MLB Announces Minor League Baseball Teams

Major League Baseball today announced that all 120 Minor League Clubs offered an invitation to become Professional Development League (“PDL”) license holders have officially agreed to accept. These teams, selected as partners by Major League Clubs and being announced in full today, will provide both facilities and communities that are essential to the development of the next generation of big-league stars.

Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. said: “We are excited to unveil this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but continues the Minor Leagues’ tradition of entertaining millions of families in hundreds of communities. In modernizing our Minor League system, we prioritized the qualities that make the Minor Leagues such an integral part of our game while strengthening how we develop professional athletes on and off the field. We look forward to demonstrating the best of our game throughout local communities, supporting all those who are working hard to grow the sport, and sharing unrivaled technology and resources with minor league teams and players.”

All 120 Minor League Clubs offered an invitation to become Professional Development League license holders have officially agreed to accept. The teams will be part of a new model aimed to better serve fans, players & Clubs. pic.twitter.com/KEg5PcGgZa

— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) February 12, 2021

As a part of MLB’s realignment, many Minor League affiliates will be in significantly closer geographic proximity to the Major League Clubs with which they are associated. On average, Major League Clubs will now be over 200 miles closer to their Triple-A affiliates. By creating better geographical synergy between a Major League Club and its affiliates, more fans will be able to watch an organization’s players progress in their careers from the Minor Leagues to the big leagues in their home region.

Each MLB Club will provide Minor League players and staffs to their four affiliates – one at each of the Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Low-A levels. Minor League Clubs will receive PDL licenses from MLB that entitle them to operate in the Professional Development Leagues, ensuring a new set of standards in terms of facilities and player working conditions. The licenses will create many improvements to the experience and lifestyle of Minor League players, such as:

• Player salary increases ranging from 38-72% for the 2021 season.
• Modernized facility standards better suited for professional athletes.
• Improved amenities and working conditions for players and staff.
• Reduced in-season travel for players and coaches.
• Better geographical alignment.

This announcement follows other recent announcements made by Major League Baseball detailing elements of its new comprehensive player development system. The new system will better serve fans, players and Clubs throughout the United States and Canada; preserve high-level, sustainable baseball in nearly every community where the game has historically been played; and position the sport for growth in future years. In Combination, the integrated player development system now includes 179 teams across 17 leagues in 43 states and four provinces. Including the Arizona and Gulf Coast Leagues, there are 209 teams across 19 leagues in 44 states and four provinces.

More teams will be joining the broader MLB player development system and other baseball leagues in the coming weeks and months, further enhancing the landscape for fans to continue to cheer on future stars. MLB has nearly completed its work towards ensuring baseball’s presence in almost all of the previous affiliated communities.

The full list of the teams in the Professional Development Leagues accompanies this press release.

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Contact: Michael Teevan or Donald Muller, Major League Baseball, (212) 931-7878, mlbpressbox.com, @MLB_PR.

Triple-A Professional Baseball Summary

East 20 teams; West 10 teams

Triple-A West

(West Division)

Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics)

Reno Aces (Arizona Diamondbacks)

Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco Giants)

Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels)

Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners)

(East Division)

Albuquerque Isotopes (Colorado Rockies)

El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego Padres)

Oklahoma City Dodgers (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers)

Sugar Land Skeeters (Houston Astros)

Triple-A East

(Midwest Division)

Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians)

Indianapolis Indians (Pittsburgh Pirates)

Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs)

Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds)

Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals)

St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins)

Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers)

(Northeast Division)

Buffalo Bisons (Toronto Blue Jays)

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Philadelphia Phillies)

Rochester Red Wings (Washington Nationals)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (New York Yankees)

Syracuse Mets (New York Mets)

Worcester Red Sox (Boston Red Sox)

(Southeast Division)

Charlotte Knights (Chicago White Sox)

Durham Bulls (Tampa Bay Rays)

Gwinnett Stripers (Atlanta Braves)

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Miami Marlins)

Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals)

Nashville Sounds (Milwaukee Brewers)

Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles)