Minor League Baseball facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Minor League Baseball

Sport	Baseball
Founded	September 5, 1901; 123 years ago (1901-09-05)
No. of teams	208
Countries	United States (157 teams) Canada (1 team) + Dominican Republic (Rookie League) (50 teams) (as of 2024 season)
Headquarters	New York City, U.S.
TV partner(s)	Stadium, Bally Live App MiLB.tv, local tv stations
Official website	MiLB.com

Minor League Baseball (often called MiLB) is a group of professional baseball teams that play below the Major League Baseball (MLB) level. These teams are connected, or "affiliated," with MLB clubs. Think of them as training grounds where players develop their skills before hopefully making it to the big leagues.

As of 2021, there are 11 main minor leagues in the United States and Canada. These leagues have a total of 120 teams, with four teams for each of the 30 MLB teams. There are also two rookie leagues in the U.S., where teams play at their parent clubs' spring training sites in Arizona and Florida. Another rookie league is in the Dominican Republic. Plus, four independent leagues also work with MiLB.

How Minor League Baseball Works

The minor league system has four main levels: Triple-A (AAA), Double-A (AA), High-A (A+), and Single-A (A). Major League Baseball teams also have one or two rookie teams. These rookie teams play at special training places in Arizona and Florida. There are also international rookie teams in the Dominican Summer League.

Major League teams play 162 games in a season. Minor league seasons are shorter. In 2022, Triple-A teams played 150 games. Double-A teams played 138 games. High-A and Single-A teams each played 132 games. There's also the Arizona Fall League, where top young players play about 30 games in the autumn.

Triple-A Baseball

Triple-A is the highest level in the minor leagues. It has two leagues: the 20-team International League and the 10-team Pacific Coast League. The International League has teams from the East Coast and Midwest U.S. The Pacific Coast League has teams from the West Coast and Southwest.

Both young players and experienced players play in Triple-A. MLB teams often keep players here who are almost ready for the major leagues. These players can be called up to the main team if needed. Some players in Triple-A are "career minor leaguers." This means they are good players but might not make it to the MLB, except as a temporary fill-in.

Double-A Baseball

Double-A is the next level down. There are three leagues here: the 12-team Eastern League in the Northeast, the eight-team Southern League in the Deep South, and the 10-team Texas League in the Southwest.

Some players can jump straight to the major leagues from Double-A. Many top young players are sent here to play against each other. This helps them improve their skills. A few experienced players from other countries might start here. They are usually expected to reach the majors quickly.

High-A Baseball

High-A is one level below Double-A. Before 2021, it was called "Class A-Advanced." This level has three leagues: the 12-team Midwest League, the six-team Northwest League, and the 12-team South Atlantic League.

Players often get promoted to High-A after playing at lower levels. Some top players drafted right out of college might start their professional careers here.

Single-A Baseball

Single-A is below High-A. Before 2021, it was called "Class A" or "Low-A." This level has three leagues: the eight-team California League, the 12-team Carolina League, and the 10-team Florida State League.

These leagues have a mix of players moving up from Rookie leagues and some experienced first-year players. Many teams in the Florida State League are owned by MLB clubs. They use the same facilities where the MLB teams have their spring training.

In 2022, the official name for this level became Single-A.

Rookie Leagues

Rookie leagues are the lowest level of minor league baseball. They play a shorter season, usually from mid-June to late August or early September. There are two U.S.-based leagues: the Arizona Complex League and Florida Complex League. There is also one league in the Caribbean, the Dominican Summer League.

The U.S. Rookie leagues play about 60 games. They are called "complex leagues" because games are played at the MLB teams' spring training sites. Most players here are new draftees who are still learning the game. These leagues are mainly for players to practice their skills. There is usually no admission fee or food sold at these games.

Since 2024, the U.S. Rookie league seasons start earlier, in May. This helps players who have already played in the Dominican Summer League get a full season in the U.S. It also allows top rookie players to move up to Single-A later in the season.

Player Limits and Rosters

Each MLB team can have up to 165 players on their minor league teams in the U.S. This does not include players in the Dominican Summer League or those on the injured list. During the off-season, the limit is 175 players.

