List of Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliates
Current Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliate locations
The Toronto Blue Jays farm system consists of eight Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in Canada and the Dominican Republic.[1] Five teams are independently owned, while three—the Dunedin Blue Jays, Gulf Coast League Blue Jays and Dominican Summer League Blue Jays—are owned by the major league club.
The Blue Jays have been affiliated with the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League since 2004, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Blue Jays.[2] Their newest affiliate is the Buffalo Bisons of the International League which became the Blue Jays' Triple-A club in 2013.[2] The longest affiliation in team history was the 31-year relationship with the Triple-A International League's Syracuse Chiefs from 1978 to 2008.[2]
Geographically, Toronto's closest affiliate is the Buffalo Bisons of the Triple-A International League which is approximately 59 miles (95 km) away. Toronto's furthest affiliate is the Vancouver Canadians of the Class A Short Season Northwest League some 2,087 miles (3,359 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 | Buffalo Bisons[4] | New Hampshire Fisher Cats[5] | Dunedin Blue Jays[5] | Lansing Lugnuts[6] | Vancouver Canadians[7] | Bluefield Blue Jays[8] GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2019 | Buffalo Bisons | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2018 | Buffalo Bisons | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2017 | Buffalo Bisons | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2016 | Buffalo Bisons | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2015 | Buffalo Bisons | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2014 | Buffalo Bisons | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2013 | Buffalo Bisons[9] | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2012 | Las Vegas 51s | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians | Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2011 | Las Vegas 51s | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Vancouver Canadians[10] | Bluefield Blue Jays[11] GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 2010 | Las Vegas 51s | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Auburn Doubledays | GCL Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2009 | Las Vegas 51s[12] | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Auburn Doubledays | GCL Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2008 | Syracuse Chiefs | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Auburn Doubledays | GCL Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays 1 DSL Blue Jays 2 |
| 2007 | Syracuse Chiefs | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Auburn Doubledays | GCL Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays 1 DSL Blue Jays 2 |
| 2006 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts | Auburn Doubledays | Pulaski Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2005 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Lansing Lugnuts[13] | Auburn Doubledays | Pulaski Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2004 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | New Hampshire Fisher Cats | Dunedin Blue Jays | Charleston Alley Cats | Auburn Doubledays | Pulaski Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2003 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | New Haven Ravens[14] | Dunedin Blue Jays | Charleston Alley Cats | Auburn Doubledays | Pulaski Blue Jays[15] | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2002 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | Tennessee Smokies[14] | Dunedin Blue Jays | Charleston Alley Cats | Auburn Doubledays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays[15] | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2001 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | Tennessee Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Charleston Alley Cats | Auburn Doubledays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 2000 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | Tennessee Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | Queens Kings | Medicine Hat Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 1999 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | St. Catharines Stompers | Medicine Hat Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 1998 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | St. Catharines Stompers | Medicine Hat Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 1997 | Syracuse SkyChiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | St. Catharines Stompers | Medicine Hat Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 1996 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | St. Catharines Stompers | Medicine Hat Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
| 1995 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays |
| 1994 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays 1 DSL Blue Jays 2 |
| 1993 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Smokies[16] | Dunedin Blue Jays | Hagerstown Suns | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays East DSL Blue Jays West |
| 1992 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Dunedin Blue Jays | Myrtle Beach Hurricanes | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays East DSL Blue Jays West |
| 1991 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Dunedin Blue Jays | Myrtle Beach Hurricanes | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays |
DSL Blue Jays 1 DSL Blue Jays 2 |
| 1990 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Dunedin Blue Jays | Myrtle Beach Blue Jays | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays | DSL Blue Jays |
1977–1989
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 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Dunedin Blue Jays, Myrtle Beach Blue Jays | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays, DSL Blue Jays |
| 1988 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Dunedin Blue Jays, Myrtle Beach Blue Jays | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays |
| 1987 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Dunedin Blue Jays, Myrtle Beach Blue Jays | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays |
| 1986 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Florence Blue Jays, Ventura County Gulls | St. Catharines Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays |
| 1985 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Florence Blue Jays, Kinston Blue Jays | — | Medicine Hat Blue Jays, GCL Blue Jays |
| 1984 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Florence Blue Jays, Kinston Blue Jays | — | Medicine Hat Blue Jays, GCL Blue Jays |
| 1983 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Florence Blue Jays, Kinston Blue Jays | — | Medicine Hat Blue Jays, GCL Blue Jays |
| 1982 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Florence Blue Jays, Kinston Blue Jays | — | Medicine Hat Blue Jays, GCL Blue Jays |
| 1981 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays | Florence Blue Jays, Kinston Eagles | — | Medicine Hat Blue Jays, GCL Blue Jays |
| 1980 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Blue Jays[16] | Kinston Eagles | Utica Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays |
| 1979 | Syracuse Chiefs | — | Dunedin Blue Jays, Kinston Eagles | Utica Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays |
| 1978 | Syracuse Chiefs | — | Dunedin Blue Jays | Utica Blue Jays | Medicine Hat Blue Jays[15] |
| 1977 | — | — | — | Utica Blue Jays | — |
References
- ^ "Blue Jays Affiliates". Toronto Blue Jays. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ a b c "Toronto Blue Jays Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 29, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (May 4, 2018). "Bisons, Blue Jays Extend Player Development Contract". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ a b Reichard, Kevin. "Affiliate Dance". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (March 14, 2018). "Lugnuts, Blue Jays Extend PDC". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ "Vancouver, Toronto Extend PDC Through 2022". Ballpark Digest. January 22, 2018. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Spedden, Zach (July 16, 2018). "Blue Jays Remaining in Bluefield Through 2020". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
- ^ Meisel, Zack. "Toronto signs two-year contract with Triple-A Buffalo", MLB.com, Friday, September 21, 2012
- ^ "Blue Jays partner with Vancouver", Toronto Blue Jays press release, Friday, September 17, 2010
- ^ "Blue Jays to Play in Bluefield", Toronto Blue Jays press release, Tuesday, September 7, 2010
- ^ Bastian, Jordan. "Jays welcome Las Vegas 51s into fold", MLB.com, Tuesday, September 23, 2008
- ^ "Blue Jays reach agreement with Lansing Lugnuts", Toronto Blue Jays press release, Wednesday, September 15, 2004
- ^ a b "Blue Jays move to the Eastern League", Toronto Blue Jays press release, Friday, September 20, 2002
- ^ a b c "Blue Jays move to Appalachian League", Toronto Blue Jays press release, Tuesday, September 17, 2002
- ^ a b Team History (1896–present) – Tennessee Smokies.