Endeavor's Major Play in Baseball: Acquisition of Diamond Baseball Holdings and Nine PDL Franchises

Endeavor has unveiled Diamond Baseball Holdings, a comprehensive initiative to strengthen the Professional Development League system through strategic acquisitions and operational excellence.

In a significant move within the sports industry, Endeavor (NYSE: EDR) has established Diamond Baseball Holdings as a dedicated entity focused on advancing professional baseball through robust management practices, technological innovation, and substantial capital investment. The organization has signed purchase agreements to acquire nine clubs within MLB’s Professional Development League, contingent upon standard regulatory approvals.

The Roster: Premium Affiliates Under New Ownership

Diamond Baseball Holdings will manage franchises associated with Major League Baseball’s most prestigious organizations. The initial portfolio includes the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate), Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate), Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate), Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees’ High-A affiliate), and San Jose Giants (San Francisco Giants’ Single-A affiliate).

Following PDL approval processes, Diamond Baseball Holdings is expected to operate all four Atlanta Braves development clubs: the Gwinnett Stripers (Triple-A), Mississippi Braves (Double-A), Rome Braves (High-A), and Augusta GreenJackets (Single-A).

Endeavor continues advanced discussions with additional major league organizations and anticipates further announcements regarding expansion opportunities.

Strategic Vision and Leadership Structure

Mark Shapiro, President of Endeavor, emphasized the rarity of such ownership opportunities within baseball’s heritage landscape. “This positions us to generate meaningful expansion within our Owned Sports Properties division,” Shapiro stated, noting that Endeavor’s proven track record with the UFC, PBR, and Euroleague demonstrates capability to elevate franchises through integrated services in sponsorship monetization, event management, intellectual property licensing, digital marketing, and multimedia content production.

Diamond Baseball Holdings has appointed Pat Battle as Executive Chairman and Peter B. Freund as Chief Executive Officer. Battle brings extensive franchise development expertise and maintains ownership interests in select PDL clubs, alongside his position as Learfield Chairman. Freund draws from decades of minor league operations experience and recently advised MLB’s Commissioner’s office during affiliated league transitions while directing MLB Draft League establishment.

Operational Framework and Revenue Enhancement

The organization will leverage Endeavor’s comprehensive infrastructure to strengthen club operations across multiple revenue streams: ticketing systems, corporate sponsorships, stadium naming rights, food and beverage operations, merchandise distribution, content strategy development, digital collectibles and authentication programs, and media rights management. Diamond Baseball Holdings will tap Endeavor’s broader ecosystem, including Learfield resources and Endeavor Analytics capabilities, to optimize performance across all operational disciplines.

This acquisition reflects a broader industry consolidation trend, positioning Diamond Baseball Holdings to enhance the professional development pipeline while fortifying communities that form the foundation of baseball’s minor league infrastructure.