Single-A · Carolina League · North Augusta, South Carolina, US · SRP Park
Augusta GreenJackets
Named for the iconic green jacket awarded at The Masters, the Augusta GreenJackets have spent nearly four decades developing future big leaguers on the banks of the Savannah River. Now the Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, they call the stunning SRP Park home and carry a proud tradition of four league championships.
1988–1993
The Augusta Pirates
A South Atlantic League franchise is born
The franchise began in 1988 when the Macon Pirates relocated to Augusta, Georgia, joining the South Atlantic League as a Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Playing at Heaton Stadium (later known as Lake Olmstead Stadium), the team established itself quickly in the CSRA community. The 1989 squad captured the franchise's first South Atlantic League championship, defeating the Gastonia Rangers in the best-of-five finals.
Throughout the early years, the Augusta Pirates served as an important rung on Pittsburgh's developmental ladder. Future major leaguers including Moises Alou passed through the roster during this era. The team posted competitive records and built a loyal fanbase in a city with a rich baseball tradition dating back decades.
After six seasons as the Augusta Pirates, the franchise made the decision to rebrand ahead of the 1994 season. Inspired by Augusta's most famous cultural institution — The Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, where the champion receives a coveted green jacket — the team became the Augusta GreenJackets, a name that immediately resonated with the local community and gave the franchise a distinctive identity in the minor league landscape.
Key Facts
- Franchise relocated from Macon, Georgia in 1988
- Won the 1989 South Atlantic League Championship
- Affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1988 to 1998
- Rebranded as GreenJackets in 1994, honoring The Masters Tournament
2005–2020
The Giants Pipeline
A golden age of prospect development
The 2005 season began a remarkable 16-year partnership with the San Francisco Giants that turned Augusta into one of the most celebrated minor league affiliates in baseball. Under this affiliation, the GreenJackets became a premier prospect showcase, with an extraordinary parade of future big leaguers passing through the roster.
The 2006 team, managed by Roberto Kelly, posted the best record in all of Minor League Baseball at 92-47, earning Kelly SAL Manager of the Year honors. The 2007 squad was nearly as dominant at 89-51. But the crown jewel came in 2008, when a teenaged Madison Bumgarner anchored the pitching staff with a 15-3 record and 1.46 ERA, striking out 124 batters to lead the league. That team went 88-50 and swept through the playoffs to capture the SAL championship.
The list of future major leaguers who played in Augusta during the Giants era reads like a who's who: Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Joe Panik, Pablo Sandoval, Brian Wilson, Sergio Romo, and Zack Wheeler all wore a GreenJackets uniform. The franchise became nationally known not just for winning but for being a reliable incubator of elite talent. The Giants' championship runs in 2010, 2012, and 2014 all featured multiple Augusta alumni.
The final seasons of the Giants era coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled the entire 2020 MiLB season and brought uncertainty about the franchise's future affiliation.
Key Facts
- Posted best record in all of MiLB in 2006 (92-47) and 2007 (89-51)
- Won 2008 SAL Championship behind teenaged Madison Bumgarner
- Developed Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, and many more Giants stars
- Roberto Kelly won SAL Manager of the Year in 2006
2021–Present
A New Affiliation & A New Home
Braves baseball in North Augusta
MLB's sweeping 2021 Minor League reorganization reshuffled affiliations across the country, and the GreenJackets were reassigned from the San Francisco Giants to the Atlanta Braves — a geographic pairing that made intuitive sense given Augusta's proximity to Atlanta. The team was placed in the newly formed Low-A East league for 2021, which became the Carolina League in 2022.
The transition came alongside a change of scenery that had already begun. In 2018, the GreenJackets had moved from their longtime home at Lake Olmstead Stadium in Augusta, Georgia, across the Savannah River to the brand-new SRP Park in North Augusta, South Carolina. The 4,782-seat facility, financed through a public-private partnership with the city of North Augusta, was an immediate hit — earning Baseballparks.com's Ballpark of the Year award and drawing praise for its intimate atmosphere and riverfront setting.
Off the field, ownership changed hands when Diamond Baseball Holdings, created by Endeavor Group Holdings, acquired the GreenJackets in late 2021 as part of a multi-team purchase. Team president Jeff Eiseman remained in place to lead day-to-day operations. On the field, the Braves have used Augusta as a key early stop for their prospect pipeline, continuing the franchise's proud tradition as a launchpad for future major league talent. The 2025 season saw the team return to a winning record at 67-62, offering optimism heading into the next chapter.
Key Facts
- Became Atlanta Braves Single-A affiliate in 2021 MiLB reorganization
- Moved to SRP Park in North Augusta in 2018 (4,782 seats)
- Acquired by Diamond Baseball Holdings in late 2021
- SRP Park won Baseballparks.com's Ballpark of the Year