Get ready, Joplin baseball fans—a new summer tradition is about to take the field. The Joplin Jailbirds, the city's newest collegiate league baseball team, are officially spreading their wings with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 19, at 11 a.m. at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce (320 E. Fourth St.).

As a fresh addition to the MINK League, the Jailbirds promise to bring competitive, high-energy baseball to the region this summer. The action kicks off on the road against Kirksville on May 29, before the home opener at Wendell Redden Stadium on June 2. For tickets and full schedules, fans can visit joplinbaseball.com.

Leading the charge on the field is field manager Octavio Sanchez, the pitching coach for Missouri Southern State University. He'll be joined by Nate Mieszkowski, a standout former Lion who set Missouri Southern single-season records for hits and runs scored in 2023, earning multiple All-American and All-Region honors. Mieszkowski now serves as a graduate assistant coach at Missouri Southern and brings a proven bat and winning mentality to the Jailbirds' dugout.

The MINK League is heating up this season with a mix of familiar rivals and new faces. Alongside the Jailbirds, fans can look forward to matchups against the Nevada Griffons, Chillicothe Mudcats, St. Joseph Mustangs, and the league's other newcomer, the North Missouri Nattys from Kirksville. Two Iowa teams—the Clarinda A’s and Carroll Merchants—round out the league, while the Sedalia Bombers and Jefferson City Renegades have departed for 2025.

This summer also marks a changing of the guard in Joplin baseball. After back-to-back championship seasons at Joe Becker Stadium, the Joplin Outlaws have announced they will not play this year, making way for the Jailbirds to take center stage. Whether you're a die-hard baseball fan or just looking for a fun night out, the Jailbirds are ready to deliver a season of memorable moments and hometown pride.