List of Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates
The Milwaukee Brewers farm system consists of nine Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic.[1] Four teams are independently owned, while five—the Carolina Mudcats, two Arizona League Brewers squads, and two Dominican Summer League Brewers squads—are owned by the major league club.
The Brewers have been affiliated with the Rookie League Helena Brewers/Rocky Mountain Vibes of the Pioneer League since 2003, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Brewers.[2] Their newest affiliate is the San Antonio Missions of the Pacific Coast League which became the Brewers' Triple-A club in 2019.[2] The longest continuous affiliation in team history was the 23-year relationship with the Class A Midwest League's Beloit Brewers/Snappers from 1982 to 2004.[2]
Geographically, Milwaukee's closest domestic affiliate is the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of the Class A Midwest League which is approximately 90 miles (140 km) away. Milwaukee's furthest domestic affiliate is the Arizona League Brewers of the Rookie Arizona League some 1,462 miles (2,353 km) away.
1990–present
The current structure of Minor League Baseball has been in effect since the 1990 season when the Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consists of domestic and foreign circuits.[3]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League | Foreign Rookie |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | San Antonio Missions[4] | Biloxi Shuckers[5] | Carolina Mudcats[6] | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers[7] | — | Rocky Mountain Vibes[8] AZL Brewers Blue AZL Brewers Gold |
DSL Brewers DSL Indians/Brewers |
| 2019 | San Antonio Missions | Biloxi Shuckers | Carolina Mudcats | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Rocky Mountain Vibes AZL Brewers Blue AZL Brewers Gold |
DSL Brewers DSL Indians/Brewers |
| 2018 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Biloxi Shuckers | Carolina Mudcats | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers DSL Indians/Brewers |
| 2017 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Biloxi Shuckers | Carolina Mudcats | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers DSL Indians/Brewers |
| 2016 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Biloxi Shuckers | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2015 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox | Biloxi Shuckers[9] | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2014 | Nashville Sounds[10] | Huntsville Stars[9] | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2013 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2012 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2011 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2010 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2009 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers[11] | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Orioles/Brewers |
| 2008 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | West Virginia Power[11] | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
— |
| 2007 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | West Virginia Power | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
— |
| 2006 | Nashville Sounds | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | West Virginia Power | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
— |
| 2005 | Nashville Sounds[10] | Huntsville Stars | Brevard County Manatees | West Virginia Power | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
— |
| 2004 | Indianapolis Indians | Huntsville Stars | High Desert Mavericks | Beloit Snappers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
— |
| 2003 | Indianapolis Indians | Huntsville Stars | High Desert Mavericks | Beloit Snappers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers VSL Reds/Brewers |
| 2002 | Indianapolis Indians | Huntsville Stars | High Desert Mavericks | Beloit Snappers | — | Ogden Raptors AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers VSL Red Sox/Brewers |
| 2001 | Indianapolis Indians | Huntsville Stars | High Desert Mavericks | Beloit Snappers | — | Ogden Raptors AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 2000 | Indianapolis Indians | Huntsville Stars | Mudville Nine | Beloit Snappers | — | Helena Brewers Ogden Raptors |
DSL Brewers |
| 1999 | Louisville RiverBats | Huntsville Stars | Stockton Ports | Beloit Snappers | — | Helena Brewers Ogden Raptors |
DSL Brewers |
| 1998 | Louisville Redbirds | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Snappers | — | Helena Brewers Ogden Raptors |
DSL Brewers |
| 1997 | Tucson Toros | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Snappers | — | Helena Brewers Ogden Raptors |
DSL Brewers |
| 1996 | New Orleans Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Snappers | — | Helena Brewers Ogden Raptors |
DSL Brewers/White Sox |
| 1995 | New Orleans Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Snappers[12] | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Astros/Brewers |
| 1994 | New Orleans Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Brewers[12] | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Astros/Brewers |
| 1993 | New Orleans Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Brewers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 1992 | Denver Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Brewers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 1991 | Denver Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Brewers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Brewers |
| 1990 | Denver Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Stockton Ports | Beloit Brewers | — | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
DSL Blue Jays/Brewers |
1968–1989
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.[3]
| Year | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Denver Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers DSL Red Sox/Orioles/Brewers |
| 1988 | Denver Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Helena Brewers AZL Brewers |
| 1987 | Denver Zephyrs | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Helena Brewers |
| 1986 | Vancouver Canadians | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Helena Gold Sox |
| 1985 | Vancouver Canadians | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Helena Gold Sox |
| 1984 | Vancouver Canadians | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Paintsville Brewers |
| 1983 | Vancouver Canadians | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Paintsville Brewers |
| 1982 | Vancouver Canadians | El Paso Diablos | Beloit Brewers Stockton Ports |
— | Pikeville Brewers |
| 1981 | Vancouver Canadians | El Paso Diablos | Burlington Bees Stockton Ports |
— | Butte Copper Kings |
| 1980 | Vancouver Canadians | Holyoke Millers | Burlington Bees Stockton Ports |
— | Butte Copper Kings |
| 1979 | Vancouver Canadians | Holyoke Millers | Burlington Bees Stockton Ports |
— | Butte Copper Kings |
| 1978 | Spokane Indians | Holyoke Millers | Burlington Bees | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1977 | Spokane Indians | Holyoke Millers | Burlington Bees | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1976 | Spokane Indians | Berkshire Brewers | Burlington Bees | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1975 | Sacramento Solons | Thetford Mines Miners | Burlington Bees | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1974 | Sacramento Solons | Shreveport Captains | Danville Warriors | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1973 | Evansville Triplets | Shreveport Captains | Danville Warriors | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1972 | Evansville Triplets | San Antonio Brewers | Danville Warriors | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1971 | Evansville Triplets | — | Danville Warriors | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1970 | Portland Beavers | Jacksonville Suns[a] | Clinton Pilots | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
| 1969 | Vancouver Mounties[b] | — | Clinton Pilots | Newark Co-Pilots | Billings Mustangs |
| 1968 | — | — | — | Newark Co-Pilots | — |
Notes
- a In 1970, the Brewers shared the Double-A Jacksonville Suns with the Montreal Expos.
- b In 1969, the Pilots shared the Triple-A Vancouver Mounties with the Montreal Expos.
References
- "Brewers Affiliates". Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- "Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- 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.
- "Brewers, San Antonio Missions Announce Triple-A Affiliate Agreement". MLB Trade Rumors. September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- "Brewers, Shuckers Extend Player Development Deal". Ballpark Digest. June 23, 2016. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
- "Timber Rattlers, Brewers Extend PDC Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- "Brewers, Colorado Springs Agree on Rookie Affiliation". Ballpark Digest. September 26, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
- Doyle, Steve. "Baseball on the half shell: Huntsville Stars are now the Biloxi Shuckers," The Huntsville Times, Monday, November 24, 2014.
- McCalvy, Adam. "Melvin irked over breakup with Triple-A affiliate," MLB.com, Wednesday, September 17, 2014.
- "Brewers announce Minor League affiliation with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers," Milwaukee Brewers press release, Tuesday, September 23, 2008.
- Arnold, Paul. "Beloit switches to snappy nickname," Milwaukee Sentinel, Thursday, September 22, 1994.