Opening Day Is March 27
The Charlotte Knights open their 12th season at Truist Field on Friday, March 27 against the Durham Bulls. First pitch is 7:04 PM. It is the start of a three-game weekend series — and the start of 75 home games in the heart of Uptown Charlotte.
If you haven't been to a Knights game, or if it's been a few years, here is everything you need to know about the 2026 season.
The White Sox Prospects You Need to Watch
The Charlotte Knights are the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. That relationship has been in place since 1999 — one of the longest continuous affiliations in minor league baseball.
The White Sox have been rebuilding, which means Charlotte gets loaded with top-tier prospects. The 2026 Knights roster may be the most talented in years. Three names in particular:
Noah Schultz, LHP — The 6'10" Lefty
Schultz is the headliner. A 22-year-old left-hander who stands six feet ten inches tall and throws mid-90s, he's considered one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. His 2025 was uneven — a 4.68 ERA and 1.67 WHIP across Double-A and Triple-A, plus a bout with knee tendinitis that ended his season in September — but the stuff is elite. White Sox manager Will Venable has said publicly that the club envisions Schultz contributing at the big league level this season. Every start he makes at Truist Field could be his last before a call-up.
Hagen Smith, LHP — The No. 5 Overall Pick
Smith was the fifth overall pick in the 2024 draft. After a rough 2025 at Double-A where he struggled with command, Smith spent the offseason making mechanical adjustments and put together a strong spring in big league camp. He earned a promotion to Triple-A to start 2026. He's 21 years old with a ceiling as a frontline starter.
Tanner McDougal, RHP — The Breakout Arm
McDougal had a breakout 2025 that earned him a spot on the White Sox 40-man roster. During Cactus League play this spring, he was hitting triple digits with his fastball. His big league debut could come this summer, and every appearance in Charlotte will be watched closely by White Sox brass.
Also worth watching: Catcher Kyle Teel, another top prospect, suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain during the World Baseball Classic and will start the season on the injured list. When he returns, likely in May, he becomes another must-watch name on the Knights roster.
The 2026 Schedule: Key Dates
The Knights play 150 games — 75 at home, 75 on the road. Here are the dates to circle:
Opening Weekend — March 27-29 vs. Durham Bulls (Triple-A, Tampa Bay Rays). Friday night, Saturday, Sunday. The 2026 season begins.
First Full Homestand — April 7-12 vs. Memphis Redbirds (Triple-A, St. Louis Cardinals). This is the Redbirds' only visit to Charlotte all season.
Oklahoma City Comets — June 9-14 This is historic. The Comets (Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, formerly Oklahoma City Baseball Club) are visiting Truist Field for the first time ever. A six-game interleague series. The Comets won the Pacific Coast League championship in 2023. If you go to one series all summer, make it this one.
Buffalo Bisons — September The Bisons (Triple-A, Toronto Blue Jays) return to Charlotte for the first time since 2019. A late-season visit that will feel like a throwback for long-time Knights fans.
Weekend games: The Knights host 39 games on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. Plenty of opportunities for families and casual fans to catch a game without taking a weeknight.
Truist Field: The Ballpark Guide
Address: 324 S. Mint Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Truist Field opened in 2014 as BB&T Ballpark and was renamed after the BB&T/SunTrust merger in 2020. It sits in Uptown Charlotte's Third Ward, with the Charlotte skyline rising directly beyond the outfield wall. It is widely considered one of the best ballparks in minor league baseball.
The stadium was the culmination of a decades-long effort to bring the Knights from their old home in Fort Mill, South Carolina (30 minutes south, across the state line) into the city itself. Attendance immediately surged after the move, and Truist Field has become a fixture of Uptown life.
Getting There
By car: Truist Field is in Uptown, accessible from I-77 and I-277. Pre-purchase parking at the Mint Street Parking Garage, located steps from the stadium, for under $15.
By light rail: The LYNX Blue Line's 3rd Street/Convention Center Station is a short walk from the ballpark. This is the best option if you're coming from South Charlotte, South End, or NoDa.
By streetcar: The CityLYNX Gold Line's Mint Street Station is also nearby.
By rideshare: Uber and Lyft drop-offs work smoothly in Uptown. Plan for surge pricing on busy game nights.
Food and Drink
Truist Field's concessions go well beyond hot dogs. Here's what's available:
- Flashpoint Grill — burgers, hot dogs, personal pizzas
- Steakadelphia — cheesesteaks and ribs
- FRANX — specialty franks
- Hungry Howie's — pizza
- BBQ — pulled pork nachos, barbecue sandwiches
- Specialty items — chicken and waffle sandwiches, Italian beef, fried PB&J, empanadas
- Sweets — Dippin' Dots, funnel cake fries
- Local beer — Sycamore Brewing's Mountain Candy and other local craft options at 10+ dedicated drink stands
- The Co-Op — frose (frozen rose) and specialty cocktails
The Uptown Advantage
One of the best things about a Knights game is what's around the ballpark. Truist Field is in the middle of Uptown Charlotte. Restaurants, bars, and breweries are within walking distance. You can get dinner before the game, walk to the stadium, watch baseball, and hit a bar afterward — all without moving your car. That's something Fort Mill could never offer.
A Brief History
The franchise now known as the Charlotte Knights was established in 1976 as the Charlotte Orioles in the Double-A Southern League. The team has gone through several name changes and affiliations over the decades, but the White Sox partnership — in place since 1999 — has been the defining era.
For years, the Knights played at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Attendance was among the worst in the International League. The move to Uptown Charlotte in 2014 changed everything. Truist Field gave Charlotte a proper minor league experience, and the Knights became an integral part of the city's sports landscape.
This is the 12th season at Truist Field. In that time, the ballpark has hosted over 5 million fans and established itself as one of the premier venues in all of minor league baseball.
Why This Season Matters
The White Sox are in a full rebuild. That's bad news if you're a Chicago fan, but it's great news if you're a Knights fan. Rebuilding organizations stockpile prospects, and those prospects play in Triple-A. Charlotte will field one of the most talent-rich rosters in the International League this season.
Noah Schultz, Hagen Smith, and Tanner McDougal could all make their big league debuts this year — and their development starts at Truist Field. Kyle Teel will join them when he's healthy. Watching these players in Charlotte, before they become household names in Chicago, is one of the genuine joys of minor league baseball.
Add in the first-ever visit from the Oklahoma City Comets, the return of the Buffalo Bisons, and 75 home games in one of the best ballparks in the minors, and the 2026 season has the makings of something special.
Opening Day is March 27. First pitch at 7:04 PM. Truist Field, Uptown Charlotte.
For tickets and the full schedule, visit milb.com/charlotte-knights.
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