Mercer County officials last week approved the transfer of the Trenton Thunder’s stadium lease to a new ownership group, a move local leaders say positions the team for a potential return to affiliated Minor League Baseball.
The Mercer County Park Commission voted April 1 during a special meeting to assign the remainder of the lease for Trenton Thunder Ballpark to DBH Trenton LLC. The action followed earlier approval by the Mercer County Board of Commissioners and was required to formalize the change in team ownership.
The transfer comes as current ownership finalizes the sale of the team to Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH), a rapidly expanding organization that owns and operates close to 50 minor league teams across the country.
Much of the Park Commission meeting focused on the procedural need for the special session, as the lease assignment required separate approval despite the County Commissioners’ prior vote.
Following the vote, Park Commission Executive Director Joseph Pizza framed the move as part of a broader effort to restore the team’s affiliation with Major League Baseball.
“This change in ownership is really setting us up to be in the best position to become affiliated with a major league team again,” Pizza said. “This is what all the work we’ve been doing is about.”
The commission viewed this move as a strategic step forward after the millions of dollars that have been invested in upgrading the stadium.
The Trenton Thunder, long known as the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have played in the MLB Draft League since losing their affiliated status in 2020 as part of Major League Baseball’s restructuring of the minor leagues.
The team will continue to play in the MLB Draft League for now, even as long-term efforts remain focused on returning affiliated baseball to Trenton.
As part of the transition, current team leadership — including President Jeff Hurley and General Manager Jon Bodnar — will remain in place, ensuring continuity in day-to-day operations.
The ballpark will also retain its official field name, Samuel J. Plumeri Sr. Field.
The lease transfer is the latest step in a broader, multi-year investment by Mercer County to modernize the stadium and position it for future affiliation opportunities.
A multi-phase renovation project, totaling more than $25 million in public investment, is underway to upgrade both player and fan facilities. Improvements include expanded clubhouses, upgraded batting cages, a new playing surface, enhanced video boards and sound systems, and new hospitality areas overlooking the Delaware River.
County Executive Dan Benson has previously described the project as critical to the long-term viability of the stadium, calling it “key to the revitalization of one of the County’s prized assets.”
Diamond Baseball Holdings, founded in 2021, has rapidly grown into one of the largest operators in Minor League Baseball, acquiring a significant number of affiliated teams and investing heavily in facilities, operations, and fan experience.
In addition to the ownership transition, the Thunder recently announced their coaching staff for the 2026 season in the MLB Draft League, with former major league pitcher Shawn Chacon returning as manager for his second season. A 2006 Thunder alum, Chacon has been part of the organization’s player development efforts, helping guide numerous players to MLB Draft selections in recent seasons.
He will be joined by new additions including pitching coach Ron Mahay, a former Thunder player who went on to a 14-year Major League career, and hitting coach Josh Johnson, who has coached at both the minor and major league levels.
The coaching staff announcement underscores the team’s continued focus on player development as it works to position itself for a potential return to affiliated baseball.
The team is scheduled to open its 2026 season on June 2.
