List of Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates
The Boston Red Sox farm system consists of four Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States. Three teams are independently owned, while the Salem Red Sox are owned by the major league club. Additionally, the Red Sox operate complex based rookie level squads playing in the Gulf Coast League and the Dominican Summer League.
The Red Sox have been affiliated with the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox franchise of the International League since 1977, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Red Sox.[1] Prior to 2020 the franchise was located in Pawtucket with the Boston's 48-year affiliation with the city ending as result of relocating to Worcester. Their newest affiliate is the Salem Red Sox, which became the Red Sox' High Single-A affiliate in 2009.[1]
Geographically, Boston's closest domestic affiliate is the Worcester Red Sox, which is approximately 45 miles (72 km) away. Boston's furthest domestic affiliate is the Gulf Coast League Red Sox of the Rookie League Gulf Coast League some 1,247 miles (2,007 km) away.
2021–present
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | High Single-A | Low Single-A | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Worcester Red Sox[2] | Portland Sea Dogs[2] | Greenville Drive[2] | Salem Red Sox[2] | GCL Red Sox | DSL Red Sox |
1990–2020
Minor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. The Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.[3]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Pawtucket Red Sox[4] | Portland Sea Dogs[5] | Salem Red Sox[6] | Greenville Drive[7] | Lowell Spinners[4] | GCL Red Sox | DSL Red Sox Blue DSL Red Sox Red |
| 2019 | |||||||
| 2018 | |||||||
| 2017 | DSL Red Sox | ||||||
| 2016 | — | ||||||
| 2015 | DSL Red Sox 1 DSL Red Sox 2 | ||||||
| 2014 | DSL Red Sox | ||||||
| 2013 | |||||||
| 2012 | |||||||
| 2011 | |||||||
| 2010 | |||||||
| 2009 | |||||||
| 2008 | Lancaster JetHawks | ||||||
| 2007 | |||||||
| 2006 | Wilmington Blue Rocks | ||||||
| 2005 | Greenville Bombers | ||||||
| 2004 | Sarasota Red Sox | Augusta GreenJackets | DSL Red Sox Ciudad Alianza | ||||
| 2003 | DSL Red Sox 1 DSL Red Sox 2 | ||||||
| 2002 | Trenton Thunder | DSL Red Sox | |||||
| 2001 | |||||||
| 2000 | |||||||
| 1999 | |||||||
| 1998 | Michigan Battle Cats | ||||||
| 1997 | |||||||
| 1996 | — | ||||||
| 1995 | Utica Blue Sox | — | |||||
| 1994 | New Britain Red Sox | Sarasota Red Sox Lynchburg Red Sox |
— | — | |||
| 1993 | Fort Lauderdale Red Sox Lynchburg Red Sox |
— | — | ||||
| 1992 | Winter Haven Red Sox Lynchburg Red Sox |
— | Elmira Pioneers | — | |||
| 1991 | — | — | |||||
| 1990 | — | — |
1963–1989
The foundation of the minors' current structure was the result of a reorganization initiated by Major League Baseball (MLB) before the 1963 season. The reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-AA, Class A, and Rookie) was a response to the general decline of the minors throughout the 1950s and early-1960s when leagues and teams folded due to shrinking attendance caused by baseball fans' preference for staying at home to watch MLB games on television. The only change made within the next 27 years was Class A being subdivided for the first time to form Class A Short Season in 1966.[3]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Pawtucket Red Sox | New Britain Red Sox | Winter Haven Red Sox, Lynchburg Red Sox | Elmira Pioneers | GCL Red Sox |
| 1988 | — | ||||
| 1987 | Winter Haven Red Sox, Greensboro Hornets | — | |||
| 1986 | — | ||||
| 1985 | — | ||||
| 1984 | Winter Haven Red Sox, Winston-Salem Spirits | — | |||
| 1983 | Winter Haven Red Sox, Winston-Salem Red Sox | — | |||
| 1982 | Bristol Red Sox | — | |||
| 1981 | — | ||||
| 1980 | — | ||||
