The past few seasons for Austin’s own minor league professional baseball team the Round Rock Express have been disappointing to say the least. The Express have had six consecutive losing seasons, and they haven’t posted a winning record since 2006. Baseball America has also ranked the Round Rock Express as the worst team in Triple-A for two years in a row.

To make a dismal situation even worse, the Round Rock Express wrapped up their season losing 11 of their last 13 games, and finished a disappointing 30 games under .500, a Triple-A and Round Rock Express worst. However, the future is looking brighter for the Round Rock Express given one Texas legend’s recent involvement in the team.

The man who some say was responsible for bringing baseball prominence back to the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex will now be bringing that prominence to Austin.

Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan, who co-owns both the Texas Rangers and the Round Rock Express signed an agreement on Sept. 16 to end the Round Rock Express’ 11-year affiliation with the Houston Astros. The Round Rock Express will now begin a four-year deal as Triple-A affiliates with the Texas Rangers. With Ryan and the Texas Ranger’s General Manager Jon Daniel’s recent involvement, Austin area baseball might be seeing its better days sooner than later.

The Texas Rangers and their minor league system have done incredibly well over the past few years due largely in part to Ryan’s influence and upper management changes in the organization. The Rangers’ Triple-A and Double-A baseball teams have sent 16 players to the major league club this season and have been ranked first and fourth consecutively among minor league systems by Baseball America.

After nearly making the playoffs in 2009, the Rangers have just clinched a spot in the 2010 playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Now that the long awaited agreement has been made, only time will tell if the Express’ move will be successful. However, given Ryan’s outstanding track record with both major and minor league teams, the Express will be back in full force for next season, and they will not disappoint.