Gwinnett Stripers

The Gwinnett Stripers were born in 2009 when the Atlanta Braves relocated their Triple-A affiliate from Richmond, Virginia, to Gwinnett County, Georgia — bringing the organization's top development arm closer to the major league club. Originally known as the Gwinnett Braves, the team rebranded as the Stripers in 2018, adopting a name inspired by the striped bass found in nearby Lake Lanier.

From their home at Gwinnett Field in Lawrenceville, the Stripers have served as the final stepping stone for a remarkable collection of future Braves stars. Freddie Freeman, Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel, Julio Teheran, and Mike Minor all passed through Gwinnett during the franchise's early years. In the late 2010s and into the 2020s, the pipeline produced Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Max Fried, and Ian Anderson — the core of Atlanta's 2021 World Series championship team.

The franchise's most successful on-field campaign came in 2019, when manager Damon Berryhill led the Stripers to an 80-59 record and a division title, earning International League Manager of the Year honors. Berryhill's tenure (2017-2021) brought stability and a winning culture, though the franchise has yet to claim a Governors' Cup championship — falling in the semifinals or losing the division title in its postseason appearances.

Now under manager Kanekoa Texeira, entering his third season in 2026, the Stripers continue their primary mission: developing the next generation of Atlanta Braves. The franchise's proximity to Truist Park — about 40 miles southwest — makes player shuttling seamless, ensuring that Gwinnett remains the organization's most important pipeline stop.