| 1979[8] | — | ||||
| 1978 | — | ||||
| 1977 | — | ||||
| 1976 | Rhode Island Red Sox | — | |||
| 1975 | Pawtucket Red Sox | — | |||
| 1974[9] | — | ||||
| 1973 | — | ||||
| 1972 | Louisville Colonels | Pawtucket Red Sox | Williamsport Red Sox | — | |
| 1971 | Winter Haven Red Sox, Winston-Salem Red Sox, Greenville Red Sox | — | |||
| 1970 | Jamestown Falcons | — | |||
| 1969 | Pittsfield Red Sox | — | |||
| 1968 | Winston-Salem Red Sox, Greenville Red Sox, Waterloo Hawks | — | |||
| 1967 | Toronto Maple Leafs | — | — | ||
| 1966 | Winston-Salem Red Sox, Waterloo Hawks, Oneonta Red Sox | — | Covington Red Sox | ||
| 1965[10] | Winston-Salem Red Sox, Waterloo Hawks, Wellsville Red Sox | — | Harlan Red Sox | ||
| 1964 | Seattle Rainiers | Reading Red Sox | — | — | |
| 1963[11] | — | — |
1932–1962
The minors operated with six classes (Triple-A, Double-A, and Classes A, B, C, and D) from 1946 to 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from Triple-A to Open in 1952 due to the possibility of becoming a third major league. This arrangement ended following the 1957 season when the relocation of the National League's Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast killed any chance of the PCL being promoted. The 1963 reorganization resulted in the Eastern and South Atlantic Leagues being elevated from Class A to Double-A, five of seven Class D circuits plus the ones in B and C upgraded to A, and the Appalachian League reclassified from D to Rookie.[3]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Seattle Rainiers | — | York White Roses | Winston-Salem Red Sox | Pocatello Chiefs | Waterloo Hawks Olean Red Sox |
| 1961 | Seattle Rainiers | — | Johnstown Red Sox | Winston-Salem Red Sox | — | Waterloo Hawks Alpine Cowboys Olean Red Sox |
| 1960 | Minneapolis Millers | — | Allentown Red Sox | Raleigh Capitals | — | Waterloo Hawks Corning Red Sox Alpine Cowboys |
| 1959 | Minneapolis Millers | — | Allentown Red Sox | Raleigh Capitals | — | Waterloo Hawks Corning Cor-Sox Alpine Cowboys |
| 1958 | Minneapolis Millers | Memphis Chickasaws | Allentown Red Sox | Raleigh Capitals | — | Waterloo Hawks Corning Red Sox Lexington Red Sox |
| 1957[12] | San Francisco Seals (Open) | Oklahoma City Indians | Albany Senators | Greensboro Patriots | — | Corning Red Sox Lexington Red Sox Lafayette Red Sox |
| 1956 | San Francisco Seals (Open) | Oklahoma City Indians | Albany Senators | Greensboro Patriots | — | Corning Red Sox Lexington Red Sox Lafayette Red Sox |
| 1955 | Louisville Colonels | — | Montgomery Rebels | Greensboro Patriots | San Jose Red Sox | Corning Red Sox Bluefield Blue-Grays |
| 1954 | Louisville Colonels | — | Albany Senators | Greensboro Patriots | San Jose Red Sox | Corning Red Sox Bluefield Blue-Grays |
| 1953 | Louisville Colonels | — | Albany Senators | Roanoke Ro-Sox Greensboro Patriots |
San Jose Red Sox | Salisbury Rocots |
| 1952 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Albany Senators | Roanoke Ro-Sox | San Jose Red Sox | High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms |
| 1951 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Ro-Sox | San Jose Red Sox Oneonta Red Sox |
Marion Red Sox High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms |
| 1950 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | San Jose Red Sox Oneonta Red Sox |
Marion Red Sox Kinston Eagles |
| 1949 | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | San Jose Red Sox Oneonta Red Sox |
Marion Red Sox Valley Rebels Hornell Maple Leafs |
| 1948[13] | Louisville Colonels | Birmingham Barons | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox Lynn Red Sox |
San Jose Red Sox Oneonta Red Sox Auburn Cayugas El Paso Texans |
Milford Red Sox Wellsville Nitros Valley Rebels Oroville Red Sox |