Here are the active roster limits for each level during the season:

Rosters sizes in Minor League Baseball

Level	Active roster size	Player restrictions
Triple-A	28 players	No restrictions
Double-A	28 players	No restrictions
High-A	30 players	No more than 2 players and 1 player-coach with 6 or more years of minor-league experience
Single-A	30 players	No more than 2 players with 5 or more years of minor-league experience
U.S.-based Rookie	No limit	No more than 3 players with 4 or more years of minor-league experience
International Rookie	35 players	No players with 4 or more years of minor-league experience

Leagues and Team Connections

Minor Leagues

Triple-A

• International League
• Pacific Coast League

Double-A

• Eastern League
• Southern League
• Texas League

High-A

• Midwest League
• Northwest League
• South Atlantic League

Single-A

• California League
• Carolina League
• Florida State League

Rookie

• Arizona Complex League
• Florida Complex League
• Dominican Summer League

Off-season leagues

• Arizona Fall League

Partner leagues

• American Association
• Atlantic League
• Frontier League
• Pioneer League

Major League Team Connections

This table shows which Minor League teams are connected to which Major League teams. Each MLB team has one team at Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Single-A.

Table key

Triple-A		Double-A		High-A		Single-A
IL	International League	EL	Eastern League	MWL	Midwest League	CAL	California League
PCL	Pacific Coast League	SL	Southern League	NWL	Northwest League	CAR	Carolina League
—		TL	Texas League	SAL	South Atlantic League	FSL	Florida State League

Affiliations of Minor League teams with Major League teams

League	Division	MLB Team	Triple-A	Double-A	High-A	Single-A
American League	East	Baltimore Orioles	Norfolk TidesIL	Bowie BaysoxEL	Aberdeen IronBirdsSAL	Delmarva ShorebirdsCAR
		Boston Red Sox	Worcester Red SoxIL	Portland Sea DogsEL	Greenville DriveSAL	Salem Red SoxCAR
		New York Yankees	Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRidersIL	Somerset PatriotsEL	Hudson Valley RenegadesSAL	Tampa TarponsFSL
		Tampa Bay Rays	Durham BullsIL	Montgomery BiscuitsSL	Bowling Green Hot RodsSAL	Charleston RiverDogsCAR
		Toronto Blue Jays	Buffalo BisonsIL	New Hampshire Fisher CatsEL	Vancouver CanadiansNWL	Dunedin Blue JaysFSL
	Central	Chicago White Sox	Charlotte KnightsIL	Birmingham BaronsSL	Winston-Salem DashSAL	Kannapolis Cannon BallersCAR
		Cleveland Guardians	Columbus ClippersIL	Akron RubberDucksEL	Lake County CaptainsMWL	Lynchburg HillcatsCAR
		Detroit Tigers	Toledo Mud HensIL	Erie SeaWolvesEL	West Michigan WhitecapsMWL	Lakeland Flying TigersFSL
		Kansas City Royals	Omaha Storm ChasersIL	Northwest Arkansas NaturalsTL	Quad Cities River BanditsMWL	Columbia FirefliesCAR
		Minnesota Twins	St. Paul SaintsIL	Wichita Wind SurgeTL	Cedar Rapids KernelsMWL	Fort Myers Mighty MusselsFSL
	West	Houston Astros	Sugar Land Space CowboysPCL	Corpus Christi HooksTL	Asheville TouristsSAL	Fayetteville WoodpeckersCAR
		Los Angeles Angels	Salt Lake BeesPCL	Rocket City Trash PandasSL	Tri-City Dust DevilsNWL	Inland Empire 66ersCAL
		Oakland Athletics	Las Vegas AviatorsPCL	Midland RockHoundsTL	Lansing LugnutsMWL	Stockton PortsCAL
		Seattle Mariners	Tacoma RainiersPCL	Arkansas TravelersTL	Everett AquaSoxNWL	Modesto NutsCAL
		Texas Rangers	Round Rock ExpressPCL	Frisco RoughRidersTL	Hickory CrawdadsSAL	Down East Wood DucksCAR
National League	East	Atlanta Braves	Gwinnett StripersIL	Mississippi BravesSL	Rome EmperorsSAL	Augusta GreenJacketsCAR
		Miami Marlins	Jacksonville Jumbo ShrimpIL	Pensacola Blue WahoosSL	Beloit Sky CarpMWL	Jupiter HammerheadsFSL
		New York Mets	Syracuse MetsIL	Binghamton Rumble PoniesEL	Brooklyn CyclonesSAL	St. Lucie MetsFSL
		Philadelphia Phillies	Lehigh Valley IronPigsIL	Reading Fightin PhilsEL	Jersey Shore BlueClawsSAL	Clearwater ThreshersFSL
		Washington Nationals	Rochester Red WingsIL	Harrisburg SenatorsEL	Wilmington Blue RocksSAL	Fredericksburg NationalsCAR
	Central	Chicago Cubs	Iowa CubsIL	Tennessee SmokiesSL	South Bend CubsMWL	Myrtle Beach PelicansCAR
		Cincinnati Reds	Louisville BatsIL	Chattanooga LookoutsSL	Dayton DragonsMWL	Daytona TortugasFSL
		Milwaukee Brewers	Nashville SoundsIL	Biloxi ShuckersSL	Wisconsin Timber RattlersMWL	Carolina Mudcats
		Pittsburgh Pirates	Indianapolis IndiansIL	Altoona CurveEL	Greensboro GrasshoppersSAL	Bradenton MaraudersFSL
		St. Louis Cardinals	Memphis RedbirdsIL	Springfield CardinalsTL	Peoria ChiefsMWL	Palm Beach CardinalsFSL
	West	Arizona Diamondbacks	Reno AcesPCL	Amarillo Sod PoodlesTL	Hillsboro HopsNWL	Visalia RawhideCAL
		Colorado Rockies	Albuquerque IsotopesPCL	Hartford Yard GoatsEL	Spokane IndiansNWL	Fresno GrizzliesCAL
		Los Angeles Dodgers	Oklahoma City Baseball ClubPCL	Tulsa DrillersTL	Great Lakes LoonsMWL	Rancho Cucamonga QuakesCAL
		San Diego Padres	El Paso ChihuahuasPCL	San Antonio MissionsTL	Fort Wayne TinCapsMWL	Lake Elsinore StormCAL
		San Francisco Giants	Sacramento River CatsPCL	Richmond Flying SquirrelsEL	Eugene EmeraldsNWL	San Jose GiantsCAL

