Another player-development contract extension to report: the San Diego Padres and El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) extended their affiliation through the 2018 season. The deal was set to expire at the end of this season.
“From ownership and senior management, through their on-field staff and players, the Padres organization has been a terrific partner,” said MountainStar Sports Group President Alan Ledford. “This relationship is unique as it goes well beyond the typical affiliation due to the Padres active involvement in the El Paso community and Borderplex region. On the field, the excitement continues to build this season and into the future.”
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with the Chihuahuas and to maintain El Paso as the home of our Triple-A club,” said Padres President and CEO Mike Dee. “The next several years will be exciting ones for our player development system, as the amateur talent A.J. (Preller) and his team have acquired with the support of ownership makes its way through the system, and we are looking forward to seeing many talented players come through Southwest University Park. The Chihuahuas organization, led by the first-class ownership of the Foster and Hunt families, is a perfect partner.”
“Over the past few years, our baseball operations department has invested a significant amount of time and resources to ensure consistency in approach, message and mentality across the player development system, and the Chihuahuas have been great partners in that effort,” said Padres Executive Vice President/General Manager A.J. Preller. “The winning atmosphere in El Paso that Alan, Brad and the entire organization have created is important for our developing players to experience as they make their way to San Diego.”
The Chihuahuas have been the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate since MountainStar Sports Group acquired the team in 2013 as the Tucson Padres, renewing the PDC through the end of the 2016 campaign.
“The Chihuahuas and the city of El Paso are fortunate to partner with the Padres,” said Brad Taylor, El Paso Chihuahuas general manager. “They have provided us with top prospects, winning teams, playoff contenders and have generously helped with community efforts in our region. El Paso is important to the Padres and they live this with the Chihuahuas.”
Here’s a look at the current affiliate status in Minor League Baseball.