Fisher Cats extend affiliation with Blue Jays through 2020

The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Monday that the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Toronto’s double-A team, would remain as the organization’s affiliate through the 2020 season. The Fisher Cats have been associated with the Blue Jays since 2004.

New Hampshire is entering its 15th season, all of which it has spent in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League.

“We are delighted to work with first class partners like [owner] Art Solomon and [president] Mike Ramshaw,” said Gil Kim, the Blue Jays director of player development. “Our players are fortunate to play in a quality ballpark in front of the passionate fans in Manchester.”

From 1994 to 2003, while the team played in New Haven, Connecticut, they were known as the Ravens. They were part of the Colorado Rockies, Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals organizations, before being bought by Drew Weber, the owner of multiple northeast teams, including the Lowell Spinners, part of the Boston Red Sox organization, and the Nashua Silver Knights, an independent league team.

Weber sold his controlling interest of the team in 2005 to Solomon, and Solomon fully purchased the team in 2008. Solomon still owns the team.

The Fisher Cats’ press release says that more than 100 former New Hampshire players have gone on to play in the majors.

Other news:

• The Blue Jays play the Atlanta Braves at Dunedin Stadium today with Joe Biagini starting for Toronto. The game will be broadcast on Sportsnet 590 and MLB.com.
• Steve Pearce, after exiting Sunday’s game with an apparent injury, is day-to-day with left calf tightness, per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.
• The Houston Astros placed former Blue Jay Anthony Gose on waivers Monday. Gose, in the midst of being converted to a pitcher, walked all three batters he faced in his last outing.