Zebulon — The Carolina Mudcats and National League’s Cincinnati Reds jointly announced the signing of a two-year player development contract running through the 2010 season.

The Mudcats will also host a major league exhibition game with the Reds on Friday, April 3rd, 2009 at Five County Stadium.

“The Reds are a baseball icon and we’re proud to have such a highly-rated minor league system coming our way,” Mudcats Owner Steve Bryant said in a press release, noting that Baseball America ranked the Reds’ minor league organization third in baseball entering 2008. “It speaks well of the Mudcats organization that Cincinnati has been so highly interested in being here.”

The Reds represent the oldest existing major league team, established in 1882 and joining the National League in 1890.

The Mudcats begin their Cincinnati era on Thursday, April 9th against the defending Southern League champions Mississippi Braves at Trustmark Park in Pearl, MS.

Read more on the Mudcats in this Wednesday's edition of Eastern Wake News.