Map of Teams

History of Minor League Baseball

Baseball has been played professionally for a long time. In the late 1800s, there were many professional teams. But it was hard to make sure all teams were fair and financially stable. The National League (NL) was formed in 1876 to fix this. It only included strong, stable teams. Other professional teams then formed their own regional groups.

The first real minor league was the Northwestern League in 1883. It was meant to be a lasting organization. This league, along with the NL, agreed to a "National Agreement" in 1883. This agreement set rules for keeping players on teams. It also created different pay levels for players, which helped set up the idea of major and minor leagues.

In 1901, a big fight happened between the NL and the new American League (AL). This worried many minor league owners. So, on September 5, 1901, different minor leagues met in Chicago. They decided to form the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL). This group later became known as "Minor League Baseball." Their goal was to keep minor leagues independent. Patrick T. Powers became the first president.

In 1903, the AL and NL ended their fight with a new "National Agreement." This agreement created the National Baseball Commission to oversee all major and minor leagues. The NAPBL helped create rules for how major league teams could get players from minor league teams. This meant minor league teams would get paid for the players they helped develop.

For a long time, minor leagues were very independent. The term "minor" was not often used by them. Many people thought the best minor league players were as good as major league players. This changed in the 1930s when Branch Rickey created the first modern "farm system." This system meant MLB teams would own and develop their own minor league teams. The Great Depression made this system popular. Many independent minor league teams could not afford to stay open without help from MLB. This is how minor leagues became truly "minor" and connected to MLB.

In 1922, a U.S. Supreme Court decision said that baseball had special protection from certain laws. This meant MLB could set rules for all independent leagues. By 1925, MLB set a fixed price of $5,000 for any player from a NAPBL team. This rule made it harder for minor league teams to keep their best players. They often had to sell players as soon as MLB teams showed interest.

How Minor League Levels Changed

Early Classifications (1800s)

The first minor league levels appeared around 1890. These levels protected player contracts and rules about keeping players:

• Class A: Player contracts and lists were fully protected.
• Class B: Contracts were protected, but a major league team could draft a player for a set price.
• Class C: Contracts were protected.
• Class D: Contracts were protected, but any higher class could draft a player for a set price.
• Class E/F: No protection for players.

Classifications in the 1900s

After the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues started in 1901, the levels were changed:

Class	Total population of cities in the league	Salary limit (per month) team / player	Draft fee	Protection fee
Class A	more than 1 million	$1800 / $175	n/a	$50
Class B	400,001 to 1 million	$1000 / $125	$300	$30
Class C	200,01 to 400,000	$800 / $100	$200	$20
Class D	up to 200,000	$700 / $75	$100	$10

Draft fee was the amount a higher-class team paid to pick a player. Class A teams negotiated directly with MLB clubs. Protection fee kept a player with a team even after their contract ended.

