The former Yakima Bears team that have relocated to Hillsboro, OR will be known as the Hillsboro Hops. I’m not aware of any past teams known as the Hops, but the Hopkinsville Hoppers of the Kitty League come closest.
So is anyone else anticipating a rabbit mascot for this team?
The Fort Myers Miracle have extended their player development contract with the Twins to 2014. The Twins have been in Fort Myers since 1993.
The San Bernardino Inland Empire 66ers have extended their player development contract with the Angels to 2014. I expect that the Angels will probably remain here for a while.
The Batavia Muckdogs have signed a player development contract with the Marlins to 2014. This is the final official announcement about a PDC change. The Marlins were previously with Jamestown and this was the only team left available as the Cardinals went to State College and the Pirates went to Jamestown.
The Tucson Padres have extended their player development contract with the Padres to 2014. The team was owned by the Padres, but is being sold and moved to El Paso for the 2014 season.
The new Northwest League team in Hillsboro, OR have extended their player development contract with the Diamondbacks to 2014. This will be the only relocation for the 2013 season, at least as of now. The Yakima Bears couldn’t work out new stadium plans, so the team is being moved.
The team’s website mentions the PDC extension, but I couldn’t find a press release. At this point, the affiliations for the next two seasons are set. So even though I never found any information on Akron, Inland Empire, Fort Myers, Hagerstown or Aberdeen, I’m showing them as signed through 2014.
The Burlington Bees have signed a player development contract with the Angels to 2014 and the Beloit Snappers have signed a player development contract with the A’s to 2014. There were only two teams left and it works out that the A’s didn’t stay with the same affiliate as they previously had. I know that’s probably a little early to think about this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was more movement in the Midwest League two years from now.
So really the only announcement that I’m waiting on is Batavia, who will likely become a Marlins affiliate, but that’s not a lock just yet. Since State College is now the Cardinals NY-Penn League affiliate, Batavia has to align with a new team.
For Low A, currently there are 1 of 30 PDCs that expire at the end of 2012.
The Quad Cities River Bandits have signed a player development contract with the Astros to 2014. Quad Cities was previously an Astros affiliate from 1993-1998.
The only question left is to determine where the Angels and A’s decide to go between Beloit and Burlington.
For Low A, currently there are 3 of 30 PDCs that expire at the end of 2012.
The Dayton Dragons have extended their player development contract with the Reds to 2016. Since Dayton is within the Cincinnati market, and the Reds need to waive the territorial rights, the team will be with the Reds indefinitely. The Dayton Dragons have sold out every game in their existence, which started with the 2000 season.
For Low A, currently there are 4 of 30 PDCs that expire at the end of 2012.
The Lexington Legends have signed a player development contract with the Royals to 2016. I would think that the Royals would prefer to be in the Midwest League, but I guess there really aren’t any teams all that close. The Astros had been in Lexington since their inaugural season in 2001.
For Low A, currently there are 5 of 30 PDCs that expire at the end of 2012.
minorleaguesource.com blog