There have been quite a few changes made in Minor-League baseball and their affiliates. Whether we like it or not ( I don’t) the changes are happening as we speak.
I plan on this being a weekly round up as long as there is enough news. With all of the news surrounding the contraction of teams and changing of affiliates, this should be a busy off-season for this minor league round up.
Appalachian League
Brett Barnett, with Bucs dugout has an excellent write-up of the contraction of the Appalachian League.
Affiliates are changing
The Somerset Patriots, an Independent League team in New Jersey is now the Double-A affiliate for the New York Yankees. It also means that for now, any hopes of ex-Ranger Billy Layne Jr being re-signed are gone, for now.
The Rangers may reunite with the Round Rock Express
Per Evan Grant, with the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers might reunite with the Nolan Ryan owned, Round Rock Express. The proximity to home would be nice for the Rangers. Although the Nashville Sounds have a nice facility, Round Rock is definitely closer to home so I’d be more likely to catch a game or two.
In the same article, Evan mentions that Double-A Frisco is likely to remain the Double-A affiliate which makes sense since the Rangers are the closest MLB team.
Sugar Land Skeeters will be the Astros new Triple-A affiliate.
The Skeeters are another Independent baseball team that now have an affiliatiation with a major league club. It’s a win for them.
Peter Woodfork named Senior VP of Minor League operation
Baseball America has been keeping busy with all of the minor-league updates. Peter Woodfork has been named the Senior VP of Minor League Operation.
