List of Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates

The Baltimore Orioles' farm system currently consists of eight minor league affiliates. The top five, each of which have Player Development Contracts with the Orioles, are located within a 200-mile (321.87-kilometer) radius from Baltimore, with four of them situated in Maryland. The bottom three are owned and operated by the parent club, two of which are based in the Dominican Republic. Current Orioles players who have developed their trade in the team's farm system include Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Matt Wieters, Kevin Gausman and Zach Britton.

Baltimore Orioles

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 Advanced A. The Rookie level consists of domestic and foreign circuits, the latter based in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.^[1]

Year	AAA	AA	Advanced A	A	Short Season A	Rookie	Foreign Rookie
2018	Norfolk Tides[2]	Bowie Baysox[2]	Frederick Keys[2]	Delmarva Shorebirds[3]	Aberdeen IronBirds[4]
2017	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds
2016	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2
2015	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2
2014	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2
2013	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2
2012	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
2011	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
2010	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles[5] GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles 1 DSL Orioles 2
2009	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
2008	Norfolk Tides	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
2007	Norfolk Tides[6]	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles[7]	DSL Orioles
2006	Ottawa Lynx[6]	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles	DSL Orioles VSL Orioles[7]
2005	Ottawa Lynx	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles	DSL Orioles VSL Orioles
2004	Ottawa Lynx	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles	DSL Orioles Venoco 2
2003	Ottawa Lynx[8]	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds	* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles Yaritagua
2002	Rochester Red Wings[8]	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds	Aberdeen IronBirds[9]	* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles Cabudare
2001	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
2000	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
1999	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
1998	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
1997	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Delmarva Shorebirds[10]		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
1996	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys High Desert Mavericks[11]			* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles	DSL Orioles
1995	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys High Desert Mavericks[11]			* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles
1994	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox	Frederick Keys	Albany Polecats[12]		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles
1993	Rochester Red Wings	Bowie Baysox[13]	Frederick Keys	Albany Polecats[14]		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles
1992	Rochester Red Wings	Hagerstown Suns[15]	Frederick Keys	Kane County Cougars[14]		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles
1991	Rochester Red Wings	Hagerstown Suns	Frederick Keys	Kane County Cougars[16]		* Bluefield Orioles GCL Orioles
1990	Rochester Red Wings	Hagerstown Suns	Frederick Keys	Wausau Timbers[16]		* Bluefield Orioles

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 (AAA, AA, 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 Short Season A in 1966.^[1]

(+: The Orioles were involved in minor league affiliate co-op agreements twice – the Pulaski Phillies with various other MLB clubs in 1976 and the Daytona Beach Islanders with the Texas Rangers in 1985.)

