Biloxi Shuckers

The franchise that would become the Biloxi Shuckers spent three decades in Huntsville, Alabama, as the Huntsville Stars. A member of the Southern League, the Stars were affiliated with various major league teams over the years, including the Athletics, Brewers, and others. Joe Davis Stadium served as the team's home, but by the 2000s, the aging facility was becoming increasingly inadequate for modern minor league baseball.

Multiple attempts to replace Joe Davis Stadium with a new ballpark in Huntsville fell through. The city and various ownership groups could not agree on financing, location, or design for a replacement venue. As the stadium deteriorated and attendance declined, it became clear that the franchise's future lay elsewhere.

When Ken Young's Biloxi Baseball group acquired the franchise in January 2014, the plan was set: the Stars would play their final season in Huntsville in 2014, then relocate to a brand-new ballpark on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. For a city still rebuilding from Hurricane Katrina's devastation in 2005, the arrival of professional baseball represented both an economic catalyst and a symbol of recovery.

The Shuckers made an immediate impact in their first season. Playing at MGM Park (now Keesler Federal Park), a sleek new stadium just blocks from the Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches, the team posted a league-best 78-59 record in 2015 under manager Carlos Subero. The "Shuckers" name, a nod to the region's oyster shucking tradition, resonated with fans and became a popular brand in minor league baseball.

Mike Guerrero took over as manager in 2016 and would become the most important figure in franchise history. Under his guidance, the Shuckers developed into a perennial contender and a critical stop in the Brewers' player development pipeline. The 2018 team went 81-59, claiming the regular season championship, and the 2019 squad was even better at 82-57. Both teams reached the Southern League Championship Series but came up short of the title.

The talent that passed through Biloxi during this era was extraordinary. Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes, and Freddy Peralta—who would form the core of Milwaukee's dominant pitching staff—all developed with the Shuckers. Willy Adames, Keston Hiura, and other future Brewers regulars also spent time on the Gulf Coast, making Keesler Federal Park a must-watch destination for prospect enthusiasts.