The
Tampa Bay Rays farm system
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...
consists of seven
Minor League Baseball affiliates across the
United States and in the
Dominican Republic. Four teams are independently owned, while three—the
Florida Complex League Rays
The Florida Complex League Rays are a minor league baseball team in Port Charlotte, Florida, competing as a Rookie-level team in the Florida Complex League as an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coas ...
and two
Dominican Summer League Rays squads—are owned by the major league club.
The Rays have been affiliated with the
Triple-A Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Durham, North Carolina, and play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, which opened in ...
of the
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
since 1998, making it the longest-running affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Rays. Their newest affiliate is the
Charleston RiverDogs of the
Carolina League, which became the Rays'
Single-A club in 2021.
Geographically, Tampa Bay's closest domestic affiliate is the
Rookie Florida Complex League Rays, which are approximately away. Tampa Bay's furthest domestic affiliate is the
High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods
The Bowling Green Hot Rods are a Minor League Baseball team of the South Atlantic League and the High-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. They are located in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and play their home games at Bowling Green Ballpark, which open ...
of the
Midwest League some away.
Current affiliates
The Tampa Bay Rays
farm system
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team, feeder club, or nursery club is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher ...
consists of seven
minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...
affiliates.
Past affiliates
Key
1996–2020
Minor League Baseball operated with six classes (
Triple-A,
Double-A,
Class A-Advanced,
Class A,
Class A Short Season, and
Rookie) from 1996 to 2020. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.
2021–present
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.
Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.
Notes
References
External links
''Baseball-Reference'': Tampa Bay Rays Minor League Affiliates
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tampa Bay Rays minor league affiliates
Minor league affiliates