Year	AAA	AA	A	Short Season A	Rookie
1989	Rochester Red Wings	Hagerstown Suns[17]	Frederick Keys[13]	Erie Orioles	* Bluefield Orioles
1988	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Knights[18]	Hagerstown Suns	Erie Orioles	* Bluefield Orioles
1987	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Hagerstown Suns	Newark Orioles	* Bluefield Orioles
1986	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Hagerstown Suns	Newark Orioles	* Bluefield Orioles
1985	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Hagerstown Suns, + Daytona Beach Islanders[19][20]	Newark Orioles	* Bluefield Orioles
1984	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Hagerstown Suns	Newark Orioles	* Bluefield Orioles
1983	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Hagerstown Suns, San Jose Bees	Newark Orioles	* Bluefield Orioles
1982	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Hagerstown Suns[15]		* Bluefield Orioles
1981	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Miami Orioles		* Bluefield Orioles
1980	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Miami Orioles		* Bluefield Orioles
1979[21]	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Miami Orioles		* Bluefield Orioles
1978	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Miami Orioles		* Bluefield Orioles
1977	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles	Miami Orioles		* Bluefield Orioles
1976	Rochester Red Wings	Charlotte Orioles[18]	Miami Orioles		* Bluefield Orioles + Pulaski Phillies
1975	Rochester Red Wings	Asheville Orioles[22]	* Miami Orioles, Lodi Orioles[23]		* Bluefield Orioles
1974[24]	Rochester Red Wings	Asheville Orioles	* Miami Orioles, Lodi Orioles[25]		* Bluefield Orioles
1973	Rochester Red Wings	Asheville Orioles	* Miami Orioles, Lodi Lions[25]		* Bluefield Orioles
1972	Rochester Red Wings	Asheville Orioles[22]	* Miami Orioles, Lodi Orions[23]	Lewiston Broncs	* Bluefield Orioles
1971	Rochester Red Wings	Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs[26]	* Miami Orioles, Stockton Ports[27]	Aberdeen Pheasants[28]	* Bluefield Orioles
1970	Rochester Red Wings	Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs	Miami Marlins, Stockton Ports	Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles
1969	Rochester Red Wings	Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs[26]	Miami Marlins, Stockton Ports	Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles
1968	Rochester Red Wings	Elmira Pioneers	Miami Marlins, Stockton Ports	Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles
1967	Rochester Red Wings	Elmira Pioneers	Miami Marlins, Stockton Ports	Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles
1966	Rochester Red Wings	Elmira Pioneers	Miami Marlins, Stockton Ports	Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles
1965[29]	Rochester Red Wings	Elmira Pioneers	Stockton Ports, Fox Cities Foxes,[30] Aberdeen Pheasants, Tri-City Atoms[31]		* Bluefield Orioles
1964	Rochester Red Wings	Elmira Pioneers	Stockton Ports, Fox Cities Foxes, Aberdeen Pheasants		* Bluefield Orioles
1963[32]	Rochester Red Wings	Elmira Pioneers	Stockton Ports, Fox Cities Foxes, Aberdeen Pheasants		* Bluefield Orioles

1954–1962

The minors operated with six classes (AAA, AA, A, B, C, D) from 1946 to 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from AAA 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 A to AA, 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. The Alabama–Florida League folded following the 1962 campaign.^[1]

Year	AAA	AA	A	B	C	D
1962	Rochester Red Wings		Elmira Pioneers		Stockton Ports Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles Fox Cities Foxes
1961	Rochester Red Wings[8]	Little Rock Travelers Victoria/Ardmore Rosebuds		Fox Cities Foxes Tri-Cities Braves[31]	Stockton Ports Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles Leesburg Orioles
1960	Vancouver Mounties[31] Miami Marlins			Fox Cities Foxes[30]	Stockton Ports Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles Leesburg Orioles
1959	Vancouver Mounties Miami Marlins	Amarillo Gold Sox			Stockton Ports[27] Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles Pensacola Dons
1958	Vancouver Mounties Louisville Colonels		Knoxville Smokies	Wilson Tobs	Aberdeen Pheasants	* Bluefield Orioles[5] Pensacola Dons Fitzgerald Orioles
1957[33]	Vancouver Mounties (Open)	* San Antonio Missions[34]	Knoxville Smokies		Aberdeen Pheasants Phoenix Stars	Paris Orioles Thomson Orioles Fitzgerald Orioles
1956	Vancouver Mounties (Open)[31]	* San Antonio Missions	Columbus Foxes	York White Roses Lubbock Hubbers/ Texas City Texans	Aberdeen Pheasants Thetford Mines Miners Phoenix Stars	Paris Orioles Thomson Orioles
1955		* San Antonio Missions	Wichita Indians	York White Roses Fayetteville Highlanders	Aberdeen Pheasants Thetford Mines Miners	Paris Orioles Cordele Orioles
1954		* San Antonio Missions[34]	Wichita Indians Lewiston Broncs	York White Roses Anderson Rebels	Aberdeen Pheasants[35] Thetford Mines Miners Pine Bluff Judges	Americus-Cordele Orioles Wytheville Statesmen Marion Marauders Ada Herefords/Cementers

