The Colorado Rockies have announced new minor league affiliates for 2021 and beyond. This move comes as part of a larger effort to streamline and reorganize the MiLB. Colorado extended four invitations to new affiliates. The next step will be finalizing contractual relationships and schedules for 2021. The Rockies released the announcement on the four late Thursday evening.
We have officially extended affiliate invitations to four Minor League clubs as part of MLB’s new player development structure: @ABQTopes, @GoYardGoats, @spokaneindians and @FresnoGrizzlies pic.twitter.com/2hnmBhMyXc
— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) December 11, 2020
Rockies Announced Minor League Affiliates
The most important things are the lack of change at the Triple-A and Double-A levels. Those teams will remain in Albuquerque and Hartford, respectively. Albuquerque staying the same is particularly important. It keeps the highest prospects close to the parent franchise, which is one of the big goals of realignment in the first place. It also maintains a high-elevation environment just below Coors Field. Albuquerque gives pitchers an opportunity to experience throwing in an environment similar to Denver and make appropriate adjustments on pitches that don’t break as hard. Hitters also benefit from seeing opposing pitching adjustments. It allows them to develop an eye for how pitches move in the thinner air.
The team’s High-A affiliate moves from Lancaster, CA to Spokane, WA. The Washington club was previously connected to the Texas Rangers in the Northwest League. Some of the more notorious NWL environments were not invited, but it should still represent a challenge for prospects. Low-A sees a former Triple-A franchise, Fresno, move to Low-A. There were some tense negotiations with the city and its proud baseball team, but an agreement has been reached to keep professional baseball in Fresno for the foreseeable future.
The New Shape of the Rockies Farm
Overall, Colorado goes from having six farm teams to four. That does not include complex teams outside of the United States in the Dominican Republic or elsewhere. The low minors change a good deal, but the upper minors have been left intact. Fans will be sad to see former farm teams in Asheville, Boise and Grand Junction leave the Rockies family, however. The Asheville Tourists will remain a part of affiliated baseball, but as a farm team for the Houston Astros. It is especially disappointing to see them switch affiliations as they were Colorado’s lone relationship remaining from when the franchise began in 1994. This move certainly puts the Rockies’ farm teams closer to Denver, but having fewer in-house developmental levels could hurt in the long run.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
