List of Cleveland Indians minor league affiliates
The Cleveland Indians farm system consists of eight Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic.[1] Four teams are independently owned, while four—two Arizona League Indians and two Dominican Summer League Indians squads—are owned by the major league club.
Current Cleveland Indians northeastern minor league affiliate locations
The Indians have been affiliated with the Double-A Canton–Akron Indians/Akron Aeros/RubberDucks of the Eastern League since 1989, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Indians.[2] This is also the longest affiliation in the team's history. Their newest affiliate is the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Carolina League which became the Indians' Class A-Advanced club in 2015.[2]
Geographically, Cleveland's closest domestic affiliate is the Lake County Captains of the Class A Midwest League which is approximately 16 miles (26 km) away. Cleveland's furthest domestic affiliate is the Arizona League Indians of the Rookie League Arizona League some 1,763 miles (2,837 km) away.
2021–present
The current structure of Minor League Baseball is the result of an overall contraction of the system by Major League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season. Class A was reduced to two levels: Class A-Advanced and Class A. Class A Short Season teams and domestic Rookie League teams that operated away from MLB spring training facilities were eliminated.
1990–2020
This structure of Minor League Baseball was in effect from the 1990 season, when the Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced, through the 2020 season. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.[7]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Columbus Clippers | Akron RubberDucks | Lynchburg Hillcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers[8] | AZL Indians Blue AZL Indians Red |
DSL Indians 1 DSL Indians 2 |
| 2019 | Columbus Clippers | Akron RubberDucks | Lynchburg Hillcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians Blue AZL Indians Red |
DSL Indians DSL Indians/Brewers |
| 2018 | Columbus Clippers | Akron RubberDucks | Lynchburg Hillcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians 1 AZL Indians 2 |
DSL Indians DSL Indians/Brewers |
| 2017 | Columbus Clippers | Akron RubberDucks | Lynchburg Hillcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians DSL Indians/Brewers |
| 2016 | Columbus Clippers | Akron RubberDucks | Lynchburg Hillcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2015 | Columbus Clippers | Akron RubberDucks | Lynchburg Hillcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2014 | Columbus Clippers | Akron RubberDucks | Carolina Mudcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2013 | Columbus Clippers | Akron Aeros | Carolina Mudcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2012 | Columbus Clippers | Akron Aeros | Carolina Mudcats | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2011 | Columbus Clippers | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2010 | Columbus Clippers | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2009 | Columbus Clippers | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | AZL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2008 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | GCL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2007 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | GCL Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2006 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians GCL Indians |
DSL Indians |
| 2005 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians 1 DSL Indians 2 |
| 2004 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians 1 DSL Indians 2 |
| 2003 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Lake County Captains | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians 1 DSL Indians 2 San Felipe |
| 2002 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians 1 DSL Indians 2 San Felipe |
