List of Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates
The Cincinnati Reds farm system consists of Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic.[1] Five teams are independently owned, while two—the Arizona League Reds and Dominican Summer League Reds squads—are owned by the major league club.
The Reds have been affiliated with the Louisville Bats of the Pacific Coast League since 2000, making them their longest current partner. The longest affiliation in the team's history was with the Billings Mustangs. Their newest affiliate is the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Southern League which became a Reds' Double-A club in 2019.[2]
Geographically, Cincinnati's closest domestic affiliate is the Dayton Dragons of the Class A Midwest League which is approximately 49 miles (79 km) away. Cincinnati's furthest domestic affiliate is the Arizona League Reds of the Rookie Arizona League which is some 1,595 miles (2,567 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. Class A Short Season teams and domestic Rookie League teams that operated away from Spring Training facilities were eliminated.
Year | Triple-A | Double-A | High Single-A | Low Single-A | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Louisville Bats[3] | Chattanooga Lookouts[3] | Dayton Dragons[3] | Daytona Tortugas[3] | AZL Reds | DSL Reds |
1990–2020
From 1990-2020 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.[4]
Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Louisville Bats[5] | Chattanooga Lookouts[6] | Daytona Tortugas[7] | Dayton Dragons[8] | — | Billings Mustangs[9] Greeneville Reds[8] AZL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2019 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Daytona Tortugas | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs Greeneville Reds AZL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2018 | Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Daytona Tortugas | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs Greeneville Reds AZL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2017 | Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Daytona Tortugas | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds DSL Rojos |
2016 | Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Daytona Tortugas | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds DSL Rojos |
2015 | Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Daytona Tortugas[10] | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds DSL Rojos |
2014 | Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Bakersfield Blaze[10] | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds DSL Rojos |
2013 | Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Bakersfield Blaze | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2012 | Louisville Bats | Pensacola Blue Wahoos | Bakersfield Blaze | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2011 | Louisville Bats | Carolina Mudcats | Bakersfield Blaze | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds VSL Reds |
2010 | Louisville Bats | Carolina Mudcats | Lynchburg Hillcats | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs AZL Reds |
DSL Reds VSL Reds |
2009 | Louisville Bats | Carolina Mudcats | Sarasota Reds | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2008 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Sarasota Reds | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2007 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Sarasota Reds | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2006 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Sarasota Reds | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds VSL Reds |
2005 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Sarasota Reds | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds VSL Reds |
2004 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Potomac Cannons | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds Cagua |
2003 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Potomac Cannons | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2002 | Louisville Bats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Stockton Ports | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2001 | Louisville RiverBats | Chattanooga Lookouts | Mudville Nine | Dayton Dragons | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
2000 | Louisville RiverBats | Chattanooga Lookouts | — | Dayton Dragons, Clinton LumberKings | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
1999 | Indianapolis Indians | Chattanooga Lookouts | — | Rockford Reds, Clinton LumberKings | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
DSL Reds |
1998 | Indianapolis Indians | Chattanooga Lookouts | — | Charleston Alley Cats, Burlington Bees | — | Billings Mustangs | DSL Reds |
1997 | Indianapolis Indians | Chattanooga Lookouts | — | Charleston Alley Cats, Burlington Bees | — | Billings Mustangs | — |
