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Gastonia Ghost Peppers

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Gastonia Ghost Peppers
Logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAtlantic League of Professional Baseball (South Division)
LocationGastonia, North Carolina
BallparkCaroMont Health Park
Founded2024
ColorsRed, black, green, gold, white
         
OwnershipZawyer Sports & Entertainment[1]
General managerBrady Salisbury[2]
ManagerMauro Gozzo[2]
Websiteghostpeppersbaseball.com

The Gastonia Ghost Peppers are a professional baseball team based in Gastonia, North Carolina, which began play in 2024. They compete in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball.[3][4] The Ghost Peppers play their home games at CaroMont Health Park, which opened in 2021. The team was known as the Gastonia Baseball Club in 2024 before becoming the Ghost Peppers in 2025.

History

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In November 2023, the Atlantic League terminated the membership of the Gastonia Honey Hunters, citing significant unpaid debts to the league, and announced the intent to field another team in Gastonia, North Carolina, in 2024.[5][6] In February 2024, new owners of a yet-to-be-named Atlantic League team to play at CaroMont Health Park were announced.[1] The city and Zawyer Sports & Entertainment signed a 15-year stadium lease agreement.[7] The new team hired the general manager and manager of the Honey Hunters,[2][7] as well as other coaches.[7]

The Gastonia Baseball Club played their first game on April 25, 2024, a 3–2 loss to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.[8] Their first win came the next day against the same opponent, 7–3, allowing no hits until the eighth inning.[9]

Name

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The Gastonia Baseball Club retained that name for the 2024 season while testing seven other possible permanent names on specific "What If?" dates.[6][10][11] The other names were Gastronauts, Bolognia, Galactic Dinos, Ghost Peppers, Zombees, Garden Gnomes, and Yarniaks.[11][12][13] In August 2024, the team asked fans to vote for one of the names by the end of the month.[11][12][13] The "What If?" promotion was recognized with the Atlantic League's "Promotion of the Year" award.[14] On October 16, the team revealed its official name as the Gastonia Ghost Peppers.[15]

Mascot

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On March 24, 2025 the Gastonia Ghost Peppers unveiled their new mascot "Peppy," a is a six foot red anthropomorphic ghost pepper with green eyes.[16] The reveal was reported locally[17][18] and nationally by Yahoo Sports[19] on social media, as well as being commented on by Jesse Cole the owner of the Savannah Bananas [20] on a YouTube short.

Peppy received the Atlantic League Mascot of the Year award on October 6, 2025.[21]

Roster

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Gastonia Ghost Peppers Roster
Active Roster Coaching Staff

Pitchers


Catchers

  • -- Luis Aviles
  • -- Gavin Stupienski

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager

Coaches

  • Injury icon Disabled list
  • ‡ Inactive list
  • >§ Suspended list
  • Roster updated April 17, 2025 Transactions


References

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  1. ^ a b Calkins, Mary (February 7, 2024). "Gastonia leaders reveal new pro baseball team amid Honey Hunters legal battle". WBTV. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Hughes, Joe L. II (April 24, 2024). "Here's what to know as the Gastonia Baseball Club begins the 2024 ALPB season". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  3. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 23, 2020). "Indy Atlantic League designated MLB Partner League". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 24, 2020). "American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Fohner, Kara (November 22, 2023). "More trouble for Gastonia's Honey Hunters". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved May 20, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ a b Fohner, Kara (April 18, 2024). "Are you ready for some baseball? Gastonia team owners talk about a fresh start". The Gaston Gazette. Retrieved May 20, 2024.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ a b c Ellis, Kevin (February 8, 2024). "Gastonia gets a new baseball team and a promise to pay old debts". Business North Carolina. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Gastonia Drops Season Opener 3–2". Gastonia Baseball Club. April 26, 2024. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  9. ^ "Secures First Win as Gastonia Baseball Club". Gastonia Baseball Club. April 27, 2024. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Ablon, Matthew; Richards, Destiny; Harris, Myles (April 23, 2024). "Gastonia's new baseball team has a temporary name for this season. What about in 2025?". WCNC-TV. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c Krieger, Dan (August 26, 2024). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". OurSports Central. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Brierton, James (August 20, 2024). "The time has arrived: Now is the time to vote on a new Gastonia Baseball Club name". WCNC-TV. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Vote: Fans given opportunity to permanently name Gastonia Baseball Club". WBTV. August 21, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  14. ^ Woodhouse, Arri (September 30, 2024). "Gastonia Baseball Club awarded 2024 'Promotion of the Year'". Queen City News. Retrieved October 5, 2024.
  15. ^ Johncox, Cassidy; Lomis, Connor (October 16, 2024). "Gastonia Baseball Club announces new team name: See it here". WBTV. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Gastonia Ghost Peppers (March 24, 2025). Ghost Peppers Mascot Unveil. Retrieved February 24, 2026 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Johncox, Cassidy (March 24, 2025). "Gastonia Ghost Peppers unveil new mascot -- and it's kinda creepy". wbtv.com. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  18. ^ Gastonia Ghost Peppers unveil new mascot. WSOC-TV. March 25, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2026 – via YouTube.
  19. ^ Coats, Doug (March 25, 2025). "Meet Peppy, the 'fiery' mascot for the newly named Gastonia Ghost Peppers baseball team". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
  20. ^ Cole, Jesse. What do you think?? 🤔 Is Peppy creepy?? Or just what this new team needed to create attention. I’m all in on this and loving all the buzz they are creating!. Archived from the original on May 18, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2026 – via Facebook.
  21. ^ Patel, Reema (October 6, 2025). "Ghost Peppers Recipient of Two ALPB League Awards". Gastonia Ghost Peppers. Retrieved February 16, 2026.
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