MLB Lockout Will Not Affect Birmingham Barons Season

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Major League Baseball has canceled opening day, with commissioner Rob Manfred announcing Tuesday the sport will scrap regular-season games over a labor dispute for the first time in 27 years. However, Minor League Baseball will continue as planned, which means the Birmingham Barons will open their 2022 season April 8.

Manfred said he is canceling the first two series of the season that was set to begin March 31, dropping the schedule from 162 games to likely 156 games at most. Manfred said the league and union have not made plans for future negotiations. Players won't be paid for missed games.

Minor League Baseball leagues across the country may see increased attendance this season if MLB owners and players cannot come to an agreement and more games are canceled, as baseball will go on as planned in MiLB.

"Despite the impact of the work stoppage on Major League Baseball’s season, Minor League Baseball has a full season ahead, unaffected by the ongoing situation," Barons president Jonathan Nelson said. "I actually worked with the Barons the last time MLB experienced a labor situation. When the strike strike occurred in August and carried over into the 1995 Spring Training we did not experience any interruptions in our game schedule."

The first 86 games of the 1973 season were canceled by a strike over pension negotiations, the 1981 season was fractured by a 50-day midseason strike over free agency compensation rules that canceled 713 games, and a strike that started in August 1994 over management's attempt to gain a salary cap canceled the final 669 games and led to a three-week delay of the 1995 season, when schedules were cut from 162 games to 144.

The Barons open the season at home against the Rocket City Trash Pandas, the first in a three-game home stand April 8-10.

The Chicago White Sox announced in February that Justin Jirschele will be returning as the Barons manager for the 2022 season. Also returning to Birmingham are pitching coach, Richard Dotson, performance coach George Timke and Athletic Trainer Hyeon Kim.

Newcomer Charlie Romero will join the coaching staff this season, replacing Cameron Seitzer as hitting coach.

Barons season tickets and single game tickets are on sale now for the 2022 season.