Explore the Nationals' Minor League ballparks

April 13th, 2022

The Minor League Ballpark Guides series spotlights each stadium across baseball’s affiliated ranks. Each edition provides ballpark highlights, from concessions to seating options to in-game entertainment to mascots. Ballpark Guides also take travelers through each facility’s surrounding area, encompassing the best places in town to eat or drink, nearby tourist attractions and more. Plan your Minor League Baseball road trip today!

It takes a lot for a prospect to belt his way to the Beltway, but for fans, circling the organization is about as easy as full-system romps get. Intrepid Nationals rooters could climb their way from Single-A to Triple-A in a hectic four-day weekend or weeklong escape from the office. Such a journey would span four states -- Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New York -- but amount to just over 500 miles of driving.

On the other hand, for most Nats fans there's probably no need to get it all in one go. Day trips to see three of the affiliates from the District are fairly convenient, and catching the fourth near the shores of Lake Ontario is worth a little extra time and effort.

Here's the lowdown on each stop:

Single-A: Fredericksburg Nationals, Virginia Credit Union Stadium
The FredNats' inaugural season was 2021, so you can be sure they play in a shiny new facility. Highlights include the History Wall (celebrating the game's history in the region) along the concourse in center field, the hand-operated scoreboard and the chance to get your photo with George Washington (kind of). Read more »

High-A: Wilmington Blue Rocks, Frawley Stadium
Name another ballpark that offers an old-time baseball atmosphere and also presents a moose ("Rocky Bluewinkle") and a giant vegetable stalk ("Mr. Celery") who wow fans during breaks in the action. We'll wait. Read more »

Double-A: Harrisburg Senators, FNB Field
You may have gathered that like their parent club, the Sens play in a capital. But you may not know that their home is on a little island in the middle of the Susquehanna River -- specifically, Harrisburg's City Island. There is parking (and a motor traffic bridge), and fans who are comfortably able to do so will enjoy walking across the pedestrian bridge from downtown. Read more »

The Susquehanna River and downtown Harrisburg, as seen from the FNB Field's suite level.

Triple-A Rochester Red Wings, Frontier Field
As the oldest non-Major League team in the United States, the Red Wings are a significant part of their city's culture and have one of the Minors' most passionate fan bases. Come for the iconic white hot dogs, stay for the statue of a horse made entirely out of baseball gloves. Read more »

Photo by Joe Terito