Pro baseball "highly unlikely" at Joe Becker Stadium this year

The city of Joplin's attempt to have professional baseball at Joe Becker Stadium this summer has evidently struck-out.

Joplin City Manager Sam Anselm says that Ventura Sports Group CEO, Mark Schuster, confirmed they would not be making the $35,000 payment that was due for the lease for the stadium at this time, which means seeing the Joplin Miners in action this year is "highly unlikely."

Anselm says they are disappointed to learn of the news after "working hard to put our best foot forward."