April 30, 2026 – MLB Network announced that its original docuseries Grass Routes will return with four all-new episodes, beginning this Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m. ET. The storytelling series explores baseball through the Minor League Baseball communities that shape it, spotlighting where the game lives beyond the field and where the people, places and traditions behind it matter just as much as what happens between the lines. Each episode serves as a travelogue celebrating the unique character of Minor League cities and the ways local baseball teams are woven into the fabric of their communities. A trailer previewing Sunday’s episode can be viewed here.
The premiere episode of 2026 takes viewers to Asheville, N.C., home of the Asheville Tourists, the High-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros, as host and MLB Pipeline expert Jonathan Mayo captures the city’s bounce back from the damage and devastation of Hurricane Helene in September 2024. After the Minor League Baseball community raised $200,000 to support rebuilding efforts post-hurricane, Grass Routes highlights the resilience of a community that continues to show up for one another. From the ballpark carved into the mountainside to the rhythm of downtown, the episode presents Asheville as a place where baseball brings people together. Even for visitors like the sport’s recent top prospect and current Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin, who joins Mayo at Skinny Beats Sound Shop in Asheville, the city leaves an impression.
2024 Astros MLB Draft picks Drew Vogel and Ramsey David are featured within the episode, with Vogel speaking fondly of playing in HomeTrust Park (formerly known as McCormick Field), "You can hear [the fans] cheering, talking the whole time. Their sound is just right on top of you, which I think is cool. And it's always really good crowds and people are there having fun no matter what it is. No matter winning or losing, everybody is there having a good time. I've always enjoyed that the whole year."
Following Asheville, Grass Routes continues with new episodes from Tulsa, Oklahoma (Tulsa Drillers) on Sunday, May 17; Montgomery, Alabama (Montgomery Biscuits) on Sunday, May 31 and Rochester, New York (Rochester Red Wings) on Sunday, June 14. Each episode will premiere at 1 p.m. ET on MLB Network, which is now available Direct-To-Consumer via MLB+, and all episodes can be found on demand after it airs on MiLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+ and in the MLB App.
Grass Routes launched in 2025 with a pilot episode centered on Portland, Maine, home of the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. Hosted by Mayo, the episode introduced the series’ focus on the intersection of Minor League Baseball and local communities, featuring the elements of Portland that give the city its soul. In addition to Grass Routes, MLB Network regularly produces MiLB content throughout the year, including Spring Breakout coverage, daily highlights, game promos and the MiLB Awards.