List of Kansas City Royals minor league affiliates
The Kansas City Royals farm system consists of six Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are independently owned, while three—the Arizona League Royals and two Dominican Summer League Royals—are owned by the major league club.
Current Kansas City Royals domestic minor league affiliate locations
The Royals have been affiliated with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League since 1969, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Royals.[1] It is also the longest affiliation in team history. Their newest affiliates are the Quad Cities River Bandits and the Columbia Fireflies, who became affiliates in 2021.[1]
Geographically, Kansas City's closest domestic affiliate is the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League which is approximately 169 miles (272 km) away. Kansas City's furthest domestic affiliate is the AZL Royals some 1,057 miles (1,701 km) away.
2021–present
The current structure of Minor League Baseball is the result of an overall contraction of the system beginning with the 2021 season. Class A was reduced to two levels: High Single-A and Low Single-A.
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]
| League Champions † |
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Omaha Storm Chasers[4] | Northwest Arkansas Naturals[5] | Wilmington Blue Rocks[6] | Lexington Legends[7] | — | Idaho Falls Chukars[8] Burlington Royals[9] AZL Royals |
DSL Royals 1 DSL Royals 2 |
| 2019 | Omaha Storm Chasers | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks† | Lexington Legends† | — | Idaho Falls Chukars† Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals 1† DSL Royals 2 |
| 2018 | Omaha Storm Chasers | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Lexington Legends† | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals 1 DSL Royals 2 |
| 2017 | Omaha Storm Chasers | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Lexington Legends | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2016 | Omaha Storm Chasers | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Lexington Legends | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2015 | Omaha Storm Chasers | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Lexington Legends | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2014 | Omaha Storm Chasers† | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Lexington Legends | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2013 | Omaha Storm Chasers† | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Lexington Legends | — | Idaho Falls Chukars† Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2012 | Omaha Storm Chasers | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Kane County Cougars | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2011 | Omaha Storm Chasers† | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Kane County Cougars | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2010 | Omaha Royals | Northwest Arkansas Naturals† | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2009 | Omaha Royals | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2008 | Omaha Royals | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees† | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2007 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees | — | Idaho Falls Chukars Burlington Royals AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2006 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | High Desert Mavericks | Burlington Bees | — | Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2005 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | High Desert Mavericks | Burlington Bees | — | Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2004 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees | — | Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals |
DSL Royals |
| 2003 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees | — | AZL Royals 1† AZL Royals 2 |
DSL Royals |
| 2002 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees | Spokane Indians | GCL Royals | DSL Royals |
| 2001 | Omaha Golden Spikes | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Burlington Bees | Spokane Indians | GCL Royals | DSL Royals |
| 2000 | Omaha Golden Spikes | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Charleston Alley Cats | Spokane Indians | GCL Royals | DSL Royals |
| 1999 | Omaha Golden Spikes | Wichita Wranglers† | Wilmington Blue Rocks† | Charleston Alley Cats | Spokane Indians | GCL Royals | DSL Royals |
| 1998 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks† | Lansing Lugnuts | Spokane Indians† | GCL Royals | DSL Royals |
| 1997 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Lansing Lugnuts† | Spokane Indians | GCL Royals | DSL Royals |
| 1996 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks† | Lansing Lugnuts | Spokane Indians | GCL Royals | — |
| 1995 | Omaha Royals | Wichita Wranglers | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Springfield Sultans | Spokane Indians | GCL Royals† | — |
| 1994 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Wilmington Blue Rocks† | Rockford Royals | Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals | — |
| 1993 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Wilmington Blue Rocks | Rockford Royals | Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals | — |
| 1992 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Baseball City Royals | Appleton Foxes | Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals† | — |
| 1991 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Baseball City Royals | Appleton Foxes | Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals | — |
| 1990 | Omaha Royals† | Memphis Chicks† | Baseball City Royals | Appleton Foxes | Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals | — |
1968–1989
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 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Baseball City Royals Appleton Foxes |
Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals DSL Royals |
| 1988 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Baseball City Royals Appleton Foxes |
Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals |
| 1987 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Fort Myers Royals Appleton Foxes |
Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals |
| 1986 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Fort Myers Royals | Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals |
| 1985 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Fort Myers Royals† | Eugene Emeralds | GCL Royals |
| 1984 | Omaha Royals | Memphis Chicks | Fort Myers Royals Charleston Royals |
Eugene Emeralds | — |
| 1983 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Fort Myers Royals Charleston Royals |
— | Butte Copper Kings GCL Royals |
| 1982 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Fort Myers Royals Charleston Royals |
— | Butte Copper Kings GCL Royals |
| 1981 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Fort Myers Royals Charleston Royals |
— | GCL Royals Blue GCL Royals Gold† |
| 1980 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Fort Myers Royals Charleston Royals |
— | GCL Royals Blue† GCL Royals Gold |
| 1979[10] | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Fort Myers Royals | — | GCL Royals Blue GCL Royals Gold |
| 1978 | Omaha Royals† | Jacksonville Suns | Fort Myers Royals | — | GCL Royals |
| 1977 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Daytona Beach Islanders | — | GCL Royals |
| 1976 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Waterloo Royals† | — | GCL Royals |
| 1975 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | Waterloo Royals† | — | GCL Royals |
| 1974[11] | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals |
— | GCL Royals GCL Royals Academy |
| 1973 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals |
— | Billings Mustangs† Kingsport Royals† GCL Royals |
| 1972 | Omaha Royals | Jacksonville Suns | San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals |
— | Billings Mustangs† Kingsport Royals GCL Royals† |
| 1971 | Omaha Royals | Elmira Royals† | San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals |
— | Billings Mustangs Kingsport Royals GCL Royals† |
| 1970 | Omaha Royals† | — | San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals |
— | Billings Mustangs Kingsport Royals |
| 1969 | Omaha Royals† | — | High Point-Thomasville Royals Waterloo Hawks |
Corning Royals Winnipeg Goldeyes |
Kingsport Royals |
| 1968 | — | — | High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms† | Corning Royals | — |
References
- "Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
- Flanagan, Jeffrey (December 9, 2020). "Royals invite four '21 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.
- "Storm Chasers, Royals Extend PDC Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. March 26, 2019. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
- "Naturals, Royals Extend Affiliation Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. January 21, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2020.
- "Blue Rocks, Royals Extend Affiliation Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. September 5, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- "Legends, Royals Announce Affiliation Extension". Ballpark Digest. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- Reichard, Kevin (September 2, 2018). "Chukars, Royals Extend Player Development Contract Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1979.
- Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1974.
External links
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