The Minor-League Teams That Could Lose M.L.B. Ties
A Major League Baseball proposal would drastically alter the landscape of minor league baseball, severing the major-league affiliations of 42 teams in the lower levels of the minors. Some of those teams have been part of their communities for generations, like the Chattanooga Lookouts, whose roots date to 1885; some are playing in stadiums built as recently as 2008, when the Billings Mustangs’ Dehler Park opened.
M.L.B. contends that the reorganization is necessary to make the minor leagues more efficient and to improve conditions and facilities, but many officials associated with the teams see it as an existential crisis for their organizations.
Here are the teams that would be affected under the current plan:
Auburn (N.Y.) Doubledays
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Washington Nationals
Batavia (N.Y.) Muckdogs
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Miami Marlins
Billings (Mont.) Mustangs
Level: Advanced Rookie
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Cincinnati Reds
Binghamton (N.Y.) Rumble Ponies
Level: AA
League: Eastern League
Major league affiliate: Mets
Bluefield (W. Va.) Blue Jays
Level: Advanced Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Toronto Blue Jays
Bristol (Va.) Pirates
Level: Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Pittsburgh Pirates
Burlington (Iowa) Bees
Level: A
League: Midwest League
Major league affiliate: Los Angeles Angels
Burlington (N.C.) Royals
Level: Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Kansas City Royals
Chattanooga (Tenn.) Lookouts
Level: AA
League: Southern League
Major league affiliate: Cincinnati Reds
Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings
Level: A
League: Midwest League
Major league affiliate: Miami Marlins
(Norwich) Connecticut Tigers
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Detroit Tigers
Danville (Va.) Braves
Level: Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Atlanta Braves
Daytona (Fla.) Tortugas
Level: Advanced A
League: Florida State League
Major league affiliate: Cincinnati Reds
Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins
Level: Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Minnesota Twins
Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves
Level: AA
League: Eastern League
Major league affiliate: Detroit Tigers
(Kissimmee) Florida Fire Frogs
Level: Advanced A
League: Florida State League
Major league affiliate: Atlanta Braves
Frederick (Md.) Keys
Level: Advanced A
League: Carolina League
Major league affiliate: Baltimore Orioles
Grand Junction (Colo.) Rockies
Level: Rookie
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Colorado Rockies
Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers
Level: Advanced Rookie
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Chicago White Sox
Greeneville (Tenn.) Reds
Level: Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Cincinnati Reds
Hagerstown (Md.) Suns
Level: A
League: South Atlantic League
Major league affiliate: Washington Nationals
Idaho Falls Chukars
Level: Rookie Advanced
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Kansas City Royals
Jackson (Tenn.) Generals
Level: AA
League: Southern League
Major league affiliate: Arizona Diamondbacks
Johnson City (Tenn.) Cardinals
Level: Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: St. Louis Cardinals
Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets
Level: Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Mets
Lancaster (Calif.) Jethawks
Level: Advanced A
League: California League
Major league affiliate: Colorado Rockies
Lexington (Ky.) Legends
Level: A
League: South Atlantic League
Major league affiliate: Kansas City Royals
Lowell (Mass.) Spinners
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Boston Red Sox
Mahoning Valley (Ohio) Scrappers
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Cleveland Indians
Missoula (Mont.) PaddleHeads
Level: Advanced Rookie
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Arizona Diamondbacks
Ogden (Utah) Raptors
Level: Advanced Rookie
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Los Angeles Dodgers
Orem (Utah) Owlz
Level: Advanced Rookie
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Los Angeles Angels
Princeton (W. Va.) Rays
Level: Advanced Rookie
League: Appalachian League
Major league affiliate: Tampa Bay Rays
Quad Cities (Iowa) River Bandits
Level: A
League: Midwest League
Major league affiliate: Houston Astros
Rocky Mountain (Colo.) Vibes
Level: Rookie
League: Pioneer League
Major league affiliate: Milwaukee Brewers
Salem-Keizer (Ore.) Volcanoes
Level: Short-Season A
League: Northwest League
Major league affiliate: San Francisco Giants
State College (Pa.) Spikes
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: St. Louis Cardinals
Staten Island (N.Y.) Yankees
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Yankees
Tri-City (Wash.) Dust Devils
Level: Short-Season A
League: Northwest League
Major league affiliate: San Diego Padres
(Burlington) Vermont Lake Monsters
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Oakland A’s
(Charleston) West Virginia Power
Level: A
League: South Atlantic League
Major league affiliate: Seattle Mariners
Williamsport (Pa.) Crosscutters
Level: Short-Season A
League: New York-Penn League
Major league affiliate: Philadelphia Phillies
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