1. 1990–present

2. 1963–1989

3. 1932–1962

4. References

5. External links

The Boston Red Sox farm system consists of eight Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic.^[1] Four teams are independently owned, while four—the Salem Red Sox, Gulf Coast League Red Sox, and two Dominican Summer League Red Sox squads—are owned by the major league club.

The Red Sox have been affiliated with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox of the International League since 1973, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Red Sox.^[2] It is also the longest affiliation in the team's history. Their newest affiliate is the Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League which became the Red Sox' Class A club in 2005.^[2]

Geographically, Boston's closest domestic affiliate is the Lowell Spinners of the Class A Short Season New York–Penn League which is approximately {{convert|24|mi|km}} away. Boston's furthest domestic affiliate is the Gulf Coast League Red Sox of the Rookie League Gulf Coast League some {{convert|1247|mi|km}} away.

1990–present

The current structure of Minor League Baseball has been in effect since the 1990 season when the Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consists of domestic and foreign circuits.^[3]

1963–1989

The foundation of the minors' current structure was the result of a reorganization initiated by Major League Baseball (MLB) before the 1963 season. The reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-AA, Class A, and Rookie) was a 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.^[3]

1932–1962

The minors operated with six classes (Triple-A, Double-A, and Classes A, B, C, and D) from 1946 to 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from Triple-A to Open in 1952 due to the possibility of becoming a third major league. This arrangement ended following the 1957 season when the relocation of the National League's Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast killed any chance of the PCL being promoted. The 1963 reorganization resulted in the Eastern and South Atlantic Leagues being elevated from Class A to Double-A, five of seven Class D circuits plus the ones in B and C upgraded to A, and the Appalachian League reclassified from D to Rookie.^[3]

References

External links

• Major League Baseball Prospect News: Boston Red Sox
• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/affiliate.cgi?id=BOS Baseball-Reference: Boston Red Sox League Affiliations]
• [https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Boston_Red_Sox_Minor_League_Affiliates BR Bullpen: Boston Red Sox Minor League Affiliates]

• Rothach
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• Rothamsted Research Limited
• Roth, Andrew
• Rothay Reynolds
• Rothbard, David
• Rothbard (disambiguation)
• ROTH BART BARON
• Rothbart Haspinger
• Rothbauer
• Rothbauer, Christopher
• Rothbaum
• Rothberger space
• Rothberg Institute For Childhood Diseases
• Rothberg, Jonathan
• Roth-Bernasconi, Maria
• Rothblatt
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• Rothbury Racecourse
• ROTH Capital Partners