Diamond Baseball Holdings
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Peter B. Freund, CEO
 | |
| Industry | Sports management |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2021 |
| Founder | Endeavor |
Key people | Pat Battle, executive chairman Peter B. Freund, CEO |
| Parent | Silver Lake |
| Website | diamondbaseballholdings |
Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) is an American sports ownership and management group that operates over 40 Minor League Baseball (MiLB) teams in the United States and Canada. DBH was established in 2021 by media conglomerate Endeavor and is a subsidiary of the investment firm Silver Lake.
Rebrands and relocations
Established in 2021 by media conglomerate Endeavor, the organization originally was the owner and operator of nine MiLB clubs.[1] In 2022, ownership of DBH shifted from Endeavor to Silver Lake, parent company of Endeavor,[2][3] who purchased DBH for $280 million.[4]
The company is led by Pat Battle, who formerly headed Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), which licensed the rights to college athletic team apparel and merchandise, and IMG College, which acquired CLC. Battle and CEO Peter B. Freund convinced Major League Baseball (MLB) that increased professionalization and consolidated ownership of Minor League Baseball, with sharing of best practices and cross-investment, was best for MLB teams. The company plans to reach the current MLB limit of owning 50 teams. In addition to gate revenue, the company also plans to pursue mixed-use development on stadium parking lots; increase the number of non-game events such as concerts, weddings, and corporate events; and consolidate sponsorship, advertising, and back-office activities to a national marketplace.[4]
Baseball America called DBH "the most powerful ownership group in the history of Minor League Baseball" in 2024.[5] Battle and Freund reportedly have a close relationship with Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred.[6] DBH has received more than $275 million in tax preferences for MiLB teams that they own, as of March 2024[update].[7]
DBH has rebranded some teams, with the Rome Braves becoming the Rome Emperors and Salem Red Sox becoming the Salem RidgeYaks.[8][9] DBH has also relocated several of its minor league franchises:
- DBH bought the Down East Wood Ducks and another team from the Texas Rangers in 2023, moving the franchise from Kinston, North Carolina to Spartanburg, South Carolina to be the Hub City Spartanburgers, which play in a newly built stadium.[10][11][12] Public funding for the stadium and surrounding developments was $118 million.[13]
- DBH purchased the Mississippi Braves from the Atlanta Braves before the 2022 season and moved the team from Pearl, Mississippi to Columbus, Georgia, renaming the team the Columbus Clingstones.[14][15] The city of Columbus borrowed $50 million to renovate the Clingstones ballpark.[16][17][5]
- The Modesto Nuts, which Diamond bought from the Seattle Mariners in December 2024, left Modesto after the 2025 season.[18][19] Diamond changed the MLB affiliations of several California teams, with a new team moving to Ontario to become the Ontario Tower Buzzers in 2026, which will also have a new ballpark.[20] The stadium and surrounding sports facilities had a projected cost of $151 million in April 2025.[21]
Teams
Diamond Baseball Holdings owns 48 teams, as of January 2026[update].[22]
Former teams:
| Team | Location | League | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down East Wood Ducks[10] | Kinston, North Carolina | Carolina League | 2023–2024 | Moved to Spartansburg, South Carolina to be the Hub City Spartanburgers |
| Mississippi Braves[58] | Pearl, Mississippi | Southern League | 2021–2024[14] | Moved to Columbus, Georgia, and became the Columbus Clingstones |
| Modesto Nuts[18] | Modesto, California | California League | 2024–2025 | Became the Ontario Tower Buzzers |
