The names of the leagues have changed, as have many of the affiliates, but Minor League baseball is still coming to hundreds of communities in North America in 2021.
Major League Baseball announced a new affiliate baseball plan on Friday, with 120 Minor League clubs officially agreeing to join the new Professional Development League (PDL). A complete list of Major League teams and their new affiliates, one for each level of the full season ball, along with a complex team (Gulf Coast and Arizona), can be found below.
In total, the integrated player development system now includes 179 teams in 17 leagues in 43 states and four provinces. Including the AZL and the GCL, there are 209 teams in 19 leagues in 44 states and four provinces. It includes the 150 teams in the PDL and AZL / GCL, along with the four partner leagues: the American Association, Atlantic League, Frontier League and Pioneer League.
“We are excited to introduce this new model, which not only provides a pipeline to the Majors, but also continues the tradition of the minor leagues to entertain millions of families in hundreds of communities,” said Baseball Commissioner Robert D Manfred Jr. “In modernizing our Minor League system, we have prioritized the qualities that make the Minor League 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 through the local communities, supporting everyone who works hard to grow the sport, and sharing unparalleled technology and resources with smaller league teams and players. ”
One of the key points in this reshuffle is the move of Triple-A partners closer to their Major League clubs. These affiliated companies will be on average more than 200 kilometers closer to their parent clubs, giving fans in the region more access to watch the prospects of their MLB team climb the organizational ladder.
A new set of standards will be introduced by the entire PDL and the subsidiaries at the Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Low-A level. It starts with a salary increase for players at all four levels, ranging from 38 percent to 72 percent for the 2021 season. Players’ facilities and working conditions will also be upgraded and modernized to meet the needs of professional athletes and staff. There will also be less travel during the season for players and coaches.
Midwest Division
Columbus Clippers (Indians)
Indianapolis Indiane (Pirates)
Iowa Cubs (Cubs)
Louisville Bats (Reds)
Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals)
St. Paul Saints (twins)
Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers)
Northeastern Division
Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays)
Lehigh Valley porcupines (Phillies)
Rochester Red Wings (Nationals)
Scranton / Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees)
Syracuse Mets (Mets)
Worchester Red Sox (Red Sox)
Southeast Division
Charlotte Knights (White Sox)
Durham Bulls (rays)
Gwinnett Stripers (Braves)
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins)
Memphis Redbirds (Cardinal)
Nashville Sounds (Brewers)
Norfolk Tides (Orioles)
Eastern Division
Albuquerque Isotopes (Rockies)
El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres)
Oklahoma City Dodgers (Dodgers)
Round Rock Express (Rangers)
Sugar Land Skeeters (Astros)
West Division
Las Vegas Aviators (A’s)
Reno Aces (D-Backs)
Sacramento River (Giants)
Salt Lake Bees (Angels)
Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners)
North Division
Arkansas Travelers (Mariners)
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Royals)
Springfield Cardinal
Tulsa Drillers (Dodgers)
Wichita Wind Surge (twins)
South Division
Amarillo Sod Poodles (D-back)
Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros)
Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers)
Midland RockHounds (A’s)
San Antonio Mission (Padres)
Northeastern Division
Binghamton Rumble Ponies (Mets)
Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays)
Portland Seals (Red Sox)
Read Fightin Phils (Phillies)
Somerset Patriots (Yankees)
Southwest Division
Akron RubberDucks (Indians)
Altoona Curve (Pirates)
Bowie Baysox (Orioles)
Erie SeaWolves (Tigers)
Harrisburg Senators (subjects)
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants)
North Division
Birmingham Barons (White Sox)
Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds)
Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels)
Tennessee Smokies
South Division
Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers)
Mississippi Braves (Braves)
Montgomery Biscuits (Rays)
Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins)
Eastern Division
Dayton Dragons (Reds)
Fort Wayne Cans (Padres)
Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers)
Lake Country Captains (Indians)
Lansing Lugnuts (A’s)
West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers)
West Division
Beloit Snappers (Marlins)
Cedar Rapids kernels (twins)
Peoria Chiefs (Cardinal)
Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals)
South Bend Cubs (Cubs)
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers)
North Division
Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles)
Brooklyn Cyclone (Mets)
Hudson Valley Renegades (Yankees)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws (Phillies)
Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nats)
South Division
Asheville Tourist (Astros)
Bowling Green Hot Rods (rays)
Greensboro Grasshoppers (Pirates)
Greenville Drive (Red Sox)
Hickory Crawdads (Rangers)
Rome Braves (Braves)
Winston-Salem Dash (White Sox)
Eugene Emeralds (Giants)
Everett AquaSox (Mariners)
Hillsboro Hops (D-Backs)
Spokane Indians (Rockies)
Tri-City Dust Devils (Angels)
Vancouver-Canadian (Blue Jays)
Central Department
Carolina Mudcats (Brewers)
Down East Wood Ducks (Rangers)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox)
North Division
Shorebirds by Delmarva (Orioles)
Fredericksburg Nationals (Nationals)
Lynchburg Hillcats (Indians)
Salem Red Sox (Red Sox)
South Division
Augusta GreenJackets (Braves)
Charleston RiverDogs (rays)
Columbia Fireflies (Royals)
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Eastern Division
Daytona Tortugas (Reds)
Jupiter Hammerheads (Marlins)
Palm Beach Cardinals (Cardinals)
St. Lucie Mets (Mets)
West Division
Bradenton Marauders (Pirates)
Clearwater Thresholds (Phillies)
Dunedin Blue Jays
Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (Twins)
Lakeland Flying Tigers (Tigers)
Tampa Tarpons (Yankees)
North Division
Fresno Grizzlies (Rockies)
Modesto Nuts (Mariners)
San Jose Giants (Giants)
Stockton Hawens (A’s)
South Division
Inland Empire 66ers (Angels)
Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Dodgers)
Visalia Rawhide (D-Backs)