List of Houston Astros minor league affiliates

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 Texas League since 2005, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization. The longest continuous affiliation in team history was the 21-year relationship with the Double-A Southern League's Columbus Astros/Mudcats from 1970 to 1990. Their newest affiliates are the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys of the Pacific Coast League and the High-A Asheville Tourists of the South Atlantic League, which became Astros affiliates in 2021.

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

Current affiliates

edit

The Houston Astros farm system consists of seven minor league affiliates.[1]

Class Team League Location Ballpark Affiliated
Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys Pacific Coast League Sugar Land, Texas Constellation Field 2021
Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks Texas League Corpus Christi, Texas Whataburger Field 2005
High-A Asheville Tourists South Atlantic League Asheville, North Carolina McCormick Field 2021
Single-A Fayetteville Woodpeckers Carolina League Fayetteville, North Carolina Segra Stadium 2017
Rookie FCL Astros Florida Complex League West Palm Beach, Florida The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches 2023
DSL Astros Blue Dominican Summer League Boca Chica, Santo Domingo Houston Astros Complex 2022
DSL Astros Orange

Past affiliates

edit
Season Each year is linked to an article about that particular Astros/Colt .45s season.

1962

edit

Minor League Baseball operated with six classes (Triple-A, Double-A, Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D) in 1962.[2]

Season Triple-A Double-A Class A Class B Class C Class D Ref.
1962 Oklahoma City 89ers Durham Bulls Modesto Colts Moultrie Colt .22s [3]

1963–1989

edit

Prior to the 1963 season, Major League Baseball (MLB) initiated a reorganization of Minor League Baseball that resulted in a reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-A, Class A, and Rookie) in 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.[2]

Season Triple-A Double-A Class A Class A Short Season Rookie Ref(s).
1963 Oklahoma City 89ers San Antonio Bullets Durham Bulls
Modesto Colts
Moultrie Colt .22s
[4]
1964 Oklahoma City 89ers San Antonio Bullets Durham Bulls
Modesto Colts
Cocoa Colts [5]
1965 Oklahoma City 89ers Amarillo Sonics Cocoa Astros
Durham Bulls
Salisbury Astros
FRL Astros [6]
1966 Oklahoma City 89ers Amarillo Sonics Cocoa Astros
Durham Bulls
Salisbury Astros
Bismarck-Mandan Pards [7]
1967 Oklahoma City 89ers Amarillo Sonics Asheville Tourists
Cocoa Astros
Covington Astros [8]
1968 Oklahoma City 89ers Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs Cocoa Astros
Greensboro Patriots
Covington Astros [9]
1969 Oklahoma City 89ers Savannah Senators[n 1] Cocoa Astros
Peninsula Astros
Williamsport Astros Covington Astros [11]
1970 Oklahoma City 89ers Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros Williamsport Astros Covington Astros [12]
1971 Oklahoma City 89ers Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros
Sumter Astros
Covington Astros [13]
1972 Oklahoma City 89ers Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros Cocoa Astros
Covington Astros
[14]
1973 Denver Bears Columbus Astros Cedar Rapids Astros Covington Astros [15]
1974 Denver Bears Columbus Astros Cedar Rapids Astros Covington Astros [16]
1975 Iowa Oaks Columbus Astros Dubuque Packers Covington Astros [17]
1976 Memphis Blues Columbus Astros Dubuque Packers Covington Astros [18]
1977 Charleston Charlies Columbus Astros Cocoa Astros GCL Astros [19]
1978 Charleston Charlies Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros GCL Astros [20]
1979 Charleston Charlies Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros GCL Astros [21]
1980 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros GCL Astros Blue
GCL Astros Orange
[22]
1981 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Daytona Beach Astros GCL Astros Blue
GCL Astros Orange
[23]
1982 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Asheville Tourists
Daytona Beach Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros [24]
1983 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Asheville Tourists
Daytona Beach Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros [25]
1984 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Asheville Tourists
Daytona Beach Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros [26]
1985 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Asheville Tourists
Osceola Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros [27]
1986 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Asheville Tourists
Osceola Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros [28]
1987 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Asheville Tourists
Osceola Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros [29]
1988 Tucson Toros Columbus Astros Asheville Tourists
Osceola Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros [30]
1989 Tucson Toros Columbus Mudcats Asheville Tourists
Osceola Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros
DSL Astros/Rangers/White Sox
[31][32]

1990–2020

edit

Minor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, 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.[2]