| 1947 | Louisville Colonels Toronto Maple Leafs |
New Orleans Pelicans | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox Lynn Red Sox |
San Jose Red Sox Oneonta Red Sox |
Milford Red Sox Wellsville Nitros |
| 1946 | Louisville Colonels | New Orleans Pelicans | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox Lynn Red Sox |
Oneonta Red Sox | Milford Red Sox Tarboro Tars Geneva Red Birds New Iberia Cardinals |
| 1945 | — | Louisville Colonels | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | — | — |
| 1944 | — | Louisville Colonels | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | — | Middletown Red Sox |
| 1943 | — | Louisville Colonels | Scranton Red Sox | Roanoke Red Sox | — | — |
| 1942 | — | Louisville Colonels | Scranton Red Sox | Greensboro Red Sox | Canton Terriers Oneonta Indians |
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Owensboro Oilers |
| 1941 | — | Louisville Colonels | Scranton Red Sox | Greensboro Red Sox | Canton Terriers Oneonta Indians |
Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Centreville Red Sox Owensboro Oilers |
| 1940 | — | Louisville Colonels | Scranton Red Sox Little Rock Travelers |
Rocky Mount Red Sox | Canton Terriers | Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Centreville Red Sox |
| 1939 | — | Louisville Colonels | Scranton Red Sox Little Rock Travelers |
Rocky Mount Red Sox | Canton Terriers Clarksdale Red Sox |
Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Danville-Schoolfield Leafs Centreville Colts |
| 1938 | — | Minneapolis Millers | Little Rock Travelers Hazleton Red Sox |
Rocky Mount Red Sox | Canton Terriers Clarksdale Red Sox |
Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Crookston Pirates |
| 1937 | — | San Diego Padres Minneapolis Millers |
Little Rock Travelers Hazleton Red Sox |
Rocky Mount Red Sox | Canton Terriers Brockville Blues |
Elizabethton Betsy Red Sox Centreville Colts Mansfield Red Sox Moultrie Packers |
| 1936 | — | San Diego Padres Syracuse Chiefs |
Little Rock Travelers Elmira Pioneers |
Rocky Mount Red Sox | Canton Terriers | McKeesport Tubers Eau Claire Bears |
| 1935 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Charlotte Hornets | Shreveport Sports/Gladewater Bears | — |
| 1934 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | Reading Red Sox | Columbia Sandlappers/Asheville Tourists | Joplin Miners | — |
| 1933 | — | — | Reading Red Sox | — | — | — |
| 1932 | — | — | — | Hazleton Mountaineers Wilmington Pirates |
— | — |
References
- "Boston Red Sox Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
- Browne, Ian (December 9, 2020). "Red Sox extend invites to 4 Minors affiliates". MLB. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- Cronin, John (Spring 2013). "Truth in the Minor League Class Structure: The Case for the Reclassification of the Minors". The Baseball Research Journal. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- "Red Sox Extend Affiliations with PawSox, Spinners". Ballpark Digest. January 5, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- "Sea Dogs, Red Sox Extend PDC Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- "Drive, Red Sox extend player development contract". Ballpark Digest. January 27, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1979.
- Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1974.
- Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1965.
- Official Baseball Record Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1963.
- Official Baseball Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1957.
- Official Baseball Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1948.
External links
- Major League Baseball Prospect News: Boston Red Sox
- Baseball-Reference: Boston Red Sox League Affiliations
- BR Bullpen: Boston Red Sox Minor League Affiliates
