The Lexington Legends are Central Kentucky’s only professional baseball team. The Legends have produced multiple MLB stars including 2-time World Series Champion and MVP Jose Altuve, World Series Champion Enrique Hernandez, World Series Champion JD Martinez, and 3-time all-star Brandon Phillips. Attending a Legends game will surely bring some fun and a great experience!
Founded in 2001, the Lexington Legends started as a minor-league affiliate of the Houston Astros. While they were affiliated with the Houston Astros, they produced multiple stars of MLB players including Jose Altuve, Enrique Hernandez, JD Martinez, Teoscar Hernandez, Chris Devenski, and even 2-time World Series champion, 7 time CY Young award winner, and 11-time-MLB all-star “Rocket” Roger Clemens came out of retirement and pitched a game for the Legends. In 2013 the Legends became affiliated with the Kansas City Royals and continued to produce MLB players. Some of these new Royals players include MJ Melendez, World Series Champion Adalberto Mondasei, Alec Mills who threw a No-Hitter during the 2020 MLB season, and 2024 MLB All-Star Matt Strahm. Unfortunately, in 2021 the Legends had lost their affiliation with the Kansas City Royals and could not pick up an affiliation with another MLB team. This prompted them to join the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In their first season in the Atlantic League, it was announced the team had signed 3-time all-star and former Cincinnati Red Brandon Phillips, who was also an owner of the team. In 2023 the team announced they were changing their name to the Lexington Counter Clocks because of new ownership. This caused a disagreement among fans of the team who thought the Legends team name was too iconic to be changed. The team was sold in January 2024 to new owners who changed the team’s name to the Legends. In the 2024 season, the Legends have acquired multiple former MLB players including JT Riddle who attended Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Justin Williams, Kyle Cody, and Nick Gardewine.
The Legends do not only have former MLB players, they also have a former Woodford County High School star player. Clinton Hollon is a pitcher for the Legends and he also led Woodford County to a KHSAA State Baseball Championship in 2012. Clinton was drafted with the 47th pick in the 2nd round during the 2014 MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays and received a signing bonus of $467,280. Making him the only MLB draft pick in Woodford County High School history at the time. Clinton has bounced around various minor league teams in both the United States and Canada. He has played with the Legends for a couple of seasons now and he is back home in the Versailles area he helps coach the Woodford County High School Baseball Team in his free time.
A Legends game is the perfect opportunity to have a fun time without having to travel far. With the only other professional baseball teams in Kentucky being far away from the Versailles area, a Legends game is the best option to enjoy a baseball game without traveling across the state. With the team only having a few more games in the 2024 season, they are offering special promotions to end the year. Some of these promotions include $2 tickets, fireworks, and fan appreciation day.
The Legends have a well-renowned past and they have developed some MLB greats. They have played a large role in professional baseball history, being the premier team in this area. A trip to Legends Field to watch central Kentucky’s only professional baseball team is sure to bring you an entertaining and gratifying experience at the ballpark.