| 2001 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 2000 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1999 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Mahoning Valley Scrappers | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1998 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1997 | Buffalo Bisons | Akron Aeros | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1996 | Buffalo Bisons | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1995 | Buffalo Bisons | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1994 | Charlotte Knights | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1993 | Charlotte Knights | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1992 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | Columbus RedStixx | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1991 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | Columbus Indians | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians | DSL Indians |
| 1990 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | — | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians GCL Indians |
DSL Indians |
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.[7]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Canton–Akron Indians | Kinston Indians | Watertown Indians | Burlington Indians, GCL Indians |
| 1988 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Williamsport Bills | Kinston Indians, Waterloo Indians | — | Burlington Indians, GCL Indians |
| 1987 | Buffalo Bisons | Williamsport Bills | Kinston Indians, Waterloo Indians | — | Burlington Indians |
| 1986 | Maine Guides | Waterbury Indians | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | Burlington Indians |
| 1985 | Maine Guides | Waterbury Indians | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1984 | Maine Guides | Buffalo Bisons | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1983 | Charleston Charlies | Buffalo Bisons | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1982 | Charleston Charlies | Chattanooga Lookouts | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1981 | Charleston Charlies | Chattanooga Lookouts | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1980 | Tacoma Tigers | Chattanooga Lookouts | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1979[9] | Tacoma Tugs | Chattanooga Lookouts | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1978 | Portland Beavers | Chattanooga Lookouts | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1977 | Toledo Mud Hens | Jersey City Indians | Waterloo Indians | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1976 | Toledo Mud Hens | Williamsport Tomahawks | San Jose Bees | Batavia Trojans | — |
| 1975 | Oklahoma City 89ers | San Antonio Brewers | San Jose Bees | — | GCL Indians |
| 1974[10] | Oklahoma City 89ers | San Antonio Brewers | Reno Silver Sox | — | GCL Indians |
| 1973 | Oklahoma City 89ers | San Antonio Brewers | Reno Silver Sox | — | GCL Indians |
| 1972 | Portland Beavers | Elmira Pioneers | Reno Silver Sox | — | GCL Indians |
| 1971 | Wichita Aeros | Jacksonville Suns | Reno Silver Sox | — | GCL Indians |
| 1970 | Wichita Aeros | Savannah Indians | Reno Silver Sox, Sumter Indians | — | GCL Indians |
| 1969 | Portland Beavers | Waterbury Indians | Reno Silver Sox, Statesville/Monroe Indians | — | GCL Indians |
| 1968 | Portland Beavers | Waterbury Indians | Reno Silver Sox, Rock Hill Indians | — | GCL Indians |
| 1967 | Portland Beavers | Pawtucket Indians | Reno Silver Sox, Rock Hill Indians | — | GCL Indians |
| 1966 | Portland Beavers | Pawtucket Indians | Reno Silver Sox, Dubuque Packers | — | — |
| 1965[11] | Portland Beavers | Reading Indians | Salinas Indians, Dubuque Packers | — | — |
| 1964 | Portland Beavers | Charleston Indians | Burlington Indians, Dubuque Packers | — | — |
| 1963[12] | Jacksonville Suns | Charleston Indians | Burlington Indians, Dubuque Packers, Grand Forks Chiefs | — | — |
1929–1962
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.[7]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Jacksonville Suns | — | Charleston Indians | Burlington Indians | — | Dubuque Packers Selma Cloverleafs |
| 1961 | Salt Lake City Bees | — | Reading Indians | Burlington Indians | — | Dubuque Packers Selma Cloverleafs |
| 1960 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Mobile Bears | Reading Indians | Burlington Indians | Minot Mallards | Lakeland Indians Selma Cloverleafs |
| 1959 | San Diego Padres | Mobile Bears | Reading Indians | Burlington Indians | Minot Mallards | Batavia Indians Selma Cloverleafs North Platte Indians |
| 1958 | San Diego Padres | Mobile Bears | Reading Indians | Burlington Indians | Minot Mallards | Cocoa Indians Batavia Indians North Platte Indians |
