The Kingsport Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Kingsport, Tennessee, United States. The team, which plays in the Appalachian League, is a Rookie League affiliate of Major League Baseball's New York Mets.
Once housed at a local high school, Dobyns-Bennett High School, the Kingsport Mets now play their home games at Hunter Wright Stadium. In 1983 while Dobyns-Bennett's field was being renovated, the team temporary moved to Sarasota, Florida and played in the Gulf Coast League.
The team played as the Kingsport Braves from 1974 to 1979 and were affiliated with the Atlanta Braves. As a Braves affiliate, multiple future major leaguers played for them, including Matt Sinatro, Rick Behenna, Jose Alvarez, Steve Bedrosian, Paul Runge, Brad Komminsk, Milt Thompson, Brook Jacoby and Mike Payne.
Former Mets players Darryl Strawberry, Dwight Gooden, and Kevin Mitchell as well as current stars José Reyes, David Wright, Lastings Milledge, and AJ Burnett made their professional debut in Kingsport. In addition former National League MVP Dale Murphy and Cy Young Award Winner Steve Bedrosian played in Kingsport when they were a Braves affiliate from 1974-80. Al Cowens and U.L. Washington were notable players when the Royals were in town from 1969-73.
The team won the Appalachian League titles in 1988 and 1995.
Read more about Kingsport Mets: All Silver Anniversary Team (Named in 2005), Year-by-year Record, Roster