Hill City Howlers

Hill City Howlers
Hill City Howlers
Founded in 1963 ; Lynchburg, Virginia ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	Single-A (2021–present)
Previous classes	Class A-Advanced (1990–2020); Class A (1966–1989); Double-A (1963–1965); Class B (1943–1955);
League	Carolina League (1966–present)
Division	North Division
Previous leagues	Southern League (1963–1965); South Atlantic League (1962–1963); Appalachian League (1959); Piedmont League (1943–1955); Virginia League (1886–1942, various);
Major league affiliations
Team	Cleveland Guardians (2015–present)
Previous teams	Atlanta Braves (2011–2014); Cincinnati Reds (2010); Pittsburgh Pirates (1995–2009); Boston Red Sox (1988–1994); New York Mets (1976–1987); Texas Rangers (1975); Minnesota Twins (1970–1974); Chicago White Sox (1963–1969); St. Louis Cardinals (1943–1955);
Minor league titles
League titles (9)	1978; 1983; 1984; 1997; 2002; 2009; 2012; 2017; 2025;
Division titles (2)	2022; 2025;
First-half titles (2)	2022; 2025;
Team data
Name	Hill City Howlers (2026–present)
Previous names	Lynchburg Hillcats (1995–2025); Lynchburg Red Sox (1988–1994); Lynchburg Mets (1976–1987); Lynchburg Rangers (1975); Lynchburg Twins (1970–1974); Lynchburg White Sox (1963–1969); Lynchburg Cardinals (1943–1955); Lynchburg Senators (1940–1942); Lynchburg Grays (1939); Lynchburg Shoemakers (1906–1917, various); Lynchburg Climbers (1894–1896);
Colors	Blue, red, light blue, dark gray, gray;
Mascot	Indy the Werewolf
Ballpark	Bank of the James Stadium (1963–present)
Owner/; Operator	Hillcats Baseball LLC (Dylan Narang) (2024–present)
General manager	Matt Ramstead
Manager	Erlin Cerda
Website	milb.com/hill-city

The Hill City Howlers, formerly the Lynchburg Hillcats, are a Minor League Baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia, that plays in the Carolina League and is the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They were a farm team of the Atlanta Braves from 2011 to 2014, the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, and the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1995 to 2009. The Howlers play home games at Bank of the James Stadium; refurbished and renamed in 2004, the stadium seats 4,291 people.

The franchise, known as the Lynchburg Hillcats since 1995, planned to rebrand after the 2016 season. However, when put to a fan vote for a new moniker with "Derechos", "Doves", "Lamb Chops", "Love Apples", and "River Runners" as options, a majority of fans voted to retain the Hillcats name. The team opted instead for new logos and a different color scheme, consisting of seven hills green, Blue Ridge blue, and midnight blue, for the 2017 season.

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Hillcats were organized into the Low-A East at the Low-A classification. In 2022, the Low-A East became known as the Carolina League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, and was reclassified as a Single-A circuit.

Lynchburg Baseball Corp. sold the team to Elmore Sports Group in 2015. In 2024, Dylan Narang purchased the Hillcats from Elmore Sports Group. The team rebranded as the "Hill City Howlers" on February 13, 2026.