of-the-art 6,631-seat ballpark in the heart of downtown Amarillo, opened alongside the franchise in 2019 and has been a transformative addition to the city's entertainment landscape. The ballpark features views of the Amarillo skyline and has drawn consistent crowds, helping the Sod Poodles earn recognition as MiLB's 2023 Organization of the Year.

The franchise made history immediately, winning the Texas League Championship in their inaugural 2019 season as a San Diego Padres affiliate. Taylor Trammell's dramatic ninth-inning grand slam in the clinching Game 5 against the Tulsa Drillers remains one of the most iconic moments in franchise history. After switching affiliations to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021 as part of MLB's minor league reorganization, the Sod Poodles won a second Texas League title in 2023 under manager Shawn Roof, defeating the Arkansas Travelers.

The Sod Poodles have become a cornerstone of entertainment and civic pride in the Texas Panhandle, drawing fans from across the region with creative promotions, community engagement, and competitive baseball. The franchise continues to develop top D-backs prospects while building one of the most vibrant fan experiences in the minors.