List of Texas Rangers minor league affiliates
The Texas Rangers farm system consists of four Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States. Two teams are owned by the major league club, while the Round Rock Express and Frisco RoughRiders are independently owned. Additionally, the Rangers operate complex based rookie level squads playing in the Arizona League and the Dominican Summer League.
The Rangers have been affiliated with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders of the Texas League since 2003, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Rangers.[1] Their newest affiliate is the Round Rock Express of the Pacific Coast League, which became the Rangers' Triple-A club in 2021.[1] The longest affiliation in team history was the 28-year relationship with the Triple-A American Association/Pacific Coast League's Oklahoma City 89ers/RedHawks from 1983 to 2010.[1]
Geographically, Texas' closest domestic affiliate is the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League, which is approximately 28 miles (45 km) away. Texas' furthest domestic affiliate is the Down East Wood Ducks of the Low Single-A Carolina League some 1,129 miles (1,817 km) away.
Key
| * | League champions[2] |
|---|
Texas Rangers
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 | Round Rock Express[3] | Frisco RoughRiders[3] | Down East Wood Ducks[3] | Hickory Crawdads[3] | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
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.[4]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Nashville Sounds[5] | Frisco RoughRiders[6] | Down East Wood Ducks[7] | Hickory Crawdads[7] | Spokane Indians[8] | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2019 | Nashville Sounds | Frisco RoughRiders | Down East Wood Ducks | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers* | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2018 | Round Rock Express[9] | Frisco RoughRiders | Down East Wood Ducks | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2017 | Round Rock Express | Frisco RoughRiders | Down East Wood Ducks* | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2016 | Round Rock Express | Frisco RoughRiders | High Desert Mavericks* | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2015 | Round Rock Express | Frisco RoughRiders | High Desert Mavericks | Hickory Crawdads* | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2014 | Round Rock Express | Frisco RoughRiders | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1* DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2013 | Round Rock Express | Frisco RoughRiders | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers* |
| 2012 | Round Rock Express | Frisco RoughRiders | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers* | DSL Rangers |
| 2011 | Round Rock Express | Frisco RoughRiders | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 2010 | Oklahoma City RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders | Bakersfield Blaze | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 2009 | Oklahoma City RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders | Bakersfield Blaze | Hickory Crawdads | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2008 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders | Bakersfield Blaze | Clinton LumberKings | Spokane Indians* | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 2007 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders | Bakersfield Blaze | Clinton LumberKings | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 2006 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders | Bakersfield Blaze | Clinton LumberKings | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 2005 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders | Bakersfield Blaze | Clinton LumberKings | Spokane Indians* | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 2004 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders* | Stockton Ports | Clinton LumberKings | Spokane Indians | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 2003 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Frisco RoughRiders | Stockton Ports | Clinton LumberKings | Spokane Indians* | AZL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 2002 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers* | Savannah Sand Gnats | — | Pulaski Rangers GCL Rangers |
DSL Rangers |
| 2001 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Savannah Sand Gnats | — | Pulaski Rangers GCL Rangers |
DSL Rangers |
| 2000 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Savannah Sand Gnats | — | Pulaski Rangers GCL Rangers* |
DSL Rangers |
| 1999 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Savannah Sand Gnats | — | Pulaski Rangers GCL Rangers |
DSL Rangers |
| 1998 | Oklahoma RedHawks | Tulsa Drillers* | Port Charlotte Rangers | Savannah Sand Gnats | — | Pulaski Rangers GCL Rangers* |
DSL Rangers |
| 1997 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | — | — | Pulaski Rangers GCL Rangers |
