By Jamie Strickland
One of North Carolina’s oldest and most storied baseball franchises is getting ready to write its next chapter — right here in Johnston County. The Wilson Tobs, founded in 1908 and known for more than a century of baseball tradition, will relocate to Smithfield and take the field as the Smithfield Tobs beginning in the summer of 2027.
The move comes as the newly rebranded Warbirds, formerly the Carolina Mudcats, prepare to relocate to Wilson, prompting the Tobs to find a new home.
Facilitating the move is a major collaboration between the Town of Smithfield and Johnston County, which are jointly investing in a new $6 million stadium at Smithfield Community Park
Having won the summer collegiate league Coastal Plains Championship in 2025, the team will need to sit out the 2026 season while the new stadium is being built.
The Tobs will lease the facility under a 20-year agreement, anchoring the team in the county for decades to come.
Team manager Mike Bell said fans can expect a full slate of interactive, community-minded fun.
“We’re bringing affordable family entertainment to Smithfield, and we really want to engage with the local community,” Bell said. “We’ll have special themed nights, events for kids and drives that support local charities, and all of that will stay within the local community.”
Community events are expected to begin at the new stadium as early as fall 2026.
Tobs President Greg Suire said the decision to relocate, while bittersweet after many years at Wilson’s historic Fleming Stadium, quickly became the right move.
“The entire Tobs organization is excited with the prospect of relocating to Smithfield and Johnston County,” Suire said. “We told our fans we would stay in our geographical footprint, and because of the vision and passion of the Smithfield and Johnston County leadership, we were able to accomplish this goal. Tobs baseball is alive and well, and this community is the perfect place for our historic franchise to write another chapter.”
That next chapter is shaping up to be a lively one. The new ballpark will feature modern amenities, family-centered gathering spaces and seating designed to bring fans close to the action. The stadium will host not only Tobs games but also youth sports and community events, positioning it as a major recreational hub for Smithfield’s growing population.
Local leaders say the move signals the momentum Smithfield has been building in recent years.
Smithfield Mayor Andy Moore said the town looks forward to welcoming the team and creating a first-class experience for residents and visitors alike.
With deep roots, a refreshed identity and a new place to call home, the Smithfield Tobs are poised to bring a new era of baseball energy to Johnston County.
Find out more about the team at smithfieldtobs.com.
