Hardball Capital

Hardball Capital
IndustrySports management
Founded2006; 20 years ago (2006)
FounderJason Freier
Headquarters
Atlanta
Websitehttps://www.hardballcapital.com/

Hardball Capital is an American sports ownership and management company, which owns several Minor League Baseball teams.

History

Jason Freier is the chairman and Chief executive officer of Hardball Capital, which is based in Atlanta.

On February 20, 2006, Hardball Capital purchased the Fort Wayne Wizards. Following the 2008 season, the Wizards were renamed to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, in reference to Johnny Appleseed who lived in Fort Wayne and was buried in the city.

In July 2006, Hardball Capital purchased the Salem Avalanche. The team was bought for $8 million from Kelvin Bowles who had owned the team for 20 years. In December 2007, Hardball sold the team to Fenway Sports Group.

On March 20, 2008, Hardball Capital purchased the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League. In August 2015, Hardball moved the Savannah Sand Gnats to Columbia, South Carolina and they became the Columbia Fireflies and moved to the Carolina League.

In March 2015, Hardball purchased the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A (baseball) Southern League.

Sports properties

Current Minor League Baseball Teams owned
Team League Year acquired Notes
Chattanooga Lookouts Southern League (Double-A) 2015
Columbia Fireflies Carolina League (Single-A) 2015 Rebranded from Savannah Sand Gnats
Fort Wayne TinCaps Midwest League (High-A) 2006
Former Minor League Baseball Teams owned
Team League Years owned Notes
Salem Avalanche Carolina League (Class A-Advanced) 2006-2007 Sold to Fenway Sports Group
Savannah Sand Gnats South Atlantic League (Class A) 2008-2015 Became the Columbia Fireflies

References

  1. ↑ "Jason Freier | ALSD". www.alsd.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Fort Wayne Franchise History". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  3. ↑ Caputo, Paul (January 10, 2015). "The Apple of Our Eye: The Story Behind the Fort Wayne TinCaps". Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Lawyer, company to buy second baseball team". Law.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  5. ↑ Anderson, Robert (August 29, 2025). "Salem honors 'the savior of baseball' in the Roanoke Valley". Cardinal News. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  6. 1 2 Bauer, A. J. "Fenway Sports Group gets minor league team". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  7. ↑ Manasso, John (March 20, 2008). "Savannah Sand Gnats sold to Hardball Capital - Atlanta Business Chronicle". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Gnats announce ownership change". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  9. ↑ Dominitz, Nathan. "Sand Gnats to change ownership". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  10. ↑ "New for 2016: Columbia Fireflies | Ballpark Digest". August 4, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Group Completes Purchase of Chattanooga Lookouts". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Freier, locals close on Lookouts purchase | Ballpark Digest". Baseball Digest. March 5, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2026.