Changes Ahead for the Texas Rangers Farm System in 2025
The Texas Rangers farm system is set for a couple of changes in 2025, marking a departure from its familiar structure over the past few years.
Currently, the full-season affiliates are:
- Round Rock Express (AAA) – Pacific Coast League
- Frisco RoughRiders (AA) – Texas League
- Hickory Crawdads (A+) – South Atlantic League
- Down East Wood Ducks (A) – Carolina League
Next season, the Texas Rangers’ full-season minor league affiliates will be:
- Round Rock Express (AAA) – Pacific Coast League
- Frisco RoughRiders (AA) – Texas League
- Hub City Spartanburgers (A+) – South Atlantic League
- Hickory Crawdads (A) – Carolina League
The most notable change is the replacement of the Down East Wood Ducks with the Hub City Spartanburgers. The Spartanburgers will become the High-A affiliate, while the Hickory Crawdads will shift to the Low-A affiliate.
The Down East Wood Ducks have been affiliated with the Rangers since 2017. However, after Diamond Baseball Holdings purchased the team in May 2023, they announced a move to a newly constructed ballpark in Spartanburg, prompting this realignment.
Diamond Baseball Holdings now reportedly owns 35 baseball teams.
The Spartanburgers have a rich history, originally serving as a collegiate summer baseball team in the Coastal Plain League. They played as the Gastonia Grizzlies from 2002 to 2020, rebranding to the Spartanburgers in 2021 before suspending operations in 2022.
Stay tuned to The Prospect Times for all the latest updates on the Texas Rangers’ farm system. Keep swinging for the fences!