St. Louis Browns

Year	AAA	AA	A	B	C	D
1953		San Antonio Missions	Wichita Indians Lewiston Broncs	York White Roses Anderson Rebels	Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Judges Thetford Mines Miners Pocatello Bannocks	Ada Herefords Wytheville Statesmen Valdosta Browns
1952	Toronto Maple Leafs	San Antonio Missions	Scranton Miners	York White Roses Anderson Rebels	Aberdeen Pheasants Stockton Ports Pine Bluff Judges Pocatello Bannocks	Ada Herefords Independence Browns Wellsville Rockets
1951	Toronto Maple Leafs	San Antonio Missions		Anderson Rebels	Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Judges	Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Redding Browns Appleton Papermakers
1950	Baltimore Orioles	San Antonio Missions	Wichita Indians	Wichita Falls Spudders	Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Judges Marshall Browns	Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Redding Browns Appleton Papermakers
1949	Baltimore Orioles	San Antonio Missions	Elmira Pioneers	Springfield Browns Wichita Falls Spudders	Aberdeen Pheasants Pine Bluff Cardinals Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Globe-Miami Browns Muskogee Reds Marshall Browns Salinas Colts/Potros de Tijuana	Mayfield Clothiers Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Redding Browns Wausau Lumberjacks Olean Oilers
1948[36]	Toledo Mud Hens	San Antonio Missions	Elmira Pioneers	Springfield Browns Wichita Falls Spudders Port Chester Clippers	Aberdeen Pheasants Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Globe-Miami Browns Muskogee Reds Hannibal Pilots Modesto Reds	Mayfield Clothiers Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Redding Browns Wausau Lumberjacks Belleville Stags Griffin Pimientos Peekskill Highlanders
1947	Toledo Mud Hens	San Antonio Missions	Elmira Pioneers	Springfield Browns	Aberdeen Pheasants Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Globe-Miami Browns Muskogee Reds Hannibal Pilots	Mayfield Clothiers Ada Herefords Pittsburg Browns Newark Moundsmen Wausau Lumberjacks Belleville Stags Baton Rouge Red Sticks
1946	Toledo Mud Hens	San Antonio Missions	Elmira Pioneers	Springfield Browns Spartanburg Peaches	Aberdeen Pheasants Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Paris Red Peppers	Mayfield Clothiers Pittsburg Browns Newark Moundsmen
1945		Toledo Mud Hens	Elmira Pioneers			Newark Moundsmen
1944		Toledo Mud Hens	Memphis Chickasaws			Newark Moundsmen
1943		Toledo Mud Hens
1942		Toledo Mud Hens	San Antonio Missions	Springfield Browns	Gloversville-Johnstown Glovers Huntington Jewels	Dothan Browns
1941		Toledo Mud Hens	San Antonio Missions	Springfield Browns Meridian Eagles	Youngstown Browns St. Joseph Ponies/Carthage Browns	Mayfield Browns Lafayette White Sox Paragould Browns Pueblo Rollers
1940		Toledo Mud Hens	San Antonio Missions	Springfield Browns	Palestine Pals Youngstown Browns Topeka Owls Tyler Trojans	Mayfield Browns Lafayette White Sox Paragould Browns Pennington Gap Miners
1939			San Antonio Missions	Springfield Browns	Youngstown Browns Topeka Owls	Mayfield Browns Lafayette White Sox Paragould Browns Pennington Gap Miners Lincoln Links Beaver Falls Bees Fayetteville Angels
1938			San Antonio Missions	Springfield Browns Meridian Scrappers	Palestine Pals Johnstown Johnnies	Mayfield Clothiers Lafayette White Sox Findlay Browns Easton Cubs Lincoln Links Batesville White Sox
1937			San Antonio Missions Des Moines Demons	Meridian Scrappers Terre Haute Tots	Palestine Pals Johnstown Johnnies	Mayfield Clothiers Lafayette White Sox Findlay Browns Easton Browns Fairbury Jeffs Osceola Indians Superior Blues
1936			San Antonio Missions		Palestine Pals	Lafayette White Sox
1935			San Antonio Missions		Palestine Pals
1934			San Antonio Missions
1933			San Antonio Missions Joplin Miners
1932			Wichita Falls Spudders/ Longview Cannibals		Fort Smith Twins/ Muskogee Chiefs	Rock Island Islanders
1931			Wichita Falls Spudders
1930			Wichita Falls Spudders
1929			Wichita Falls Spudders
1928			Wichita Falls Spudders