All minor leagues were given a class. For example, in 1902:

• Class A: Eastern League, Western League
• Class B: Connecticut State League, New England League, etc.
• Class D: Cotton States League, Texas League, etc.

New classes were added before World War II:

• Class AA: Added in 1912 as the new highest level.
• Class A1: Added in 1936, between Class A and Class AA.
• Class E: Added in 1937, as the new lowest level for new players.

Changes After World War II

In 1946, the minor leagues grew a lot. Class AAA was created as the new highest level. The three Double-A leagues became Triple-A. Class A1 became Class AA. Class A was still the third-highest level. Lower levels were Class B through Class D.

In 1952, the "Open" class was made. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was the only league to get this class. This class limited how much major league teams could take players from the PCL. Many thought the PCL might become a third major league. But in 1958, the PCL went back to Triple-A. This happened because more people watched major league games on TV, and two MLB teams moved to California.

Big Changes in 1963

The minor leagues changed a lot in 1963. Many teams and leagues had closed down in the 1950s and early 1960s. By 1963, only 15 leagues above the Rookie level were left in the U.S. and Canada.

After the 1962 season, the Triple-A American Association league closed. Its remaining teams joined the International and Pacific Coast leagues. At the Double-A level and below, there were even bigger changes:

• The two Class A leagues (Eastern League and South Atlantic League) became Double-A.
• Many Class B, C, and D leagues became Class A leagues.
• The Class D Appalachian League became a new Rookie league.

The lower classes (B, C, D) disappeared because they couldn't make enough money. MLB teams then promised to support minor league teams more.

More Changes After 1963

The minor league system stayed mostly the same from 1963 to 2020. Leagues were in one of six classes: Triple-A (AAA), Double-A (AA), Class A-Advanced (High A or A+), Class A (Low A), Class A Short Season, and Rookie. Rookie was also split into Rookie Advanced and complex-based Rookie.

• Triple-A: The American Association came back as a Triple-A league in 1969. But its teams were absorbed by the International and Pacific Coast leagues again in 1998.
• Class A: In 1980, the Western Carolinas League became the South Atlantic League. Two more Class A levels were created:
  • Class A Short Season: Started in 1965. These leagues played about 75-80 games. They were for college players who were drafted in June. This class was removed in 2021.
  • Class A-Advanced: Introduced in 1990. This level was one step below Double-A. In 2021, three new "High-A" leagues replaced the old ones.
• Rookie Advanced: The Appalachian League and Pioneer League became Rookie Advanced in 1991. These players were thought to be more developed than pure Rookie players. This class was removed in 2021.

There were also some leagues that tried to start but failed.

Big Changes in 2021

In 2019, Major League Baseball suggested big changes to MiLB. This included getting rid of many minor league teams. Many people, including members of the U.S. Congress, were against this idea. They said it would harm communities. MLB said the changes would make things better for players.

Minor League Baseball said it was "unnecessary and unacceptable" to cut so many teams. They felt MLB wanted to make more money. The Commissioner of Baseball, Rob Manfred, warned that MLB might cut ties with MiLB completely.

Here are the changes that happened:

• The MLB draft moved to July and was shortened from 40 rounds to 20.
• The Rookie-level Appalachian League became a summer league for college players.
• Some independent leagues became MLB Partner Leagues. This means MLB teams can get players from these leagues.
• The MLB Draft League was created for college players who might be drafted.
• Three independent teams joined MiLB: the St. Paul Saints, Sugar Land Skeeters, and Somerset Patriots. They became affiliates of MLB teams.
• The number of MiLB teams (not including rookie complex teams) was cut from 160 to 120. Short-Season A and Rookie Advanced leagues were removed.
• The New York–Penn League was shut down.

Team Invitations for 2021

On December 9, 2020, MLB teams announced their minor league partners for 2021. Each of the 30 MLB teams now has one team at Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Low-A. This made a total of 120 affiliated teams. About 40 teams lost their MLB connections. Some teams moved to different levels.

New League Names

On February 12, 2021, Major League Baseball announced new names for all 120 minor league clubs. Instead of the old league names, they used new names based on class and region.

• Triple-A was split into Triple-A East and Triple-A West.
• Double-A was split into Double-A Central, Double-A Northeast, and Double-A South.
• High-A was split into High-A Central, High-A East, and High-A West.
• Low-A was split into Low-A East, Low-A Southeast, and Low-A West.
• The U.S. Rookie leagues were renamed Florida Complex League and Arizona Complex League.

