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Triple-A (baseball)

Triple-A (baseball)

Triple-A or Class AAA is the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Mexico. Before 2008, Triple-A leagues also fielded teams in Canada.[1] A total of 30 teams play in the Triple-A International League (IL) and Pacific Coast League (PCL), with 14 teams in the IL and 16 in the PCL. The MLB-independent Mexican League fields 16 teams. Triple-A teams are typically located in large metropolitan areas that do not have Major League Baseball teams, such as San Antonio; Austin; Columbus; and Indianapolis.

Interleague play between the International League and Pacific Coast League occurs twice each season. In July, each league's All-Star team competes in the Triple-A All-Star Game. In September each league's regular season champions play each other in the Triple-A National Championship Game to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball.

The Triple-A classification was created before the 1946 season. Prior to then, the top level of the minors had been designated as Double-A since 1912. The modern Double-A classification also dates to 1946, when the former Class A1 level was renamed.

Purpose

Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues. ESPN wrote in 2010:[2]

Winning is nice, but secondary. It's much more important for a young prospect like outfielder Xavier Paul to get regular at-bats against lefties, or work on dropping down sacrifice bunts with a runner on first, than it is to take three of four from the Portland Beavers.[2]

Both young players and veterans play for Triple-A teams:

There are the young prospects speeding through the organization on the fastest treadmill, the guys who used to be young prospects who are in danger of topping out in Triple-A, the 30-somethings trying to get back to the majors after an injury or a rough patch, and the guys just playing a few more seasons because someone still wants them and they still want to.[2]

Players on the 40-man roster of a major league team are eligible for promotion to the major league club once the major league roster expands on September 1 (though teams will usually wait until their affiliates' playoff runs are over, should they qualify). For teams in contention for the postseason, these players create the flexibility needed to rest regular starters in late regular-season games. For those not in contention, using such players lets the teams evaluate them under game conditions.

Leagues

Teams at this level are divided into three leagues: the International League, the Pacific Coast League, and the MLB-independent Mexican League. The Mexican League fields teams throughout Mexico. The International League traditionally fielded teams in the Northeastern United States, and now fields teams in the Midwest and South as well. The Pacific Coast League originally fielded teams on the West Coast, but now fields teams throughout the western part of the United States, as far east as Nashville, Tennessee. For much of the 20th century, the American Association, which consisted of teams in the Midwestern United States, was also at this level, but it disbanded in 1997 and its teams were divided among the IL and PCL. Each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams has an affiliation with one Triple-A team in the United States. However, Mexican Triple-A teams are not included in the organized farm team system.

Current teams

International League

DivisionTeamFounded[a]MLB AffiliationAffiliatedCityStadiumCapacity[b]
NorthBuffalo Bisons1985Toronto Blue Jays2013Buffalo, New YorkSahlen Field16,600
Lehigh Valley IronPigs2008Philadelphia Phillies2007Allentown, PennsylvaniaCoca-Cola Park10,100
Pawtucket Red Sox1973Boston Red Sox1970Pawtucket, Rhode IslandMcCoy Stadium10,031
Rochester Red Wings1899Minnesota Twins2003Rochester, New YorkFrontier Field10,840
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders1989New York Yankees2007Moosic, PennsylvaniaPNC Field10,000
Syracuse Mets1961New York Mets2019Syracuse, New YorkNBT Bank Stadium11,731
SouthCharlotte Knights1993Chicago White Sox1999Charlotte, North CarolinaBB&T Ballpark10,200
Durham Bulls1998Tampa Bay Rays1998Durham, North CarolinaDurham Bulls Athletic Park10,000
Gwinnett Stripers2009Atlanta Braves1965Lawrenceville, GeorgiaCoolray Field10,427
Norfolk Tides1969Baltimore Orioles2007Norfolk, VirginiaHarbor Park11,856
WestColumbus Clippers1977Cleveland Indians2009Columbus, OhioHuntington Park10,100
Indianapolis Indians1902Pittsburgh Pirates2005Indianapolis, IndianaVictory Field14,230
Louisville Bats1982Cincinnati Reds2000Louisville, KentuckyLouisville Slugger Field13,131
Toledo Mud Hens1965Detroit Tigers1987Toledo, OhioFifth Third Field10,300
  • a Indicates current IL franchise's first year in current city. Some franchises have prior history in other cities, or had local predecessor franchises at other levels that shared their current name.