Season Triple-A Double-A Class A-Advanced Class A Class A Short Season Rookie Foreign Rookie Ref(s).
1990 Tucson Toros Columbus Mudcats Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros/Cardinals [33][34]
1991 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros [35][36]
1992 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists
Burlington Astros
Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros [37]
1993 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Asheville Tourists
Quad Cities River Bandits
Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros
DSL Astros/Giants/Phillies
[38]
1994 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Osceola Astros Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros/Brewers [39]
1995 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Astros GCL Astros DSL Astros/Brewers [40]
1996 Tucson Toros Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Doubledays GCL Astros DSL Astros/Red Sox [41]
1997 New Orleans Zephyrs Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Doubledays GCL Astros DSL Astros [42]
1998 New Orleans Zephyrs Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Quad Cities River Bandits Auburn Doubledays GCL Astros DSL Astros [43]
1999 New Orleans Zephyrs Jackson Generals Kissimmee Cobras Michigan Battle Cats Auburn Doubledays Martinsville Astros DSL Astros [44]
2000 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Kissimmee Cobras Michigan Battle Cats Auburn Doubledays Martinsville Astros DSL Astros [45]
2001 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Lexington Legends
Michigan Battle Cats
Pittsfield Astros Martinsville Astros DSL Astros [46]
2002 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Lexington Legends
Michigan Battle Cats
Tri-City ValleyCats Martinsville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Venoco
[47]
2003 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Martinsville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Venoco
[48]
2004 New Orleans Zephyrs Round Rock Express Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Venoco 1
[49]
2005 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Astros
[50]
2006 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Astros
[51]
2007 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Astros
[52]
2008 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Salem Avalanche Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros DSL Astros
VSL Astros
[53]
2009 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros [54]
2010 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros [55]
2011 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros [56]
2012 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Lexington Legends Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros [57]
2013 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros [58]
2014 Oklahoma City RedHawks Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros Blue
DSL Astros Orange
[59]
2015 Fresno Grizzlies Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros Blue
DSL Astros Orange
[60]
2016 Fresno Grizzlies Corpus Christi Hooks Lancaster JetHawks Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros Blue
DSL Astros Orange
[61]
2017 Fresno Grizzlies Corpus Christi Hooks Buies Creek Astros Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats Greeneville Astros
GCL Astros
DSL Astros Blue
DSL Astros Orange
[62]
2018 Fresno Grizzlies Corpus Christi Hooks Buies Creek Astros Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats GCL Astros DSL Astros [63]
2019 Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Fayetteville Woodpeckers Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats GCL Astros DSL Astros [64]
2020[n 2] Round Rock Express Corpus Christi Hooks Fayetteville Woodpeckers Quad Cities River Bandits Tri-City ValleyCats GCL Astros DSL Astros[n 3]
DSL Astros
[66]

2021–present

edit

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.[67] Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.[68]

Season Triple-A Double-A High-A Single-A Rookie Foreign Rookie Ref.
2021 Sugar Land Skeeters Corpus Christi Hooks Asheville Tourists Fayetteville Woodpeckers FCL Astros DSL Astros [69]
2022 Sugar Land Space Cowboys Corpus Christi Hooks Asheville Tourists Fayetteville Woodpeckers FCL Astros Blue
FCL Astros Orange
DSL Astros Blue
DSL Astros Orange
[70]
2023 Sugar Land Space Cowboys Corpus Christi Hooks Asheville Tourists Fayetteville Woodpeckers FCL Astros DSL Astros Blue
DSL Astros Orange
[71]
2024 Sugar Land Space Cowboys Corpus Christi Hooks Asheville Tourists Fayetteville Woodpeckers FCL Astros DSL Astros Blue
DSL Astros Orange
[72]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ In 1969, the Astros shared the Double-A Savannah Senators with the Washington Senators.[10]
  2. ^ The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[65]
  3. ^ In 2020, the Astros planned to operate two Dominican Summer League teams but did not announce specific names for each squad.[66]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c 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 October 7, 2023.
  3. ^ "1962 Houston Colt .45s Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  4. ^ "1963 Houston Colt .45s Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  5. ^ "1964 Houston Colt .45s Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  6. ^ "1965 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  7. ^ "1966 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  8. ^ "1967 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  9. ^ "1968 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  10. ^ "1969 Savannah Senators Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  11. ^ "1969 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "1970 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  13. ^ "1971 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  14. ^ "1972 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  15. ^ "1973 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  16. ^ "1974 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  17. ^ "1975 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "1976 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  19. ^ "1977 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  20. ^ "1978 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  21. ^ "1979 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  22. ^ "1980 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  23. ^ "1981 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  24. ^ "1982 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  25. ^ "1983 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  26. ^ "1984 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  27. ^ "1985 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  28. ^ "1986 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  29. ^ "1987 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  30. ^ "1988 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  31. ^ "1989 Dominican Summer League Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  32. ^ "1989 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  33. ^ "1990 Dominican Summer League Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  34. ^ "1990 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  35. ^ "1991 Dominican Summer League Statistics". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  36. ^ "1991 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  37. ^ "1992 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  38. ^ "1993 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  39. ^ "1994 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  40. ^ "1995 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  41. ^ "1996 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  42. ^ "1997 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  43. ^ "1998 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  44. ^ "1999 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  45. ^ "2000 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  46. ^ "2001 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  47. ^ "2002 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  48. ^ "2003 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  49. ^ "2004 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  50. ^ "2005 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  51. ^ "2006 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  52. ^ "2007 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  53. ^ "2008 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  54. ^ "2009 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  55. ^ "2010 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  56. ^ "2011 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  57. ^ "2012 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  58. ^ "2013 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  59. ^ "2014 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  60. ^ "2015 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  61. ^ "2016 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  62. ^ "2017 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  63. ^ "2018 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  64. ^ "2019 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  65. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  66. ^ a b "2020 Houston Astros Media Guide" (PDF). Houston Astros. Major League Baseball. 2020. pp. 248–271. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  67. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  68. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  69. ^ "2021 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  70. ^ "2022 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  71. ^ "2023 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  72. ^ "2024 Houston Astros Minor League Affiliates". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
edit