Then, on March 16, 2022, Minor League Baseball announced that the old, historic league names were brought back. The region-based names were removed. The old names were given to the new leagues that were most similar to them.

• Triple-A East became the International League.
• Triple-A West became the Pacific Coast League.
• Double-A Central became the Texas League.
• Double-A Northeast became the Eastern League.
• Double-A South became the Southern League.
• High-A Central became the Midwest League.
• High-A East became the South Atlantic League.
• High-A West became the Northwest League.
• Low-A East became the Carolina League.
• Low-A Southeast became the Florida State League.
• Low-A West became the California League.

The Low-A classification was also officially renamed Single-A.

Hierarchy of Minor League Levels

Here are the minor league levels from highest to lowest, showing how they changed over time. New classes are in bold, and removed classes are in italics.

1902	1912	1936	1937	1946	1952	1958	1963	1965	1990	1991	2021
A B C D	AA A B C D	AA A1 A B C D	AA A1 A B C D E	AAA AA A B C D	Open AAA AA A B C D	AAA AA A B C D	AAA AA A Rk	AAA AA A A (Short) Rk	AAA AA A-Adv A A (Short) Rk	AAA AA A-Adv A A (Short) Rk-Adv Rk	AAA AA High-A A Rk
				A1 E		Open	B C D				A (Short) Rk-Adv

Notes:

Minor League Players

Major league teams can only use players who are on their active roster for games. These players are chosen from a larger list of 40 players. As of 2020, the active roster has 26 players for most games. It can expand to 28 players later in the season.

Players on the 40-man list who are not on the active roster are usually either injured or playing in the minor leagues. Most of these players are at the Triple-A or Double-A level. These minor league players are paid less than major league players. They work to improve their skills and move up. Many top draft picks get large signing bonuses.

A major league team's player development director decides where a player will play in the minor league system. This is done with help from coaches who watch the players. After spring training, players are assigned to a minor league team. New players drafted in June usually start playing professionally right away.

Players stay with their assigned team unless they are "called up" (promoted), "sent down" (moved to a lower team), or released. If a player is released, they might sign with an independent baseball team. Major league teams often scout these independent leagues. Many players get a second chance if they play well there.

Minor league players earn different salaries based on their level and how long their season is. Most players make less than $10,000 per season. Even though they are not in the major leagues, they are still professional athletes. Minor league players often call the major leagues "The Show."

Rehabilitation Assignments

When Major League players get injured, they often play games with minor league teams to get back into shape. This is called a "rehabilitation assignment." They usually play for one or two weeks.

Players are often sent to minor league teams that are close by or have good facilities. It doesn't always depend on the minor league team's level. Injured major leaguers still get their major league pay. They also usually have better facilities than their minor league teammates.

For example, Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins played for the Class A-Advanced Fort Myers Miracle in 2011 after knee surgery. The team was based near the Twins' spring training site.

Umpires in Minor League Baseball

Umpires in the minor leagues are managed by Minor League Baseball Umpire Development (MiLBUD). This group trains umpires, checks their performance, and decides if they should be promoted or released.

Umpires are checked eight times a season and get a ranking. If they do well, they might move up to a higher level. MiLBUD also holds a Rookie Evaluation Course each March. This course helps find the best new umpires.

To become a professional umpire, you must go to a special umpire training school. Minor League Baseball recognizes two schools in Florida: the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School and the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy. These schools have classes for five weeks in January and February. The teachers are current or former major or minor league umpires. Not everyone who attends these schools gets a job. Less than 20% of students usually move on to the evaluation course.

The umpire development program started in 1964. Its goal was to find more athletic, energetic, and honest umpires. In 1968, they decided to have their own training course every year.

Minor league umpires have had a union since 1999. They formed the Association of Minor League Umpires (AMLU). In 2006, they went on strike because of disagreements over salaries. Replacement umpires were used until a deal was reached.

To be an umpire, you need a high school diploma or G.E.D. You must be athletic and have good eyesight (even with glasses or contacts). Good communication skills and quick reflexes are also important. And you must have trained at one of the two professional umpire schools.

Team Ownership

Most minor league teams are owned and run by themselves. But they are connected to one major league team. These connections are set by agreements called Player Development License Agreements (PDL). Some minor league teams are directly owned by their major league parent club. For example, the Springfield Cardinals are owned by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Since the changes in 2021, these agreements usually last for 10 years. Before, they were only for two or four years. This meant teams changed their MLB partners more often. For example, the Omaha Storm Chasers have been connected to the Kansas City Royals since 1969. But the Columbus Clippers changed their MLB partner twice in a few years.

