ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — MLB Network’s docuseries “Grass Routes” is returning for a new season this Sunday, putting Asheville and the Tourists in the national spotlight as part of a broader look at Minor League Baseball communities across the country.
The first of four new episodes airs at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 3, and features Asheville, home of the High-A affiliate Asheville Tourists of the Houston Astros organization. The series highlights Minor League cities as travel destinations, focusing on the communities, traditions and local identity built around baseball.
In the Asheville episode, host and MLB Pipeline expert Jonathan Mayo explores the city’s recovery following Hurricane Helene in September 2024, which caused widespread damage across Western North Carolina. The episode notes that Minor League Baseball communities helped raise $200,000 toward rebuilding efforts, underscoring what the series describes as the sport’s role in community resilience.
The segment also showcases Asheville as a destination for visiting fans, with scenes spanning downtown businesses and the Tourists’ home ballpark, which sits near the Blue Ridge Mountains. MLB prospect and Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin is featured visiting the city, along with 2024 Houston Astros draft picks Drew Vogel and Ramsey David.
Vogel describes the atmosphere at Asheville’s ballpark, saying fans are “right on top of you” and praising the consistent turnout regardless of wins or losses.
Following the Asheville premiere, “Grass Routes” continues with episodes highlighting Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 17; Montgomery, Alabama, on May 31; and Rochester, New York, on June 14. Each episode airs at 1 p.m. on MLB Network and is available afterward on MLB platforms, including MiLB.com, MLB.TV, MLB+ and the MLB app.
The series debuted in 2025 with a pilot episode featuring Portland, Maine, and the Portland Sea Dogs, focusing on how Minor League Baseball intersects with local culture and identity in smaller cities across the country.