The Seattle Mariners farm system consists of six Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Three teams are independently owned, while three others—the Modesto Nuts, Arizona Complex League Mariners, and Dominican Summer League Mariners—are owned by the major league club.
The Mariners have been affiliated with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League and High-A Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League since 1995, making them the longest-running affiliations in the organization among teams not owned by the Mariners. Their newest affiliates are the Double-A Arkansas Travelers of the Texas League and the Single-A Modesto Nuts of the California League, which became Mariners affiliates in 2017.
Geographically, Seattle's closest domestic affiliate is the Tacoma Rainiers, which are approximately 26 miles (42 km) away. Seattle's furthest domestic affiliate is the Arkansas Travelers some 1,781 miles (2,866 km) away.
The Seattle Mariners farm system consists of six minor league affiliates.[1]
Class | Team | League | Location | Ballpark | Affiliated |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Triple-A | Tacoma Rainiers | Pacific Coast League | Tacoma, Washington | Cheney Stadium | 1995 |
Double-A | Arkansas Travelers | Texas League | North Little Rock, Arkansas | Dickey–Stephens Park | 2017 |
High-A | Everett AquaSox | Northwest League | Everett, Washington | Funko Field | 1995 |
Single-A | Modesto Nuts | California League | Modesto, California | John Thurman Field | 2017 |
Rookie | ACL Mariners | Arizona Complex League | Peoria, Arizona | Peoria Sports Complex | 1989 |
DSL Mariners | Dominican Summer League | Boca Chica, Santo Domingo | Las Palmas Complex | 1989 |
Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Mariners season. |
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Prior to the 1963 season, Major League Baseball (MLB) initiated a reorganization of Minor League Baseball that resulted in a reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-A, Class A, and Rookie) in 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.[2]
Season | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | — | — | — | Bellingham Mariners | — | [3] |
1978 | San Jose Missions | — | Stockton Mariners | Bellingham Mariners | — | [4] |
1979 | Spokane Indians | — | Alexandria Mariners San Jose Missions |
Bellingham Mariners | — | [5] |
1980 | Spokane Indians | Lynn Sailors | San Jose Missions | Bellingham Mariners | — | [6] |
1981 | Spokane Indians | Lynn Sailors | Wausau Timbers | Bellingham Mariners | — | [7] |
1982 | Salt Lake City Gulls | Lynn Sailors | Bakersfield Mariners Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | — | [8] |
1983 | Salt Lake City Gulls | Chattanooga Lookouts | Bakersfield Mariners Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | — | [9] |
1984 | Salt Lake City Gulls | Chattanooga Lookouts | Salinas Spurs Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | Butte Copper Kings | [10] |
1985 | Calgary Cannons | Chattanooga Lookouts | Salinas Spurs Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | — | [11] |
1986 | Calgary Cannons | Chattanooga Lookouts | Salinas Spurs Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | — | [12] |
1987 | Calgary Cannons | Chattanooga Lookouts | Salinas Spurs Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | — | [13] |
1988 | Calgary Cannons | Vermont Mariners | San Bernardino Spirit Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | AZL Mariners/Red Sox | [14] |
1989 | Calgary Cannons | Williamsport Bills | San Bernardino Spirit Wausau Timbers |
Bellingham Mariners | AZL Mariners DSL Mariners |
[15][16] |
Minor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, the Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.[2]
Season | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A-Advanced | Class A | Class A Short Season | Rookie | Foreign Rookie | Ref(s). |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | Calgary Cannons | Williamsport Bills | Peninsula Pilots San Bernardino Spirit |
— | Bellingham Mariners | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [17][18] |
1991 | Calgary Cannons | Jacksonville Suns | Peninsula Pilots San Bernardino Spirit |
— | Bellingham Mariners | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [19][20] |
1992 | Calgary Cannons | Jacksonville Suns | Peninsula Pilots San Bernardino Spirit |
— | Bellingham Mariners | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [21] |
1993 | Calgary Cannons | Jacksonville Suns | Riverside Pilots | Appleton Foxes | Bellingham Mariners | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [22] |
1994 | Calgary Cannons | Jacksonville Suns | Riverside Pilots | Appleton Foxes | Bellingham Mariners | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [23] |
1995 | Tacoma Rainiers | Port City Roosters | Riverside Pilots | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [24] |