References

1. Cronin, John "Truth in the Minor League Class Structure: The Case for the Reclassification of the Minors" The Baseball Research Journal (Society for American Baseball Research), Spring 2013
2. "Orioles extend player development contracts with five affiliates", Baltimore Orioles press release, Thursday, September 4, 2014.
3. "Orioles, Shorebirds Extend Affiliation", Delmarva Shorebirds, Tuesday, December 8, 2015.
4. "Orioles extend player development contract with Class A Aberdeen," Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 19, 2016.
5. Drellich, Evan. "Orioles end affiliation with Bluefield club", MLB.com, Sunday, August 29, 2010.
6. "Tides sign affiliation agreement with Baltimore Orioles", Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 25, 2006.
7. "Orioles will drop Venezuelan team for 2007", Baltimore Orioles press release, Wednesday, February 14, 2007.
8. "Orioles sign affiliation with Ottawa", Baltimore Orioles press release, Tuesday, September 24, 2002.
9. Goldberg, Stan "Pumping some iron in Aberdeen" The Frederick News-Post, Thursday, August 5, 2004
10. "Orioles extend working agreements with Bowie, Frederick and Delmarva", Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, October 2, 2006.
11. Team History – High Desert Mavericks.
12. Baker, Kent "South Atlantic League will have Delmarva Shorebirds next season Kirk group buying team, will move it to Salisbury" The Baltimore Sun, Thursday, September 21, 1995
13. "Orioles extend working agreements with Minor League affiliates in Norfolk, Bowie and Frederick through 2014", Baltimore Orioles press release, Thursday, August 12, 2010.
14. "O's, Polecats agree" Associated Press, Thursday, October 1, 1992
15. Parasiliti, Bob "Hagerstown Suns sign two-year pact to remain affiliated with Nationals" The Herald-Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland), Wednesday, September 22, 2010
16. Gauthier, Tom. "Introducing the Kane County Cougars", Bowling Green Hot Rods, Wednesday, October 21, 2009.
17. Team History – Hagerstown Suns.
18. Team History – Charlotte Knights.
19. Rhodes, Beth "FSL Expansion Islanders A Mix Of Orioles, Rangers" Orlando (FL) Sentinel, Wednesday, April 10, 1985
20. Rhodes, Beth "White Sox To Field Class A Team In Daytona Beach" Orlando (FL) Sentinel, Wednesday, December 10, 1986
21. Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1979.
22. Jarrett, Keith. "What's in a name?" Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times, Sunday, May 13, 2007.
23. "Lodi is dropped by Baltimore Orioles; Cal League future in doubt" Lodi (CA) News-Sentinel, Saturday, September 27, 1975
24. Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1974.
25. "Spring training: Lodi Orioles doing well in fine weather" Lodi (CA) News-Sentinel, Friday, March 29, 1974
26. Guinn, Jeff & Bragan, Bobby. When Panthers Roared: The Fort Worth Cats and Minor League Baseball. Fort Worth, Texas: TCU Press, 1999.
27. Team History – Stockton Ports.
28. Horwath, Bryan. "Business: Could pro baseball return to Aberdeen?" American News (Aberdeen, South Dakota), Thursday, September 25, 2014.
29. Official Baseball Dope Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1965.
30. Team History – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
31. Northwest League of Professional Baseball 2012 Media Guide.
32. Official Baseball Record Book. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1963.
33. Official Baseball Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1957.
34. King, David. San Antonio at Bat: Professional Baseball in the Alamo City. College Station, Texas: Texas A&M University Press, 2004.
35. Holmes, Devena. "Pheasant Park (AKA Aberdeen Municipal Ballpark)(AKA Johnson Field)", Aberdeen (SD) Area History, Friday, June 1, 2012.
36. Official Baseball Guide. St. Louis, Missouri: The Sporting News, 1948.

External links

• Baltimore Orioles/St. Louis Browns Minor League Affiliates Baseball-Reference.com