List of San Diego Padres minor league affiliates
The San Diego Padres farm system consists of four Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States. All four affiliates are independently owned. Additionally, the Padres operate complex based rookie level squads playing in the Arizona League and the Dominican Summer League.
The Padres have been affiliated with the High Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League since 1999, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Padres.[1] This is also the longest affiliation in team history. Their newest affiliate is the San Antonio Missions of the Texas League which became the Padres' Double-A club in 2021.[1]
Geographically, San Diego's closest domestic affiliate is the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League which is approximately 66 miles (106 km) away. San Diego's furthest domestic affiliate is the Fort Wayne TinCaps of the Midwest League some 1,849 miles (2,976 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.
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | High Single-A | Low Single-A | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | El Paso Chihuahuas [2] | San Antonio Missions[2] | Fort Wayne TinCaps[2] | Lake Elsinore Storm[2] | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
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 | El Paso Chihuahuas[4] | Amarillo Sod Poodles[5] | Lake Elsinore Storm[6] | Fort Wayne TinCaps[7] | Tri-City Dust Devils[6] | AZL Padres 1 AZL Padres 2 |
DSL Padres |
| 2019 | El Paso Chihuahuas | Amarillo Sod Poodles | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Tri-City Dust Devils | AZL Padres 1 AZL Padres 2 |
DSL Padres |
| 2018 | El Paso Chihuahuas | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Tri-City Dust Devils | AZL Padres 1 AZL Padres 2 |
DSL Padres |
| 2017 | El Paso Chihuahuas | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Tri-City Dust Devils | AZL Padres 1 AZL Padres 2 |
DSL Padres |
| 2016 | El Paso Chihuahuas | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Tri-City Dust Devils | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2015 | El Paso Chihuahuas | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Tri-City Dust Devils | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2014 | El Paso Chihuahuas | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2013 | Tucson Padres | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2012 | Tucson Padres | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2011 | Tucson Padres | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2010 | Portland Beavers | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2009 | Portland Beavers | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne TinCaps | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2008 | Portland Beavers | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2007 | Portland Beavers | San Antonio Missions | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2006 | Portland Beavers | Mobile BayBears | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2005 | Portland Beavers | Mobile BayBears | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2004 | Portland Beavers | Mobile BayBears | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2003 | Portland Beavers | Mobile BayBears | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | Idaho Falls Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2002 | Portland Beavers | Mobile BayBears | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | Idaho Falls Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2001 | Portland Beavers | Mobile BayBears | Lake Elsinore Storm | Fort Wayne Wizards | Eugene Emeralds | Idaho Falls Padres | DSL Padres |
| 2000 | Las Vegas Stars | Mobile BayBears | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Fort Wayne Wizards | — | Idaho Falls Padres AZL Padres |
DSL Padres |
| 1999 | Las Vegas Stars | Mobile BayBears | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Fort Wayne Wizards | — | Idaho Falls Braves AZL Padres |
DSL Padres |
| 1998 | Las Vegas Stars | Mobile BayBears | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Clinton LumberKings | — | Idaho Falls Braves AZL Padres |
DSL Padres |
| 1997 | Las Vegas Stars | Mobile BayBears | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Clinton LumberKings | — | Idaho Falls Braves AZL Padres |
DSL Padres |
| 1996 | Las Vegas Stars | Memphis Chicks | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Clinton LumberKings | — | Idaho Falls Braves AZL Padres |
— |
| 1995 | Las Vegas Stars | Memphis Chicks | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Clinton LumberKings | — | Idaho Falls Braves AZL Padres |
— |
| 1994 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Wranglers | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Springfield Sultans | Spokane Indians | AZL Padres | — |
| 1993 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Wranglers | Rancho Cucamonga Quakes | Waterloo Diamonds | Spokane Indians | AZL Padres | — |
| 1992 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Wranglers | High Desert Mavericks | Waterloo Diamonds, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | AZL Padres | — |
| 1991 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Wranglers | High Desert Mavericks | Waterloo Diamonds, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | AZL Padres | — |
| 1990 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Wranglers | Riverside Red Wave | Waterloo Diamonds, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | AZL Padres | — |
1969–1989
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 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Wranglers | Riverside Red Wave, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | AZL Padres |
| 1988 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Pilots | Riverside Red Wave, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | AZL Padres |
| 1987 | Las Vegas Stars | Wichita Pilots | Reno Padres, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | — |
| 1986 | Las Vegas Stars | Beaumont Golden Gators | Reno Padres, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | — |
| 1985 | Las Vegas Stars | Beaumont Golden Gators | Reno Padres, Charleston Rainbows | Spokane Indians | — |
| 1984 | Las Vegas Stars | Beaumont Golden Gators | Reno Padres, Miami Marlins | Spokane Indians | — |
| 1983 | Las Vegas Stars | Beaumont Golden Gators | Reno Padres, Salem Redbirds, Miami Marlins | Spokane Indians | — |
| 1982 | Hawaii Islanders | Amarillo Gold Sox | Reno Padres, Salem Redbirds | Walla Walla Padres | GCL Padres |
| 1981 | Hawaii Islanders | Amarillo Gold Sox | Reno Silver Sox, Salem Redbirds | Walla Walla Padres | GCL Padres |
| 1980 | Hawaii Islanders | Amarillo Gold Sox | Reno Silver Sox | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1979[8] | Hawaii Islanders | Amarillo Gold Sox | Reno Silver Sox | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1978 | Hawaii Islanders | Amarillo Gold Sox | Reno Silver Sox | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1977 | Hawaii Islanders | Amarillo Gold Sox | Reno Silver Sox | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1976 | Hawaii Islanders | Amarillo Gold Sox | — | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1975 | Hawaii Islanders | Alexandria Aces | — | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1974[9] | Hawaii Islanders | Alexandria Aces | — | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1973 | Hawaii Islanders | Alexandria Aces | — | Walla Walla Padres | — |
| 1972 | Hawaii Islanders | Alexandria Aces | — | Walla Walla Islanders, Tri-City Padres | — |
| 1971 | Hawaii Islanders | — | Lodi Padres | Tri-City Padres | — |
| 1970 | Salt Lake City Bees | — | Lodi Padres | Tri-City Padres | — |
| 1969 | — | — | — | — | Salt Lake City Bees |
References
- "San Diego Padres Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- "Padres invite 4 teams to be Minors affiliates". MLB. December 9, 2020. 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.
- Spedden, Zach (February 8, 2019). "Padres, Chihuahuas Extend PDC Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
- "Padres, Amarillo Agree to Affiliation". Ballpark Digest. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- "Dust Devils, Padres Extend Affiliation Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- "TinCaps, Padres Extend PDC Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. June 22, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1979.
- Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1974.