Triple-A (officiallyClass AAA[1]) has been the highest level of play inMinor League Baseball in theUnited States since 1946. Currently, twoleagues operate at the Triple-A level, theInternational League (IL) and thePacific Coast League (PCL). There are 30 teams, one perMajor League Baseball (MLB) franchise, with 20 in the IL and 10 in the PCL. Triple-A teams are generally located in smaller to mid-size cities which do not have sports teams of the “Big Four” leagues, such asSyracuse,Toledo,Reno andOmaha, as well as larger metropolitan areas without MLB teams that also have a team in another major professional league, such asJacksonville,Columbus,Buffalo, andIndianapolis. Four Triple-A teams play in the same metro areas as their parent clubs.[notes 1]
All current Triple-A teams are located in the United States; before 2008, some Triple-A leagues also fieldedteams in Canada,[2] and from 1967 to 2020 theMexican League was classified as Triple-A. Reasons for the relocation of these teams were solely because of costs and attendance. Other than the current two Triple-A leagues, only three other leagues have ever held the classification.
.jpg)
Prior to 1946, the top level ofMinor League Baseball wasDouble-A, which had been established in 1912.[3][4]: 236 The Triple-A classification was created before the 1946 season, and began with all three leagues then in Double-A moving up to the new level:[4]: 15
This structure persisted for the next 75 years with only a few changes:
The IL, PCL, and Mexican League continued as Triple-A leagues until Major League Baseball reorganized the minor leagues prior to the 2021 season. At that time, the IL and PCL were temporarily renamedTriple-A East andTriple-A West, respectively. The Mexican League continues to operate, independently. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, they announced on March 16, 2022, that the leagues would once again be called the International League and the Pacific Coast League, effective with the 2022 season.[6]
While all current and the majority of past Triple-A teams have been located in the United States, Triple-A teams have also been based in:[4]: 104–106
The main purpose of Triple-A teams is to prepare players for the major leagues. In 2010,ESPN wrote:[7]
Winning is nice, but secondary. It's much more important for a young prospect like outfielderXavier Paul to get regular at-bats against lefties, or work on dropping down sacrifice bunts with a runner on first, than it is to take three of four from thePortland Beavers.[7]
Both young players and veterans play for Triple-A teams:
There are the young prospects speeding through the organization on the fastest treadmill, the guys who used to be young prospects who are in danger of topping out in Triple-A, the 30-somethings trying to get back to the majors after an injury or a rough patch, and the guys just playing a few more seasons because someone still wants them and they still want to.[7]
Most, if not all, of the players on an MLB team'sexpanded roster who are not currently on the team'sactive roster are assigned to the team's Triple-A club. Expanded rosters consist of 40 players, while active rosters generally consist of 26 players as of the 2021 season. Most Triple-A teams are located geographically close to their MLB parent club, as activating a Triple-A player as an injury replacement is a common occurrence.
The term "AAAA player," pronounced "four-A" or "quadruple-A," refers to a player who is consistently successful when playing for Triple-A teams, but is not successful at the major league level. The term is usually used derisively and has itself been criticized as flawed.[8][9] Major league team executives and managers disagree whether AAAA players exist.[10]
Teams at this level are divided into two leagues: the International League and the Pacific Coast League. The International League fields teams primarily in the Eastern United States, while the Pacific Coast League fields teams mostly in the Western United States. Each of the 30 major league teams has an affiliation with one Triple-A team in the United States.
| Division | Team | Founded | MLB affiliation | Affiliated | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | Albuquerque Isotopes | 2003 | Colorado Rockies | 2015 | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park | 13,500 |
| El Paso Chihuahuas | 2014 | San Diego Padres | 2014 | El Paso, Texas | Southwest University Park | 9,500 | |
| Oklahoma City Comets | 1962 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 2015 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | 9,000 | |
| Round Rock Express | 2000 | Texas Rangers | 2021 | Round Rock, Texas | Dell Diamond | 11,631 | |
| Sugar Land Space Cowboys | 2012 | Houston Astros | 2021 | Sugar Land, Texas | Constellation Field | 7,500 | |
| West | Las Vegas Aviators | 1983 | Athletics | 2019 | Summerlin South, Nevada | Las Vegas Ballpark | 10,000 |
| Reno Aces | 2009 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 2009 | Reno, Nevada | Greater Nevada Field | 9,013 | |
| Sacramento River Cats | 2000 | San Francisco Giants | 2015 | West Sacramento, California | Sutter Health Park | 14,014 | |
| Salt Lake Bees | 1994 | Los Angeles Angels | 2001 | South Jordan, Utah | Daybreak Field at America First Square | 6,500 | |
| Tacoma Rainiers | 1960 | Seattle Mariners | 1995 | Tacoma, Washington | Cheney Stadium | 6,500 |
TheTriple-A All-Star Game was a single game held between the two affiliated Triple-A leagues—the International League and the Pacific Coast League. Each league fielded a team composed of the top players in their respective leagues as voted on by fans, the media, and each club'sfield manager andgeneral manager.[11] The event took place every year since 1988 when the first Triple-A All-Star Game was played inBuffalo, New York. Prior to 1998, a team ofAmerican League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars faced off against a team ofNational League-affiliated Triple-A All-Stars.
Traditionally, the game was held on the day after the mid-summerMajor League Baseball All-Star Game.[12] Such games mark a symbolic halfway-point in the season, despite occurring later than the actual halfway-point of most seasons. Both Triple-A leagues shared a common All-Star break, with no regular-season games scheduled for two days before the All-Star Game itself. Some additional events, such as the All-Star Fan Fest andTriple-A Home Run Derby, were held each year during this break in the regular season.[13]
While the 2021 schedule originally included a three-day All-Star break of July 12–14,[14] this was removed afterOpening Day was pushed back one month.[15] Team schedules for the 2021 season were subsequently issued without an All-Star break.[16]
Beginning in 2006, the annualTriple-A National Championship Game was held to serve as a single championship game between the champions of the International League and Pacific Coast League to determine an overall champion of Triple-A baseball. It was originally held annually atChickasaw Bricktown Ballpark inOklahoma City, and known as the Bricktown Showdown.[17] Starting in 2011, the game was held in a different Triple-A city each year.[18] Previous postseason interleague championships include theJunior World Series (1932–34, 1936–62, 1970–71, 1973–74),Triple-A World Series (1983, 1998–2000), andTriple-A Classic (1988–91).
For the 2021 season, in place of the National Championship Game, Minor League Baseball extended the Triple-A regular season to October 3,[19] with league champions determined based on regular-season records through the original end date of the season (September 19 for Triple-A East, and September 21 for Triple-A West).[20] The final 10 games of the season, played after those dates, were deemed the "Final Stretch", with the team posting the best winning percentage during that period (theDurham Bulls, who went 9–1) winning a cash prize.[20][21] Since the 2022 season, the Triple-A National Championship Game has been played between the champions of the International League and the Pacific Coast League.[22] In 2023, the Triple-A Championship game was played at the Las Vegas Ballpark. The winner of this game were the Norfolk Tides.
As a part of professional baseball'space of play initiatives implemented in 2015, 20-secondpitch clocks entered use at Triple-A stadiums in 2015.[23] In 2018, the time was shortened to 15 seconds when no runners are on base. Other significant changes implemented in 2018 included beginning extra innings with a runner on second base and limiting teams to six mound visits during a nine-inning game.[24] For the 2019 season, the number of mound visits was reduced to five, and pitchers were required to face a minimum of three consecutive batters unless the side is retired or the pitcher becomes injured and is unable to continue playing.[25]
