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ValleyCats, Astros Extend Affiliation Through 2020

Tri-City ValleyCats

The Tri-City ValleyCats (Short Season A; NY-Penn League) and Houston Astros have announced a two-year extension of their player development contract (PDC), carrying their affiliation through the 2020 season. 

The ValleyCats organization has been affiliated with the Astros since 2002, making them Houston’s longest tenured minor league affiliate.

“We are pleased to extend our long-term Player Development Contract with the Houston Astros,” said ValleyCats President & Principal Owner Bill Gladstone. “We have had an excellent relationship with the Astros and look forward to many more years together.”

“The Tri-City ValleyCats are the premier organization in the New York-Penn League,” said Astros President of Business Operations Reid Ryan. “They have been instrumental in our player development process over the last 17 seasons. We are honored to continue this affiliation with the ValleyCats and the Gladstone family.”

Since 2002, 55 former ValleyCats have gone on to play Major League Baseball, 42 of them with the Astros. The distinguished list of alumni includes three-time batting champion and American League MVP Jose Altuve, World Series MVP George Springer, Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, among many others.

Over the course of their 17-year partnership, the ValleyCats have won eight New York-Penn League Stedler Division titles, and two NYPL Championships (2010, 2013). Since 2012, Tri-City has posted a 297-226 (.568) record.

You can read more about the current state of affiliations on our Affiliate Dance page. We expect a number of affiliations to be renewed in coming weeks, but there are always intriguing openings at every level of baseball. As you can see on the Affiliate Dance page, MLB and MiLB teams can renew their existing affiliations at any point. At the end of the 2018 season, teams can file to search new affiliation options, so there’s always a shuffle of sorts at the end of the year.

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