1996 | Tacoma Rainiers | Port City Roosters | Lancaster JetHawks | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [25] |
1997 | Tacoma Rainiers | Memphis Chicks | Lancaster JetHawks | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [26] |
1998 | Tacoma Rainiers | Orlando Rays | Lancaster JetHawks | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [27] |
1999 | Tacoma Rainiers | New Haven Ravens | Lancaster JetHawks | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [28] |
2000 | Tacoma Rainiers | New Haven Ravens | Lancaster JetHawks | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [29] |
2001 | Tacoma Rainiers | San Antonio Missions | San Bernardino Stampede | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [30] |
2002 | Tacoma Rainiers | San Antonio Missions | San Bernardino Stampede | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners VSL Aguirre |
[31] |
2003 | Tacoma Rainiers | San Antonio Missions | Inland Empire 66ers | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners VSL Aguirre |
[32] |
2004 | Tacoma Rainiers | San Antonio Missions | Inland Empire 66ers | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners VSL Aguirre |
[33] |
2005 | Tacoma Rainiers | San Antonio Missions | Inland Empire 66ers | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[34] |
2006 | Tacoma Rainiers | San Antonio Missions | Inland Empire 66ers | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[35] |
2007 | Tacoma Rainiers | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | High Desert Mavericks | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[36] |
2008 | Tacoma Rainiers | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | High Desert Mavericks | Wisconsin Timber Rattlers | Everett AquaSox | Pulaski Mariners AZL Mariners |
DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[37] |
2009 | Tacoma Rainiers | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | High Desert Mavericks | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | Pulaski Mariners AZL Mariners |
DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[38] |
2010 | Tacoma Rainiers | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | High Desert Mavericks | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | Pulaski Mariners AZL Mariners |
DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[39] |
2011 | Tacoma Rainiers | Jackson Generals | High Desert Mavericks | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | Pulaski Mariners AZL Mariners |
DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[40] |
2012 | Tacoma Rainiers | Jackson Generals | High Desert Mavericks | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | Pulaski Mariners AZL Mariners |
DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[41] |
2013 | Tacoma Rainiers | Jackson Generals | High Desert Mavericks | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | Pulaski Mariners AZL Mariners |
DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[42] |
2014 | Tacoma Rainiers | Jackson Generals | High Desert Mavericks | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | Pulaski Mariners AZL Mariners |
DSL Mariners VSL Mariners |
[43] |
2015 | Tacoma Rainiers | Jackson Generals | Bakersfield Blaze | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners 1 DSL Mariners 2 VSL Mariners |
[44] |
2016 | Tacoma Rainiers | Jackson Generals | Bakersfield Blaze | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [45] |
2017 | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Modesto Nuts | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [46] |
2018 | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Modesto Nuts | Clinton LumberKings | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [47] |
2019 | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Modesto Nuts | West Virginia Power | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [48] |
2020[n 1] | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Modesto Nuts | West Virginia Power | Everett AquaSox | AZL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [50] |
The current structure of Minor League Baseball is the result of an overall contraction of the system beginning with the 2021 season. Class A was reduced to two levels: High-A and Low-A.[51] Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.[52]
Season | Triple-A | Double-A | High-A | Single-A | Rookie | Foreign Rookie | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Everett AquaSox | Modesto Nuts | ACL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [53] |
2022 | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Everett AquaSox | Modesto Nuts | ACL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [54] |
2023 | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Everett AquaSox | Modesto Nuts | ACL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [55] |
2024 | Tacoma Rainiers | Arkansas Travelers | Everett AquaSox | Modesto Nuts | ACL Mariners | DSL Mariners | [56] |