Double-A · Texas League · Amarillo, Texas, US · HODGETOWN
Amarillo Sod Poodles
Named after the prairie dogs that dot the Texas Panhandle landscape, the Sod Poodles won a Texas League championship in their very first season—and then did it again four years later, establishing HODGETOWN as one of the most electric environments in all of minor league baseball.
1922–2010
Amarillo's Baseball Legacy
A century of professional baseball in the Panhandle
Amarillo's relationship with professional baseball stretches back a full century. The city hosted various minor league teams throughout the twentieth century, including the Amarillo Gold Sox, who played in the West Texas-New Mexico League and later the Texas League across several decades. The Gold Sox produced a handful of future major leaguers and gave Amarillo a proud baseball tradition.
The most recent predecessor to the Sod Poodles was the Amarillo Dillas, an independent league team that played from 1994 through 2010. While the Dillas provided affordable family entertainment and maintained the city's baseball culture, they lacked the affiliation with a major league organization that brings top-tier talent and development resources. When the Dillas folded after the 2010 season, Amarillo was left without professional baseball for nearly a decade.
The absence only deepened the community's hunger for the sport. When Elmore Sports Group announced plans to relocate the San Antonio Missions franchise to Amarillo and build a new downtown ballpark, the response was electric. Amarillo was ready to welcome professional baseball back in a big way.
Key Facts
- Amarillo has hosted professional baseball teams since the 1920s
- The Amarillo Gold Sox played in various leagues across several decades
- The Amarillo Dillas (1994-2010) were the most recent predecessor
- The city went without professional baseball from 2011-2018
2019–2020
Inaugural Championship
A franchise debut for the ages
Everything about the Sod Poodles' debut was remarkable. The name itself—selected through a community contest that generated thousands of submissions—became an instant sensation. "Sod poodle" is a colloquial term for the prairie dogs that populate the Texas Panhandle, and the playful branding, complete with a mischievous prairie dog logo, went viral. Merchandise sales soared, and the team hadn't even played a game yet.
HODGETOWN, the sleek 6,631-seat ballpark built in downtown Amarillo, opened its gates on April 8, 2019, and from the first pitch, the energy was palpable. The Sod Poodles, then a San Diego Padres affiliate, were stocked with talent—the Padres' farm system was among the best in baseball. Outfielder Taylor Trammell, catcher Luis Campusano, and pitcher MacKenzie Gore were among the top prospects who wore Amarillo's distinctive maroon and gold.
The regular season produced a 72-66 record, good enough for a playoff berth. Then the postseason magic began. After defeating the Midland RockHounds in the South Division Series, the Sod Poodles faced the Tulsa Drillers for the Texas League championship. Down 3-1 in the ninth inning of the deciding Game 5, Trammell launched a grand slam that will forever echo through HODGETOWN. The Sod Poodles were champions in Year One—Baseball America's Minor League Team of the Year.
Key Facts
- HODGETOWN opened April 8, 2019 in downtown Amarillo
- Won the Texas League Championship in the inaugural season
- Taylor Trammell's grand slam clinched the title in Game 5
- Named Baseball America's 2019 Minor League Team of the Year
2021–Present
Diamondbacks Era
New affiliation, same winning culture
The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and when minor league baseball returned in 2021, the landscape had changed dramatically. MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues shifted the Sod Poodles' affiliation from the San Diego Padres to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Manager Shawn Roof guided the team through the transition, posting a 59-61 record in the first year under the new arrangement.
The partnership with Arizona proved fruitful. The D-backs' deep farm system kept the roster stocked with talent, and Roof's steady hand built a winning culture. After a 68-69 campaign in 2022, the Sod Poodles broke through in spectacular fashion in 2023. Going 77-61 during the regular season, Amarillo stormed through the playoffs and won their second Texas League Championship, routing the Arkansas Travelers in the clinching Game 3. The title cemented HODGETOWN as a house of champions and earned the franchise MiLB's Organization of the Year award for 2023.
The 2024 season brought a down year at 58-79 under new manager Tim Bogar, but the franchise bounced back under Javier Colina in 2025, going 71-67 and returning to the postseason. Colina, who had served as bench coach during the 2023 championship run, brought continuity and energy. The Sod Poodles continue to develop top D-backs prospects while maintaining one of the most electric fan experiences in the minor leagues.
Key Facts
- Switched from Padres to Diamondbacks affiliation in 2021
- Won second Texas League Championship in 2023
- Named MiLB Organization of the Year in 2023
- Javier Colina led 2025 return to the postseason