Current Atlanta Braves domestic minor league affiliate locations
The Atlanta Braves farm system consists of six Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are independently owned, while two–the Florida Complex League Braves and Dominican Summer League Braves—are owned by the major league club.
The Braves have been affiliated with the High-A Rome Emperors of the South Atlantic League since 2003, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Braves. The longest affiliation in franchise history was with the Richmond Braves, who were the team's Triple-A affiliate in the International League for 43 seasons from 1966 to 2008. Their newest affiliate is the Augusta GreenJackets of the South Atlantic League, which became the Braves' Single-A club in 2021.
Geographically, Atlanta's closest domestic affiliate is the International League's Gwinnett Stripers, which are approximately 29 miles (47 km) away. Atlanta's furthest domestic affiliate is the Double-A Mississippi Braves of the Southern League some 347 miles (558 km) away.
Current affiliates
The Atlanta Braves farm system consists of six minor league affiliates.[1]
Past affiliates
Key
1932–1962
Minor League Baseball operated with five classes (Double-A, Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D) from 1932 to 1935.[2] Class A1, between Double-A and Class A, was added in 1936.[3] The minors continued to operate with these six levels through 1945.[3] Triple-A was established as the highest classification in 1946, and Class A1 became Double-A, with Class A through D remaining.[3] These six levels continued through 1962.[2] 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 ended any chance of the PCL being promoted.[2]
1963–1989
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]
1990–2020
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]
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.[97] Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.[98]
