List of Houston Astros minor league affiliates

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Current Houston Astros domestic minor league affiliate locations

The Houston Astros farm system consists of seven Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Six teams are owned by the major league club, while the Asheville Tourists are independently owned.

The Astros have been affiliated with the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double-A Central since 2005, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Astros.[1] Their newest affiliate is the Sugar Land Skeeters/Space Cowboys of the Triple-A West, which became the Astros' Triple-A club in 2021.[1] The longest affiliation in team history was the 21-year relationship with the Double-A Southern League's Columbus Astros/Mudcats from 1970 to 1990.[1]

Geographically, Houston's closest domestic affiliate is the Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Triple-A West, which are approximately 20 miles (32 km) away. Houston's furthest domestic affiliate is the Low-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers of the Low-A East some 1,165 miles (1,875 km) away.

2021–present[]

The current structure of Minor League Baseball is the result of an overall contraction of the system beginning with the 2021 season. Class A was reduced to two levels: High-A and Low-A.

Year Triple-A Double-A High-A Low-A Rookie League Foreign Rookie
2021 Sugar Land Skeeters[2] Corpus Christi Hooks Asheville Tourists[3] Fayetteville Woodpeckers[4] GCL Astros Blue
GCL Astros Orange 		DSL Astros

1990–2020[]

Minor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. The Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.

Year Triple-A Double-A Class A-Advanced Class A Class A Short Season Rookie League Foreign Rookie
2020 Round Rock Express[5] Corpus Christi Hooks[6] Fayetteville Woodpeckers[6] Quad Cities River Bandits[7] Tri-City ValleyCats[8] GCL Astros DSL Astros
2019 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Fayetteville Woodpeckers Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats GCL Astros DSL Astros
2018 Fresno Grizzlies[9] Corpus Christi Hooks Buies Creek Astros Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats GCL Astros DSL Astros
2017 Fresno Grizzlies Corpus Christi Hooks Buies Creek Astros Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros Orange
DSL Astros Blue
2016 Fresno Grizzlies Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros Orange
DSL Astros Blue
2015 Fresno Grizzlies Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros Orange
DSL Astros Blue
2014 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros Orange
DSL Astros Blue
2013 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros
2012 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros
2011 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros
2010 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros
2009 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros 		DSL Astros
2008 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
2007 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Astros
2006 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Astros
2005 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Astros
2004 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
Venoco 1
2003 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Martinsville Astros DSL Astros
Venoco
2002 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express — Lexington Legends
Michigan Battle Cats 		Tri-City ValleyCats Martinsville Astros DSL Astros
Venoco
2001 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express — Lexington Legends
Michigan Battle Cats 		Pittsfield Astros Martinsville Astros DSL Astros
2000 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Kissimmee Cobras Michigan Battle Cats Auburn Doubledays Martinsville Astros DSL Astros
1999 New Orleans Zephyrs Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Michigan Battle Cats Auburn Doubledays Martinsville Astros DSL Astros
1998 New Orleans Zephyrs Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Doubledays GCL Astros DSL Astros
1997 New Orleans Zephyrs Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Doubledays GCL Astros DSL Astros
1996 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Doubledays GCL Astros —
1995 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Astros GCL Astros —
1994 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Astros GCL Astros —
1993 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists
Quad Cities River Bandits 		Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros
1992 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros
1991 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros
1990 Tucson Toros Columbus Mudcats Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros —

1963–1989[]

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.[10]

Year Triple-A Double-A Class A Class A Short Season Rookie League
1989 Tucson Toros Columbus Mudcats Osceola Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1988 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Osceola Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1987 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Osceola Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1986 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Osceola Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1985 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Osceola Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1984 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1983 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1982 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros, Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros
1981 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros — GCL Astros Orange, GCL Astros Blue
1980 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros — GCL Astros Orange, GCL Astros Blue
1979[11] Charleston Charlies Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros — GCL Astros
1978 Charleston Charlies Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros — GCL Astros
1977 Charleston Charlies Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros — GCL Astros
1976 Memphis Blues Columbus Astros Dubuque Packers — Covington Astros
1975 Iowa Oaks Columbus Astros Dubuque Packers — Covington Astros
1974[12] Denver Bears Columbus Astros Cedar Rapids Astros — Covington Astros
1973 Denver Bears Columbus Astros Cedar Rapids Astros — Covington Astros
1972 Oklahoma City 89ers Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros — Covington Astros
1971 Oklahoma City 89ers Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros, Sumter Astros — Covington Astros
1970 Oklahoma City 89ers Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros Williamsport Astros Covington Astros
1969 Oklahoma City 89ers — Cocoa Astros, Peninsula Astros Williamsport Astros Covington Astros
1968 Oklahoma City 89ers Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs Cocoa Astros, Greensboro Patriots — Covington Astros
1967 Oklahoma City 89ers Amarillo Sonics Cocoa Astros, Asheville Tourists — Covington Astros
1966 Oklahoma City 89ers Amarillo Sonics Cocoa Astros, Durham Bulls, Salisbury Astros Bismarck-Mandan Pards —
1965[13] Oklahoma City 89ers Amarillo Sonics Cocoa Astros, Durham Bulls, Salisbury Astros — —
1964 Oklahoma City 89ers San Antonio Bullets Durham Bulls, Modesto Colts — —
1963[14] Oklahoma City 89ers San Antonio Bullets Durham Bulls, Modesto Colts, Moultrie Colt .22s — —

1962[]

The minors operated with six classes (Triple-A, Double-A, and Classes A, B, C, and D) from 1946 to 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from Triple-A to Open in 1952 due to the possibility of becoming a third major league. This arrangement ended following the 1957 season when the relocation of the National League's Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast killed any chance of the PCL being promoted. The 1963 reorganization resulted in the Eastern and South Atlantic Leagues being elevated from Class A to Double-A, five of seven Class D circuits plus the ones in B and C upgraded to A, and the Appalachian League reclassified from D to Rookie.[10]

Year Triple-A Double-A Class A Class B Class C Class D
1962 Oklahoma City 89ers — — Durham Bulls Modesto Colts Moultrie Colt .22s

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  2. ^ "Sugar Land becomes Astros affiliate". MLB.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  3. ^ "Astros add Asheville as MiLB affiliate". MLB.com. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  4. ^ Holland, Monica. "Woodpeckers make MiLB cut but drop to Low A". The Fayetteville Observer. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  5. ^ "Express Unveil New Astros Affiliation, Logos/Branding". Ballpark Digest. September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  7. ^ "Bandits and Astros Renew Player Development Contract". Minor League Baseball. September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  8. ^ "ValleyCats, Astros Extend Affiliation Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. August 31, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  9. ^ "Fresno, Astros Extend Player Development Contract". Ballpark Digest. August 13, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  10. ^ a b 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.
  11. ^ Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1979.
  12. ^ Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1974.
  13. ^ Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1965.
  14. ^ Official Baseball Record Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1963.

External links[]

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