Brewers' Single-A Team to Transform into Wilson Warbirds

The Milwaukee Brewers' Single-A affiliate team, the Carolina Mudcats, known for their iconic catfish logo and based in Zebulon, N.C., is set to undergo a significant transformation. Following the 2025 campaign, the team will relocate 25 miles east and rebrand as the Wilson Warbirds. This new identity was unveiled on Friday afternoon at the Wilson Industrial Air Center, a site originally developed as a World War II naval aviator training center. The Wilson Warbirds, a Carolina League team owned by the Brewers, will make their on-field debut at a new ballpark in downtown Wilson in 2026.

Introducing the Wilson Warbirds
The "Warbirds" name is a tribute to retired military aircraft that have been restored and remain operational. During the unveiling event, three such warbirds served as a dramatic backdrop, including a T-6 Texan Trainer, the plane used to train pilots at the Wilson Air Center during WWII.

Tyler Barnes, the Brewers' senior vice president of communications and affiliate operations, explained that the Warbirds name embodies "a sense of power, patriotism, Americana [and] the persistence to keep these old planes flying as a tribute to American history and willpower."

Honoring Local Heritage
The Warbirds moniker also honors Vollis Simpson, a WWII veteran from the Wilson area, known for creating wind-powered sculptures called whirligigs. Many of these sculptures, a source of local pride, are displayed in the city's Whirligig Park. Barnes recounted how Simpson built his first whirligig out of parts from a B-29 bomber out of necessity while stationed in Saipan.

"Whirligigs Park is visible from and adjacent to the ballpark behind the left-field wall," Barnes said. "So you’ll see these giant wind-powered sculptures that are 30 or 40 feet high. It's a perfect view, and a lot of them are classic aviation-themed."

The Warbirds' New Look
The Warbirds' new identity was crafted by Scott Starr, founder and creative director of Milwaukee-based design studio Rev Pop. The team's home uniforms will feature white with black pinstripes and red trim, while the road jerseys will incorporate two shades of blue, creating a classic, throwback feel—or as the team describes it, a "timeless aesthetic."

​This exciting rebranding marks a new chapter for the Brewers' Single-A team, blending local history and heritage with a fresh, dynamic identity. Fans can look forward to the Warbirds taking to the field in 2026, bringing a high-flying spirit to Wilson.