History is returning for the upcoming Minor League Baseball season.
On Wednesday, Minor League Baseball MiLB announced the return of the historical names for the 11 leagues that comprise the player development system for Major League Baseball’s 30 clubs.
The Worcester Red Sox, formerly part of the Triple-A East league, will now compete as part of the International League.
During the 2021 season, the leagues had regional names (Triple-A East, Triple-A West, etc.) while the rights to the use of the historic league names were being acquired by MLB.
“Major League Baseball is pleased to restore the historic names for each of the minor leagues that our fans are familiar with,” said Peter Woodfork, Major League Baseball’s Senior Vice President of Minor League Operations and Development. “We are excited for what the future holds for each of these leagues and the communities that make up Minor League Baseball.”
As part of ongoing fan communications and feedback, MLB updated the initial classification levels to Triple-A, Double-A, High-A and Single-A. All league logos from the 2019 season will return, except for a new logo for the Pacific Coast League.
The breakdown of teams by league, including the WooSox, is:
International League (Triple-A)
Originally founded: 1884
Current teams:
- Buffalo Bisons
- Charlotte Knights
- Columbus Clippers
- Durham Bulls
- Gwinnett Stripers
- Indianapolis Indians
- Iowa Cubs
- Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs
- Louisville Bats
- Memphis Redbirds
- Nashville Sounds
- Norfolk Tides
- Omaha Storm Chasers
- Rochester Red Wings
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders
- St. Paul Saints
- Syracuse Mets
- Toledo Mud Hens
- Worcester Red Sox
Pacific Coast League (Triple-A)
Originally founded: 1903
Current teams:
- Albuquerque Isotopes
- El Paso Chihuahuas
- Las Vegas Aviators
- Oklahoma City Dodgers
- Reno Aces
- Round Rock Express
- Sacramento River Cats
- Salt Lake Bees
- Sugar Land Space Cowboys
- Tacoma Rainiers
Eastern League (Double-A)
Originally founded: 1923
Current teams:
- Akron RubberDucks
- Altoona Curve
- Binghamton Rumble Ponies
- Bowie Baysox
- Erie SeaWolves
- Harrisburg Senators
- Hartford Yard Goats
- New Hampshire Fisher Cats
- Portland Sea Dogs
- Reading Fightin Phils
- Richmond Flying Squirrels
- Somerset Patriots
Southern League (Double-A)
Originally founded: 1885
Current teams:
- Biloxi Shuckers
- Birmingham Barons
- Chattanooga Lookouts
- Mississippi Braves
- Montgomery Biscuits
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos
- Rocket City Trash Pandas
- Tennessee Smokies
Texas League (Double-A)
Originally founded: 1888
Current teams:
- Amarillo Sod Poodles
- Arkansas Travelers
- Corpus Christi Hooks
- Frisco RoughRiders
- Midland RockHounds
- Northwest Arkansas Naturals
- San Antonio Missions
- Springfield Cardinals
- Tulsa Drillers
- Wichita Wind Surge
Midwest League (High-A):
Originally founded: 1947
Current teams:
- Beloit Sky Carp
- Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Dayton Dragons
- Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Great Lakes Loons
- Lake County Captains
- Lansing Lugnuts
- Peoria Chiefs
- Quad Cities River Bandits
- South Bend Cubs
- West Michigan Whitecaps
- Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Northwest League (High-A):
Originally founded: 1955
Current teams:
- Eugene Emeralds
- Everett AquaSox
- Hillsboro Hops
- Spokane Indians
- Tri-City Dust Devils
- Vancouver Canadians
South Atlantic League (High-A):
Originally founded: 1903
Current teams:
- Aberdeen IronBirds
- Asheville Tourists
- Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Brooklyn Cyclones
- Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Greenville Drive
- Hickory Crawdads
- Hudson Valley Renegades
- Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Rome Braves
- Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Winston-Salem Dash
California League (Single-A):
Originally founded: 1941
Current teams:
- Fresno Grizzlies
- Inland Empire 66ers
- Lake Elsinore Storm
- Modesto Nuts
- Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- San Jose Giants
- Stockton Ports
- Visalia Rawhide
Carolina League (Single-A):
Originally founded: 1945
Current teams:
- Augusta GreenJackets
- Carolina Mudcats
- Charleston RiverDogs
- Columbia Fireflies
- Delmarva Shorebirds
- Down East Wood Ducks
- Fayetteville Woodpeckers
- Fredericksburg Nationals
- Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Lynchburg Hillcats
- Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Salem Red Sox
Florida State League (Single-A):
Originally founded: 1919
Current teams:
- Bradenton Marauders
- Clearwater Threshers
- Daytona Tortugas
- Dunedin Blue Jays
- Fort Myers Mighty Mussels
- Jupiter Hammerheads
- Lakeland Flying Tigers
- Palm Beach Cardinals
- St. Lucie Mets
- Tampa Tarpons