The 2009 Carolina League was a Class A-Advanced baseball season played between April 9 and September 7. Eight teams played a 140-game schedule, with two teams from each division competing in the playoffs.
The Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, defeating the Salem Red Sox in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Salem Avalanche ended their affiliation with the Houston Astros and began a new affiliation with the Boston Red Sox. The club was renamed the Salem Red Sox. The Winston-Salem Warthogs are renamed the Winston-Salem Dash. The club remained affiliated with the Chicago White Sox.
Teams 2009 Carolina League Division Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium North Frederick Keys Frederick, Maryland Baltimore Orioles Harry Grove Stadium Lynchburg Hillcats Lynchburg, Virginia Pittsburgh Pirates Calvin Falwell Field Potomac Nationals Woodbridge, Virginia Washington Nationals G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium Wilmington Blue Rocks Wilmington, Delaware Kansas City Royals Daniel S. Frawley Stadium South Kinston Indians Kinston, North Carolina Cleveland Indians Grainger Stadium Myrtle Beach Pelicans Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Atlanta Braves BB&T Coastal Field Salem Red Sox Salem, Virginia Boston Red Sox Lewis Gale Field Winston-Salem Dash Winston-Salem, North Carolina Chicago White Sox Ernie Shore Field
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Wilmington Blue Rocks finished with the best record in the league for the first time since 2003.
Standings 2009 CL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed December 29, 2024 North division Team Win Loss % GB Wilmington Blue Rocks 84 55 – Potomac Nationals 79 58 4 Lynchburg Hillcats 73 66 11 Frederick Keys 64 75 20South division Winston-Salem Dash 73 65 – Salem Red Sox 67 72 6.5 Kinston Indians 60 78 13 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 53 84 19.5
First half standings 2009 First Half Standings at milb.com, URL accessed January 7, 2025 North division Team Win Loss % GB Lynchburg Hillcats 45 24 – Potomac Nationals 37 30 7 Wilmington Blue Rocks 38 31 7 Frederick Keys 31 38 14South division Winston-Salem Dash 38 30 – Salem Red Sox 32 37 6.5 Kinston Indians 27 41 11 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 25 42 12.5
Second half standings Second Half Standings at milb.com, URL accessed January 7, 2025 North division Team Win Loss % GB Wilmington Blue Rocks 46 24 – Potomac Nationals 42 28 4 Frederick Keys 33 37 13 Lynchburg Hillcats 28 42 18South division Salem Red Sox 35 35 – Winston-Salem Dash 35 35 – Kinston Indians 33 37 2 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 28 42 7
League Leaders Batting leaders 2009 CL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 29, 2024 Stat Player Total AVG Robbie Widlansky, Frederick Keys .341 H Donell Linares, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 145 R Danny Espinosa, Potomac Nationals 90 2B Jordy Mercer, Lynchburg Hillcats 36 3B Alex Presley, Lynchburg Hillcats 11 HR Cody Johnson, Myrtle Beach Pelicans 32 RBI Brandon Waring, Frederick Keys 90 SB Derrick Robinson, Wilmington Blue Rocks 69
Pitching leaders 2009 CL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed December 29, 2024 Stat Player Total W Tommy Milone, Potomac Nationals 12 ERA Eric Berger, Kinston Indians 2.45 SV R.J. Rodriguez, Lynchburg Hillcats 27 SO Eammon Portice, Salem Red Sox 141 IP Anthony Carter, Winston-Salem Dash 154.2
Playoffs The Lynchburg Hillcats won their sixth Carolina League championship, defeating the Salem Red Sox in three games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Carolina League awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Brandon Waring, Frederick Keys Pitcher of the Year Zach Britton, Frederick Keys Manager of the Year Joe McEwing, Winston-Salem Dash
See also 2009 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website