We have another affiliation shift for 2015-2016: The Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) and the Los Angeles Dodgers signed a two-year player development contract, through the 2016 season.
Not unexpected, and it’s a situation that should work well for the Dodgers, whose top two farm teams are now located within 150 miles of each other in Oklahoma. The Dodgers invested in and announced a new development deal with the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) earlier today.
The announcement for the Drillers ends a 12-year partnership with the Colorado Rockies, who earlier today signed an affiliation deal with the New Britain Rock Cats (Class AA; Eastern League). The Dodgers will become only the third major league affiliate for the Drillers franchise. The Drillers were the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers for their first 26 years of existence, spanning 1977 through 2002. They were affiliated with the Rockies from 2003 through the 2014 seasons.
“The Drillers organization is proud to announce its affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers,” said co-chair Dale Hubbard. “The Dodgers are one of baseball’s most famous and successful franchises, and they have a great history of developing players within their minor league system. We are very appreciative of our 12-year relationship with the Colorado Rockies, but we are excited about this new chapter in the long history of professional baseball in the city of Tulsa.”
“We are thrilled to be working with the Hubbard family and making Tulsa our home for the Dodgers’ Double-A team,” said Dodgers President/CEO Stan Kasten, on hand for the announcement. “Having our top two minor league teams within the state of Oklahoma will certainly be great for our organization and for the Dodger fans in the state.”
Here’s a look at the current affiliate status in Minor League Baseball.
RELATED STORIES: It’s official: Guber group buys RedHawks; OKC to become Dodgers affiliate; Affiliation news: Tulsa to announce Dodgers PDC today
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