  • b Many stadiums have lawn seating; thus, capacity is approximate.

Pacific Coast League

ConferenceDivisionTeamFoundedMLB AffiliationAffiliatedCityStadiumCapacity
AmericanNorthernIowa Cubs1969Chicago Cubs1981Des Moines, IowaPrincipal Park11,500
Memphis Redbirds1998St. Louis Cardinals1998Memphis, TennesseeAutoZone Park10,000
Nashville Sounds1978Texas Rangers2019Nashville, TennesseeFirst Tennessee Park10,000
Omaha Storm Chasers1969Kansas City Royals1969Papillion, NebraskaWerner Park9,023
SouthernNew Orleans Baby Cakes1993Miami Marlins2009Metairie, LouisianaShrine on Airline10,000
Oklahoma City Dodgers1962Los Angeles Dodgers2015Oklahoma City, OklahomaChickasaw Bricktown Ballpark9,000
Round Rock Express2000Houston Astros2019Round Rock, TexasDell Diamond11,631
San Antonio Missions1888Milwaukee Brewers2019San Antonio, TexasNelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium9,200
PacificNorthernFresno Grizzlies1998Washington Nationals2019Fresno, CaliforniaChukchansi Park10,500
Reno Aces2009Arizona Diamondbacks2009Reno, NevadaGreater Nevada Field9,013
Sacramento River Cats2000San Francisco Giants2015West Sacramento, CaliforniaRaley Field14,014
Tacoma Rainiers1960Seattle Mariners1995Tacoma, WashingtonCheney Stadium6,500
SouthernAlbuquerque Isotopes2003Colorado Rockies2015Albuquerque, New MexicoIsotopes Park13,500
El Paso Chihuahuas2014San Diego Padres2014El Paso, TexasSouthwest University Park9,500
Las Vegas Aviators1983Oakland Athletics2019Summerlin, NevadaLas Vegas Ballpark10,000
Salt Lake Bees1994Los Angeles Angels2001Salt Lake City, UtahSmith's Ballpark14,511

Mexican League

DivisionTeamCityStadiumCapacityFounded
NorthAcereros de MonclovaMonclova, CoahuilaMonclova8,5001974
Algodoneros de Unión LagunaTorreón, CoahuilaRevolución9,5001940
Generales de DurangoDurango, DurangoFrancisco Villa4,9832016
Rieleros de AguascalientesAguascalientes City, AguascalientesAlberto Romo Chávez6,4941975
Saraperos de SaltilloSaltillo, CoahuilaFrancisco I. Madero16,0001970
Sultanes de MonterreyMonterrey, Nuevo LeónMobil Super22,0611939
Tecolotes de los Dos LaredosNuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas
Laredo, Texas
Parque la Junta
Uni-Trade
6,000
6,000
1940
Toros de TijuanaTijuana, Baja CaliforniaChevron17,0002004
SouthBravos de LeónLeón, GuanajuatoDomingo Santana6,5001978
Diablos Rojos del MéxicoIztacalco, Mexico CityAlfredo Harp Helú20,5761940
Guerreros de OaxacaOaxaca City, OaxacaEduardo Vasconselos7,2001996
Leones de YucatánMérida, YucatánKukulcán Alamo14,9171954
Olmecas de TabascoVillahermosa, TabascoCentenario 27 de Febrero8,5001975
Pericos de PueblaPuebla City, PueblaHermanos Serdán12,1121938
Piratas de CampecheCampeche City, CampecheNelson Barrera6,0001980
Tigres de Quintana RooCancún, Quintana RooBeto Ávila9,5001955

Triple-A All-Star Game

2015 PCL All-Stars meeting on the pitcher's mound

2015 PCL All-Stars meeting on the pitcher's mound

The Triple-A All-Star Game is a single game held between the two affiliated Triple-A leagues—the International League and the Pacific Coast League. Each league fields a team composed of the top players in their respective leagues as voted on by fans, the media, and each club's field manager and general manager.[3] The event has taken place every year since 1988 when the first Triple-A All-Star Game was played in Buffalo, New York. Prior to 1998, a team of American League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars faced off against a team of National League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars.

