Trenton Thunder Sold To New Owner, Deal Expected To Close In Coming Weeks

TRENTON, NJ — The Trenton Thunder have been sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings, an organization that owns and operates professional baseball teams across North America, the county announced earlier this week.

The Thunder will continue competing in the MLB Draft League and retain their existing front office leadership, including President Jeff Hurley and General Manager Jon Bodnar. The transaction is subject to MLB Draft League approval and other closing conditions and is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

Founded in 1994, the Thunder have been a fixture in Mercer County for more than three decades. The club previously served as the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees, winning four Eastern League championships before joining the MLB Draft League in 2021 — where they won the league's inaugural championship and led it in attendance in 2022 and 2023.

The club plays at Trenton Thunder Ballpark along the Delaware River. Mercer County has agreed that Samuel J. Plumeri Sr. Field — named in 1999 in honor of the father of former Mercer County Sheriff Sam Plumeri Jr. and outgoing Managing Partner Joe Plumeri — will retain its name in perpetuity.

"We're proud to welcome DBH to Mercer County," said County Executive Dan Benson, who also thanked outgoing ownership partners Joe Plumeri, Joe Finley, and Joe Caruso for their decades of community investment.

"We believe DBH is the right partner to build on that legacy and ensure the Thunder remain a vibrant part of the Mercer County and the regional sports landscape for years to come," Plumeri said.

DBH Executive Chairman Pat Battle and CEO Peter Freund called the Thunder "a historic franchise in a terrific market with an incredibly loyal fan base."

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