Double-A · Southern League · Madison, Alabama, US · Toyota Field

Rocket City Trash Pandas

One of minor league baseball's most explosive brands, the Rocket City Trash Pandas merged the Huntsville region's deep space heritage with irreverent charm when they debuted in 2021, quickly becoming one of the Southern League's top draws as the Los Angeles Angels' Double-A affiliate.

The Rocket City Trash Pandas are the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels, playing in the Southern League at Toyota Field in Madison, Alabama. The franchise was born when BallCorps LLC purchased the Mobile BayBears in 2017 and relocated them to the Huntsville metro area, building a brand-new stadium and adopting one of the most creative names in professional sports.

The "Rocket City" moniker references Huntsville's pivotal role in America's space program—the city is home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center. "Trash Pandas" is an affectionate slang term for raccoons, blending the region's aerospace identity with playful humor. The name was a viral sensation when unveiled in 2019, driving record merchandise sales before the team had played a single game.

Toyota Field, a modern 7,500-seat ballpark in Madison, opened in 2020 but sat empty that first year due to COVID-19. The Trash Pandas finally took the field in 2021, and by the end of the 2025 season, 46 former Trash Pandas players had made their MLB debuts. Joe Kruzel takes over as the franchise's third manager in 2026, bringing more than 30 years of coaching experience to a team that continues to develop Angels prospects while entertaining some of the largest crowds in the Southern League.