Usually, the major league club pays the salaries of players and coaches. They also provide bats and balls. The minor league club pays for travel during the season and other running costs.

The longest continuous connections are between the Philadelphia Phillies and their Double-A team, the Reading Fightin Phils, and between the Detroit Tigers and their Single-A team, the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Both of these connections started in 1965. Both Reading and Lakeland are now fully owned by their major league clubs.

Minor League Presidents

Minor League Baseball used to have a central office that ran everything. But after the changes in 2021, Major League Baseball now handles most of these tasks. This includes scheduling, umpiring, and other league management. The minor league headquarters were in St. Petersburg, Florida, from 1973 until the change.

Before MLB took direct control, 11 people served as president of Minor League Baseball:

• Patrick T. Powers, 1901–1909
• Michael H. Sexton, 1910–1932
• William G. Bramham, 1933–1946
• George Trautman, 1947–1963
• Phil Piton, 1964–1971
• Hank Peters, 1972–1975
• Bobby Bragan, 1976–1978
• John H. Johnson, 1979–1988
• Sal Artiaga, 1988–1991
• Mike Moore, 1992–2007
• Pat O'Conner, 2007–2020

Independent Baseball Leagues

Independent leagues are professional baseball leagues in the U.S. and Canada that are not part of Minor League Baseball. They are not connected to MLB teams. Independent baseball existed a long time ago and became popular again after 1993.

Before 1902, most leagues operated on their own. Then, most joined the NAPBL (Minor League Baseball). A few leagues stayed independent for a while.

Not many independent leagues existed between 1915 and 1993. But after 1992, independent leagues started to grow again. This was because new rules made it harder for some teams to be part of Minor League Baseball. As of 2024, there are seven active independent leagues. Four of them are now "MLB Partner Leagues."

Awards in Minor League Baseball

MiLBY Awards

The MiLBY Awards are given in nine different groups. For five groups (Best Starter, Best Hitter, Best Reliever, Best Game, and Best Team), winners are chosen for each minor league level above Rookie. For three groups (Play of the Year, Moment of the Year, and Homer of the Year), one overall winner is chosen for all of Minor League Baseball. The last group, Promo of the Year, has winners for different types of promotions, like Best Theme Night or Best Giveaway.

Other Player Awards

• MiLB Topps Minor League Player of the Year Award (started 1960)
• MiLB George M. Trautman Awards (Player of the Year in each U.S. minor league)
• MiLB Joe Bauman Home Run Award (started 2002)
• Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award (started 1981)
• The Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year Award (1936–2007)
• USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award (started 1988)

Major Awards

• Organization of the Year Award (started 1974): This is MiLB's top award. It goes to a team that is stable, helps its league, supports baseball in the community, and promotes the sport.
• Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year (started 1976): Given to a woman in MiLB for great work for her team, league, or baseball.
• Warren Giles Award (started 1984): Given to a league president for excellent service.
• King of Baseball (started 1951): Given each year to someone who has shown long-time dedication to professional baseball.
• Larry MacPhail Award (1966–2019): Given for team promotions.
• Sheldon "Chief" Bender Award (started 2008): Given to someone who has helped develop players.
• Mike Coolbaugh Award (started 2008): Given to someone with a great work ethic, baseball knowledge, and skill in guiding young players.
• John H. Moss Community Service Award (started 2013): Given to a team for great charity work and leadership in the community.
• Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award (started 2016): Given to a person or team for great support of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans.

Broadcasting Minor League Games

Radio

Almost every minor league team has its own local radio deal. Unlike major league teams, these usually involve only one or two radio stations.

Television

Nationally, Minor League Baseball games are shown on Stadium and MLB Network. Many individual teams also have deals with local TV channels. For example, the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians have a deal with WISH-TV to show 35 home games.

Streaming Online

MiLB.TV is the minor leagues' online video streaming service. It's like Major League Baseball's MLB.tv. As of 2021, you can subscribe to watch games from all Triple-A and Double-A teams, plus some games from other levels.

TuneIn also provides free audio streams for minor league games. You can find these through the MiLB.TV website.

Images for kids

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  Minor League Baseball Logo

See also

In Spanish: Ligas Menores de Béisbol para niños

• History of baseball
• The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book
• Independent baseball league
• Korea Baseball Futures League
• Eastern League and Western League of Japan