| 1957[13] | San Diego Padres (Open) | Mobile Bears | Reading Indians | Keokuk Kernels | Fargo-Moorhead Twins | Cocoa Indians Batavia Indians North Platte Indians |
| 1956 | San Diego Padres (Open) Indianapolis Indians |
Mobile Bears | Reading Indians | Fayetteville Highlanders Keokuk Kernels |
Fargo-Moorhead Twins | Daytona Beach Islanders North Platte Indians Vidalia Indians |
| 1955 | Indianapolis Indians | Tulsa Oilers | Reading Indians | Spartanburg Peaches Keokuk Kernels |
Fargo-Moorhead Twins Sherbrooke Indians |
Vidalia Indians Lafayette Chiefs |
| 1954 | Indianapolis Indians | — | Reading Indians | Spartanburg Peaches Keokuk Kernels |
Fargo-Moorhead Twins Sherbrooke Indians |
Jacksonville Beach Sea Birds Tifton Indians |
| 1953 | Indianapolis Indians | — | Reading Indians | Spartanburg Peaches Peoria Chiefs |
Fargo-Moorhead Twins Sherbrooke Indians |
Daytona Beach Islanders Green Bay Blue Jays |
| 1952 | Indianapolis Indians | Dallas Eagles | Reading Indians Wichita Indians |
Spartanburg Peaches Cedar Rapids Indians |
Bakersfield Indians Fort Smith Indians |
Daytona Beach Islanders Green Bay Blue Jays |
| 1951 | San Diego Padres | Dallas Eagles | Wilkes-Barre Indians Wichita Indians |
Spartanburg Peaches Harrisburg Senators Cedar Rapids Indians |
Bakersfield Indians Fort Smith Indians |
Daytona Beach Islanders Batavia Clippers Green Bay Blue Jays |
| 1950 | San Diego Padres | Oklahoma City Indians | Wilkes-Barre Indians | Spartanburg Peaches Harrisburg Senators Cedar Rapids Indians |
Bakersfield Indians | Daytona Beach Islanders Batavia Clippers Green Bay Blue Jays |
| 1949 | San Diego Padres | Oklahoma City Indians | Wilkes-Barre Indians | Spartanburg Peaches Harrisburg Senators |
Bakersfield Indians | Batavia Clippers Green Bay Blue Jays |
| 1948[14] | Baltimore Orioles | Oklahoma City Indians | Wilkes-Barre Indians | Spartanburg Peaches Harrisburg Senators |
Bakersfield Indians | Batavia Clippers Green Bay Blue Jays |
| 1947 | Baltimore Orioles | Oklahoma City Indians | Wilkes-Barre Barons | Spartanburg Peaches Harrisburg Senators |
Bakersfield Indians | Batavia Clippers Green Bay Blue Jays |
| 1946 | Baltimore Orioles | Oklahoma City Indians | Wilkes-Barre Barons | Harrisburg Senators | Bakersfield Indians | Batavia Clippers |
| 1945 | — | Baltimore Orioles | Wilkes-Barre Barons | — | — | Batavia Clippers |
| 1944 | — | Baltimore Orioles | Wilkes-Barre Barons | — | — | Batavia Clippers |
| 1943 | — | Baltimore Orioles | Wilkes-Barre Barons | — | — | Batavia Clippers |
| 1942 | — | Baltimore Orioles | Wilkes-Barre Barons | Cedar Rapids Raiders | — | Batavia Clippers |
| 1941 | — | — | Wilkes-Barre Barons Oklahoma City Indians |
Cedar Rapids Raiders | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | Wilkes-Barre Barons | Cedar Rapids Raiders | — | Fargo-Moorhead Twins |
| 1939 | — | Buffalo Bisons | Wilkes-Barre Barons New Orleans Pelicans |
Cedar Rapids Raiders | — | Fargo-Moorhead Twins |
| 1938 | — | Milwaukee Brewers | New Orleans Pelicans | — | — | Fargo-Moorhead Twins |
| 1937 | — | Milwaukee Brewers | New Orleans Pelicans | — | — | Fargo-Moorhead Twins |
| 1936 | — | Minneapolis Millers | New Orleans Pelicans | — | — | Fargo-Moorhead Twins |
| 1935 | — | Minneapolis Millers | New Orleans Pelicans | — | — | Fargo-Moorhead Twins |
| 1934 | — | — | New Orleans Pelicans | — | — | Fargo-Moorhead Twins |
| 1933 | — | — | New Orleans Pelicans | — | — | — |
| 1932 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — | — | Frederick Warriors |
| 1929 | — | — | — | — | — | Frederick Warriors |
References
- "Indians Affiliates". Cleveland Indians. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
- "Cleveland Indians Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2017.
- "Indians extend 4 invites to join Minors family". Indians.com. December 9, 2020.
- "Indians extend 4 invites to join Minors family". Indians.com. December 9, 2020.
- "Indians extend 4 invites to join Minors family". Indians.com. December 9, 2020.
- "Indians extend 4 invites to join Minors family". Indians.com. 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.
- "Indians, Scrappers Extend Player Development Contract". Ballpark Digest. March 22, 2018. 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
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