Each MLB team has its own minor league baseball system to develop their prospects. This includes a complex league team at the rookie level, a Low-A team, a High-A team, a Double-A team, and a Triple-A team. Each of those teams plays a full season, with teams at the Triple-A and Double-A levels playing 138 games while teams at the Single-A level play 132 games. Prior to the realignment of minor league baseball by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, some teams also had a Single-A Short Season affiliate and/or a Rookie Advanced level affiliate.
The Diamondbacks have seen a lot of talented players, such as Corbin Carroll, Drey Jameson, Ryne Nelson, Geraldo Perdomo, Alek Thomas, and Jake McCarthy, just to name a few. A few of them even played at the Single-A Short Season level when that existed just a few years ago.
The Diamondbacks’ Low-A affiliate is the Visalia Rawhide of the California League. The Rawhide play out of Valley Strong Ballpark, which has a capacity of 2,468. Visalia used to be at the High-A level before the realignment of the minor league system by MLB.
Arizona’s High-A affiliate is the Hillsboro Hops of the Northwest League, and are based out of Hillsboro, Oregon. The Hops currently play out of Ron Tonkin Field, which has a capacity of 4,500. The Diamondbacks’ Double-A affiliate is the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Texas League based out of Amarillo, Texas. Amarillo’s ballpark is called Hodgetown and has a capacity of 6,631. Lastly, Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate is the Reno Aces of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), based out of Reno, Nevada. The Aces play out of Greater Nevada Field, which has a capacity of 9,013.
The Diamondbacks have seen a lot of success with their minor league affiliates, with multiple league titles across their farm system. During their time so far as a Diamondbacks affiliate, the Rawhide won the California League championship in 2019. The Hillsboro Hops would join the Rawhide as champions in 2019 when they won their third Northwest League championship after previously claiming back-to-back NWL titles in 2014 and 2015. At the Double-A level, the Diamondbacks were affiliated with the Jackson Generals from 2017-2020 prior to the realignment. During this time, the Generals won back-to-back Southern League titles. At the Triple-A level, the Reno Aces claimed league titles in 2012 and 2022.
These titles are a testament to the talent that Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen has acquired over his tenure so far. If this trend continues, it’ll only spell great things for the Diamondbacks at the major league level in the years to come.
