Down East Bird Dawgs

On September 17, 2024, Cameron McRae, a business owner from North Carolina, bought the new franchise and became the primary owner of the team. McRae has been a part of Kinston baseball for over 30 years.{{cite news |last1=Sartori |first1=Gabby |last2=Layton |first2=Courtney |title=Professional baseball returns to Kinston with Bird Dawgs |url=https://www.wnct.com/down-east-wood-ducks/down-east-wood-ducks-reveal-new-team-name-and-logo-at-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WNCT-TV |date=September 18, 2024 |orig-date=September 17, 2024}} His other business ventures include ownership and operation of 72 Bojangles' Famous Chicken restaurants, a golf course, a convenience store, and many different management companies.

A few days later, Shari Massengill was announced as the team's general manager. Like McRae, Shari has been associated with professional baseball in North Carolina and the Kinston ballclub since the 1990s. She then served as the assistant general manager of the Gwinnett Stripers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves for nearly a decade.

Grainger Stadium will serve as the home of the Bird Dawgs starting at the 2025 season. First opened in 1949, Grainger Stadium has hosted professional and collegiate baseball for over 75 years and remains one of the oldest and most historic ballparks in professional baseball.{{cite news |date=September 17, 2024 |title=Down East Bird Dawgs coming to Kinston's Grainger Stadium |url=https://www.witn.com/2024/09/17/down-east-bird-dawgs-coming-kinstons-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WITN-TV |language=en}} The stadium also hosts the annual Freedom Classic series between Navy and Air Force.

On November 3, 2024, Brett Wellman was hired as the Bird Dawgs' field manager.{{Cite press release |date=November 3, 2024 |title=Down East Bird Dawgs Hire Brett Wellman as Field Manager |url=https://www.downeastbirddawgs.com/press-box/news/2025/7/down-east-bird-dawgs-hire-brett-wellman-as-field-manager/ |access-date=January 8, 2025}} Wellman, a North Carolina native, played three seasons (2014–16) as a catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. Prior to his professional career, Wellman played two seasons at Shelton State Community College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama before transferring to Auburn University at Montgomery for his junior and senior seasons. In 2017, Wellman served as a minor league coach for the Double-A Chattanooga baseball team.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-08 |title=DOWN EAST BIRD DAWGS NAME BRETT WELLMAN AS FIRST-EVER MANAGER |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/down-east-bird-dawgs-name-brett-wellman-as-first-ever-manager |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=www.frontierleague.com |language=en}} The coaching staff team was then completed following the transaction of T.J. White announced as the team's hitting coach on November 5, and Reggie Harris as their pitching coach on December 3.{{Cite press release |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Down East Bird Dawgs Appoint Reggie Harris as Pitching Coach |url=https://www.downeastbirddawgs.com/press-box/news/2025/12/down-east-bird-dawgs-appoint-reggie-harris-as-pitching-coach/ |access-date=January 8, 2025}}{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=DOWN EAST BIRD DAWGS HIRE TJ WHITE AS HITTING COACH |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/down-east-bird-dawgs-hire-tj-white-as-hitting-coach |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=www.frontierleague.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-12-02 |title=BIRD DAWGS CONTINUE TO FILL OUT STAFF, HIRE REGGIE HARRIS AS PITCHING COACH |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/bird-dawgs-continue-to-fill-out-staff-hire-reggie-harris-as-pitching-coach |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=www.frontierleague.com |language=en}}

On January 8, 2025, the Bird Dawgs announced their first 11 players signings in their roster for the 2025 season.{{Cite press release |date=January 8, 2025 |title=Bird Dawgs Announce First Player Signings in Franchise History |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20250108ia74b3 |access-date=January 8, 2025 |website=Frontier League}}

{{IndyLB roster

| league = Frontier League

| TeamName = Down East Bird Dawgs

| BC1 = #fa6205

| FC1 = #FFFFFF

| BC2 = #000

| FC2 = #FFFFFF

| Date = April 28, 2025

| Pitchers =

{{MLBplayer|--|Axel Andueza}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Andrew Baker}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Danny Beal}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Nate Boyle}}

{{MLBplayer|--|TJ Czyz}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Drew Durst}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Don Goodes}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Zach Grace}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Drew Henderson}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Spencer Johnston}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Brandon Kaminer}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Jacob King}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Stan King}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Nate Lamb}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Ian Lawson}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Greg Martinez}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Carter Raffield}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Anthony Silvas}}

| Catchers =

{{MLBplayer|--|Tyler Blaum}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Gehrig Ebel}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Manny Jackson}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Elias Stevens}}

| Infielders =

{{MLBplayer|--|Kam Guidry}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Jelani Hamer}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Trotter Harlan}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Joe Johnson}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Yeniel Laboy}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Trey Law}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Yassel Pino}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Jaylen Smith}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Emmanuel Tapia}}

| Outfielders =

{{MLBplayer|--|Stephen DiTomaso}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Brandon Fields}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Cole Hill}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Ali LaPread}}

{{MLBplayer|--|Cameron Masterman}}

| DH =

| Utility =

| Manager =

{{MLBplayer|--|Brett Wellman}}

| Coaches =

{{MLBplayer|--|Reggie Harris}} (pitching)

{{MLBplayer|--|TJ White}} (hitting)

|}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.downeastbirddawgs.com/ Official Site]

{{Frontier League}}

{{North Carolina Sports}}

Category:2025 establishments in North Carolina

Category:Baseball teams established in 2025

Category:Frontier League teams

Category:Professional baseball teams in North Carolina

Category:Proposed sports clubs and teams

Category:Lenoir County, North Carolina