DSL Rangers 1 DSL Rangers 2 |
| 1996 | Oklahoma City 89ers* | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Charleston RiverDogs | — | GCL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 1995 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Charleston RiverDogs | Hudson Valley Renegades | GCL Rangers | DSL Rangers |
| 1994 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Charleston RiverDogs | Hudson Valley Renegades | GCL Rangers | DSL Rangers/Braves |
| 1993 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Charleston Rainbows | Erie Sailors | GCL Rangers* | DSL Rangers/Cubs |
| 1992 | Oklahoma City 89ers* | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Gastonia Rangers | — | Butte Copper Kings GCL Rangers |
DSL Rangers/Marlins |
| 1991 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Gastonia Rangers | — | Butte Copper Kings GCL Rangers |
DSL Rangers |
| 1990 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers | Gastonia Rangers | — | Butte Copper Kings GCL Rangers |
DSL Rangers |
1972–1989
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 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers* Gastonia Rangers |
— | Butte Copper Kings GCL Rangers |
| 1988 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers* | Port Charlotte Rangers Gastonia Rangers |
— | Butte Copper Kings GCL Rangers |
| 1987 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Port Charlotte Rangers Gastonia Rangers |
— | GCL Rangers |
| 1986 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Salem Redbirds Daytona Beach Admirals |
— | GCL Rangers |
| 1985 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Salem Redbirds Burlington Rangers |
— | GCL Rangers |
| 1984 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Salem Redbirds Burlington Rangers |
Tri-Cities Triplets | GCL Rangers |
| 1983 | Oklahoma City 89ers | Tulsa Drillers | Burlington Rangers | Tri-Cities Triplets | GCL Rangers |
| 1982 | Denver Bears | Tulsa Drillers* | Burlington Rangers | — | GCL Rangers |
| 1981 | Wichita Aeros | Tulsa Drillers | Asheville Tourists | — | GCL Rangers |
| 1980 | Charleston Charlies | Tulsa Drillers | Asheville Tourists | — | GCL Rangers |
| 1979 | Tucson Toros | Tulsa Drillers | Asheville Tourists | — | GCL Rangers |
| 1978 | Tucson Toros | Tulsa Drillers | Asheville Tourists | — | GCL Rangers* |
| 1977 | Tucson Toros | Tulsa Drillers | Asheville Tourists | — | GCL Rangers |
| 1976 | Sacramento Solons | San Antonio Brewers | Asheville Tourists | — | GCL Rangers* |
| 1975 | Spokane Indians | Pittsfield Rangers | Lynchburg Rangers Anderson Rangers |
— | GCL Rangers* |
| 1974 | Spokane Indians* | Pittsfield Rangers | Gastonia Rangers* | — | GCL Rangers |
| 1973 | Spokane Indians* | Pittsfield Rangers | Gastonia Rangers | — | GCL Rangers* |
| 1972 | Denver Bears | Pittsfield Rangers | Burlington Rangers Greenville Rangers |
Geneva Senators | — |
Washington Senators
1963–1971
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Denver Bears* | Pittsfield Senators | Burlington Senators Anderson Senators |
Geneva Senators | — |
| 1970 | Denver Bears | Pittsfield Senators | Burlington Senators Anderson Senators |
Geneva Senators | — |
| 1969 | Buffalo Bisons | — | Burlington Senators Shelby Senators |
— | Wytheville Senators |
| 1968 | Buffalo Bisons | Savannah Senators | Burlington Senators Salisbury Senators |
Geneva Senators | — |
| 1967 | Hawaii Islanders | York White Roses | Burlington Senators | Geneva Senators | — |
| 1966 | Hawaii Islanders | York White Roses | Burlington Senators Geneva Senators |
— | — |
| 1965 | Hawaii Islanders | York White Roses | Burlington Senators Geneva Senators |
— | Wytheville Senators |
| 1964 | Toronto Maple Leafs | York White Roses | Rocky Mount Senators Geneva Senators |
— | — |
| 1963 | — | York White Roses | Peninsula Senators Wisconsin Rapids Senators Geneva Senators |
— | — |
1961–1962
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 | Syracuse Chiefs | — | — | Raleigh Capitals | — | Middlesboro Senators Pensacola Senators |
| 1961 | — | — | — | — | — | Middlesboro Senators Pensacola Senators |
References
- "Texas Rangers Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- "2019 Texas Rangers Media Guide" (PDF). Texas Rangers. Major League Baseball. 2019. p. 325. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- Morris, Adam J. (November 9, 2020). "Rangers Return to Round Rock, Hickory, Down East Flip for 2021". Lone Star Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved November 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.
- "Sounds, Rangers Announce Affiliation Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- "RoughRiders, Rangers Extend PDC Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. April 5, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- "Spokane Indians, Rangers Renew Affiliation". Ballpark Digest. October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
- Reichard, Kevin (August 13, 2012). "Rangers, Express extend PDC through 2018". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 11, 2018.