Traditionally, the game has taken place on the day after the mid-summer Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[4] The game is meant to mark a symbolic halfway-point in the season (though not the mathematical halfway-point which, for most seasons, is usually one month prior). Both Triple-A leagues share a common All-Star break, with no regular-season games scheduled for two days before the All-Star Game itself. Some additional events, such as the All-Star Fan Fest and Triple-A Home Run Derby, take place each year during this break in the regular season.[5]

Triple-A Championship

Since 2006, the annual Triple-A National Championship Game has been held to serve as a single championship game between the champions of the International League and Pacific Coast League to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball. It was originally held annually at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City, and known as the Bricktown Showdown.[6] Since 2011, the game has been held in a different Triple-A city each year.[7]

Previous postseason interleague championships include the Junior World Series (1932–34, 1936–62, 1970–71, 1973–74), Triple-A World Series (1983, 1998–2000), and Triple-A Classic (1988–91).

Pace-of-play initiatives

As a part of professional baseball's pace of play initiatives implemented in 2015, 20-second pitch clocks entered use at Triple-A stadiums in 2015.[8] In 2018, the time was shortened to 15 seconds when no runners are on base. Other significant changes implemented in 2018 included beginning extra innings with a runner on second base and limiting teams to six mound visits during a nine-inning game.[9] Beginning in 2019, the number of mound visits is reduced to five, and pitchers are required to face a minimum of three consecutive batters until the side is retired or the pitcher becomes injured and is unable to continue playing.[10]

References

[1]
Citation Linkwww.canada.com"Lynx are outta here: Team sold, will move to U.S." www.canada.com. Ottawa Citizen. April 13, 2016. Archived from the original on November 19, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[2]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgShelburne, Ramona (September 1, 2010). "John Lindsey waits for his chance". ESPN. Archived from the original on September 6, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[3]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgWild, Danny (May 30, 2014). "Voting begins for Triple-A All-Star Game". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[4]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"Omaha Storm Chasers and Werner Park to Host 2015 Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game". Omaha Storm Chasers. Minor League Baseball. March 5, 2014. Archived from the original on March 15, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[5]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"Durham Lands 2014 Triple-A ASG". Minor League Baseball. February 20, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2014.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[6]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"Bricktown Showdown To Determine Triple-A Baseball Champion" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. July 12, 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[7]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgHill, Benjamin (February 8, 2011). "Isotopes to Host Triple-A Championship". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[8]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgJackson, Josh (January 15, 2015). "Triple-A, Double-A to Implement Pitch Clock". MILB.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[9]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"MiLB announces pace-of-play rules for 2018". MILB.com. March 14, 2018. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[10]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"MiLB announces pace-of-play rules for 2019". MILB.com. March 29, 2019. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[11]
Citation Linkwww.tripleabaseball.comTriple-A Baseball official website
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[12]
Citation Linkwww.ilbaseball.comInternational League official website
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[13]
Citation Linkwww.pclbaseball.comPacific Coast League official website
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[14]
Citation Linkwww.milb.comMexican League official website
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[15]
Citation Linkweb.archive.org"Lynx are outta here: Team sold, will move to U.S."
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[16]
Citation Linkwww.canada.comthe original
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[17]
Citation Linksports.espn.go.com"John Lindsey waits for his chance"
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[18]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgArchived
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.milb.com"Voting begins for Triple-A All-Star Game"
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM
[20]
Citation Linkweb.archive.orgArchived
Sep 21, 2019, 8:47 PM