1996 | Indianapolis Indians | Chattanooga Lookouts | Winston-Salem Warthogs | Charleston Alley Cats | — | Billings Mustangs Princeton Reds |
— |
1995 | Indianapolis Indians | Chattanooga Lookouts | Winston-Salem Warthogs | Charleston Alley Cats | — | Billings Mustangs Princeton Reds |
— |
1994 | Indianapolis Indians | Chattanooga Lookouts | Winston-Salem Spirits | Charleston Wheelers | — | Billings Mustangs Princeton Reds |
— |
1993 | Indianapolis Indians | Chattanooga Lookouts | Winston-Salem Spirits | Charleston Wheelers | — | Billings Mustangs Princeton Reds |
— |
1992 | Nashville Sounds | Chattanooga Lookouts | — | Charleston Wheelers, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs Princeton Reds |
— |
1991 | Nashville Sounds | Chattanooga Lookouts | — | Charleston Wheelers, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs Princeton Reds |
— |
1990 | Nashville Sounds | Chattanooga Lookouts | — | Charleston Wheelers, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs GCL Reds |
— |
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.[4]
Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1989 | Nashville Sounds | Chattanooga Lookouts | Greensboro Hornets, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs, GCL Reds |
1988 | Nashville Sounds | Chattanooga Lookouts | Greensboro Hornets, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs, GCL Reds |
1987 | Nashville Sounds | Vermont Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs, GCL Reds |
1986 | Denver Zephyrs | Vermont Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs, GCL Reds |
1985 | Denver Zephyrs | Vermont Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs, GCL Reds |
1984 | Wichita Aeros | Vermont Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | — | Billings Mustangs, GCL Reds |
1983 | Indianapolis Indians | Waterbury Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1982 | Indianapolis Indians | Waterbury Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1981 | Indianapolis Indians | Waterbury Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1980 | Indianapolis Indians | Waterbury Reds | Tampa Tarpons, Cedar Rapids Reds | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1979[11] | Indianapolis Indians | Nashville Sounds | Tampa Tarpons, Greensboro Hornets | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1978 | Indianapolis Indians | Nashville Sounds | Tampa Tarpons, Shelby Reds | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1977 | Indianapolis Indians | Trois-Rivières Aigles | Tampa Tarpons, Shelby Reds | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1976 | Indianapolis Indians | Trois-Rivières Aigles | Tampa Tarpons | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1975 | Indianapolis Indians | Trois-Rivières Aigles | Tampa Tarpons | Eugene Emeralds | Billings Mustangs |
1974[12] | Indianapolis Indians | Trois-Rivières Aigles | Tampa Tarpons | Seattle Rainiers | Billings Mustangs |
1973 | Indianapolis Indians | Trois-Rivières Aigles | Tampa Tarpons | Seattle Rainiers | GCL Reds |
1972 | Indianapolis Indians | Trois-Rivières Aigles | Tampa Tarpons | — | GCL Reds |
1971 | Indianapolis Indians | Trois-Rivières Aigles | Tampa Tarpons | Sioux Falls Packers | GCL Reds |
1970 | Indianapolis Indians | Asheville Tourists | Tampa Tarpons | Sioux Falls Packers | GCL Reds |
1969 | Indianapolis Indians | Asheville Tourists | Tampa Tarpons | Sioux Falls Packers | GCL Reds |
1968 | Indianapolis Indians | Asheville Tourists | Tampa Tarpons | Sioux Falls Packers | GCL Reds |
1967 | Buffalo Bisons | Knoxville Smokies | Tampa Tarpons | Sioux Falls Packers | Wytheville Reds |
1966 | Buffalo Bisons | Knoxville Smokies | Tampa Tarpons, Peninsula Grays | Sioux Falls Packers | — |
1965[13] | San Diego Padres | Knoxville Smokies | Tampa Tarpons, Peninsula Grays | — | — |
1964 | San Diego Padres | Macon Peaches | Tampa Tarpons, Peninsula Grays, Cedar Rapids Red Raiders | — | — |
1963[14] | San Diego Padres | Macon Peaches | Tampa Tarpons, Rocky Mount Leafs, Cedar Rapids Red Raiders | — | — |
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.[4]
Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1962 | San Diego Padres | — | Macon Peaches | Rocky Mount Leafs | — | Tampa Tarpons Geneva Redlegs |
1961 | Jersey City Jerseys Indianapolis Indians |
— | Columbia Reds | Topeka Reds | — | Tampa Tarpons Geneva Redlegs |
1960 | Havana Sugar Kings/Jersey City Jerseys Seattle Rainiers |
Nashville Volunteers | Columbia Reds | Topeka Reds | Missoula Timberjacks | Palatka Redlegs Geneva Redlegs |
1959 | Havana Sugar Kings Seattle Rainiers |
Nashville Volunteers | Savannah Reds | Topeka Hawks | Visalia Redlegs | Palatka Redlegs Geneva Redlegs |
1958 | Havana Sugar Kings Seattle Rainiers |
Nashville Volunteers | Savannah Redlegs Albuquerque Dukes |
Wenatchee Chiefs | Visalia Redlegs | Palatka Redlegs Geneva Redlegs Graceville Oilers |
