(Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)
The KC Royals have enjoyed a long relationship with the Appalachian League’s Burlington club. But the affiliation ended a few days ago.
The Burlington Royals, one of the KC Royals’ Rookie League teams for several years, will no longer be the first professional stop for some Kansas City minor leaguers. Instead, the North Carolina entry in the famous Appalachian League will only stock its roster with college players. Burlington’s professional baseball days are over.
The franchise, affiliated with the Royals since 2007, had already suffered a major jolt when COVID-19 forced the minor leagues out of business for the 2020 season.