1957[15] | Havana Sugar Kings Seattle Rainiers (Open) |
Nashville Volunteers | Savannah Redlegs | Wenatchee Chiefs Port Arthur/Temple Redlegs Clovis Redlegs |
Visalia Redlegs Wausau Lumberjacks |
Palatka Redlegs Bradford Beagles/Hornell Redlegs Graceville Oilers |
1956 | Havana Sugar Kings Seattle Rainiers (Open) |
Nashville Volunteers | Savannah Redlegs | High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Clovis Pioneers |
Wausau Lumberjacks Yuma Sun Sox |
West Palm Beach Sun Chiefs Douglas Reds Moultrie Reds |
1955 | Havana Sugar Kings | Nashville Volunteers | Columbia Reds | High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Sunbury Redlegs |
Ogden Reds Duluth Dukes |
Douglas Trojans Moultrie Reds Fort Walton Beach Jets |
1954 | — | Tulsa Oilers | Columbia Reds | High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms Colonial Heights-Petersburg Colts |
Ogden Reds Duluth Dukes Maryville-Alcoa/Morristown Twins |
Douglas Trojans Fitzgerald Redlegs Fort Walton Beach Jets |
1953 | — | Tulsa Oilers | Columbia Reds | Burlington Flints | Ogden Reds | Lawton Reds Fitzgerald Redlegs Jackon Generals |
1952 | — | Tulsa Oilers | Columbia Reds | Burlington Flints Salisbury Reds |
Ogden Reds | Lawton Reds Dublin Green Sox Mattoon Indians |
1951 | — | Tulsa Oilers | Columbia Reds Charleston Senators |
— | Ogden Reds | Welch Miners |
1950 | Syracuse Chiefs | Tulsa Oilers | Columbia Reds Charleston Senators |
Decatur Commodores | Ogden Reds | Muncie Reds Lockport Locks Wilmington Pirates |
1949 | Syracuse Chiefs | Tulsa Oilers | Columbia Reds Charleston Senators |
Sunbury Reds | Ogden Reds Rockford Rox Tyler Trojans |
Muncie Reds Lockport Locks |
1948[16] | Syracuse Chiefs | Tulsa Oilers | Columbia Reds | Sunbury Reds | Ogden Reds Rockford Rox Tyler Trojans |
Muncie Reds Lockport Locks Ballinger Cats |
1947 | Syracuse Chiefs | — | Columbia Reds | Providence Chiefs | Ogden Reds Rockford Rox Tyler Trojans |
Muncie Reds Lockport Locks |
1946 | Syracuse Chiefs | — | Columbia Reds | — | Ogden Reds | Middletown Rockets |
1945 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | — | — | Raleigh Capitals | Lima Reds |
1944 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | Birmingham Barons | — | — | — |
1943 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | Birmingham Barons | — | — | — |
1942 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | Birmingham Barons | Columbia Reds | Ogden Reds | Cordele Reds |
1941 | — | Indianapolis Indians | Birmingham Barons | Columbia Reds | Ogden Reds Tucson Cowboys Riverside Reds |
Cordele Reds Wichita Falls Spudders |
1940 | — | Indianapolis Indians | Birmingham Barons | Columbia Reds | Ogden Reds Tucson Cowboys |
Lenoir Reds Troy Trojans |
1939 | — | Indianapolis Indians | Albany Senators | Columbia Reds Durham Bulls Waterloo Red Hawks |
Ogden Reds El Dorado Lions Muskogee Reds Erie Sailors Helena Seaporters |
Bassett Furnituremakers Grand Forks Chiefs |
1938 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | Albany Senators | Columbia Reds Durham Bulls Waterloo Red Hawks |
El Dorado Lions Muskogee Reds |
Union City Greyhounds Rogers Reds |
1937 | — | Syracuse Chiefs | Nashville Volunteers | Durham Bulls Peoria Reds |
El Dorado Lions Muskogee Reds |
DeLand Reds Cordele Reds Fremont Reds |
1936 | — | Toronto Maple Leafs | Nashville Volunteers | Durham Bulls Macon Peaches |
El Dorado Lions | DeLand Reds Cordele Reds Fremont Reds Paducah Indians Lincoln Red Links |
1935 | — | Toronto Maple Leafs | — | Wilmington Pirates | Bartlesville Reds | Monessen Reds Lake Charles Skippers |
1934 | — | Toronto Maple Leafs | Topeka Senators | Wilmington Pirates | Bartlesville Reds Beckley Black Knights |
Jeannette Reds |
1933 | — | — | Topeka Senators | Rock Island Islanders | — | — |
1932 | — | — | — | — | — | Cedar Rapids Bunnies |
References
- "Reds Affiliates". Cincinnati Reds. Major League Baseball. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- "Cincinnati Reds Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- Sheldon, Mark (December 9, 2020). "Louisville, Dayton among affiliate invites". 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.
- "Bats, Reds Extend PDC Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. November 8, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- "Lookouts, Reds Announce Affiliation Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. September 25, 2018. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- "Tortugas, Reds Extend Affiliation Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- "Mustangs, Reds Extend Affiliation Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. July 11, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- Rosecrans, C. Trent "Reds moving High-A team to Daytona" The Cincinnati Enquirer, Monday, September 22, 2014
- 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.