The Chicago Cubs farm system consists of seven Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are independently owned, while three—the Arizona Complex League Cubs and two Dominican Summer League Cubs squads—are owned by the major league club.
The Cubs have been affiliated with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs of the International League since 1981, making it the longest-running affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Cubs. Their newest affiliates are the High-A South Bend Cubs of the Midwest League and the Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans of the Carolina League, which became Cubs affiliates in 2015.
Geographically, Chicago's closest domestic affiliate is the South Bend Cubs, which are approximately 75 miles (121 km) away. Chicago's furthest domestic affiliate is the Rookie Arizona Complex League Cubs, which are some 1,437 miles (2,313 km) away.
The Chicago Cubs farm system consists of seven minor league affiliates.[1]
Class | Team | League | Location | Ballpark | Affiliated |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Triple-A | Iowa Cubs | International League | Des Moines, Iowa | Principal Park | 1981 |
Double-A | Tennessee Smokies | Southern League | Sevierville, Tennessee | Smokies Stadium | 2007 |
High-A | South Bend Cubs | Midwest League | South Bend, Indiana | Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium | 2015 |
Single-A | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Carolina League | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina | Pelicans Ballpark | 2015 |
Rookie | ACL Cubs | Arizona Complex League | Mesa, Arizona | Sloan Park | 2021 |
DSL Cubs Blue | Dominican Summer League | Boca Chica, Santo Domingo | Baseball City Complex | 2016 | |
DSL Cubs Red |
Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Cubs season. |
---|
Minor League Baseball operated with five classes (Double-A, Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D) from 1922 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]
Season | Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1922 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — | [4] |
1923 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — | [5] |
1924 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — | [6] |
1925 | — | — | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — | — | [7] |
1926 | — | — | — | — | — | — | [8] |
1927 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — | [9] |
1928 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — | [10] |
1929 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — | [11] |
1930 | — | Reading Keystones | — | — | — | — | [12] |
1931 | — | — | — | — | — | — | [13] |
1932 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Wichita Aviators | — | — | — | [14] |
1933 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | — | — | [15] |
1934 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | — | Ponca City Angels | — | [16] |
1935 | — | Los Angeles Angels | — | Peoria Tractors Portsmouth Truckers |
Ponca City Angels | — | [17] |
1936 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Birmingham Barons (A1) | Portsmouth Cubs | Ponca City Angels | — | [18] |
1937 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Birmingham Barons (A1) | Moline Plow Boys Portsmouth Cubs |
Ponca City Angels | Eau Claire Bears | [19] |
1938 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Birmingham Barons (A1) | Moline Plow Boys Portsmouth Cubs |
Helena Seaporters Ponca City Angels |
Eau Claire Bears Greeneville Burley Cubs |
[20] |
1939 | — | Los Angeles Angels Milwaukee Brewers |
— | Bloomington Bloomers Moline Plow Boys |
St. Joseph Angels | Bisbee-Douglas Bees Eau Claire Bears Hopkinsville Hoppers Sioux Falls Canaries |
[21] |
1940 | — | Los Angeles Angels Milwaukee Brewers |
Tulsa Oilers (A1) | Moline Plow Boys | St. Joseph Saints | Greeneville Burley Cubs | [22] |
1941 | — | Los Angeles Angels Milwaukee Brewers |
Tulsa Oilers (A1) | Macon Peaches Portsmouth Cubs |
Bisbee Bees Muskogee Reds Stockton Fliers Zanesville Cubs |
Janesville Cubs Lake Charles Skippers |
[23] |
1942 | — | Los Angeles Angels Milwaukee Brewers |
Tulsa Oilers (A1) | Macon Peaches Madison Blues Portsmouth Cubs Vancouver Capilanos |
Ashland Colonels Zanesville Cubs |
Americus Pioneers Janesville Cubs |
[24] |
1943 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers (A1) | Portsmouth Cubs | Lockport Cubs | Erwin Aces | [25] |
1944 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers (A1) | Portsmouth Cubs | — | Erwin Aces Lockport Cubs Marion Diggers |
[26] |
1945 | — | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers (A1) | Hagerstown Owls Portsmouth Cubs |
Leaksville-Draper-Spray Triplets | Elizabethton Betsy Cubs Statesville Cubs |
[27] |
1946 | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers Tulsa Oilers |
Macon Peaches | Davenport Cubs Hagerstown Owls Portsmouth Cubs Shelby Cubs Tacoma Tigers |
Hutchinson Cubs Quebec Alouettes Visalia Cubs |
Elizabethton Betsy Cubs Fayetteville Cubs Hopkinsville Hoppers Iola Cubs Janesville Bears Statesville Cubs |
[28] |
1947 | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers Tulsa Oilers |
Des Moines Bruins Macon Peaches |
Davenport Cubs Fayetteville Cubs Portsmouth Cubs Tacoma Tigers |
Clinton Cubs Hutchinson Cubs Sioux Falls Canaries Visalia Cubs |
Centralia Cubs Elizabethton Betsy Cubs Iola Cubs Janesville Cubs Lumberton Cubs Marion Cubs |
[29] |
1948 | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers | Des Moines Bruins Macon Peaches |
Decatur Commodores Fayetteville Cubs Selma Cloverleafs Springfield Cubs |
Clinton Cubs Hutchinson Cubs / Springfield Cubs Sioux Falls Canaries Visalia Cubs |
Centralia Cubs Elizabethton Betsy Cubs Janesville Cubs Lumberton Cubs Marion Cubs St. Augustine Saints |
[30] |
1949 | Los Angeles Angels | Nashville Volunteers | Des Moines Bruins Macon Peaches |
Decatur Cubs Selma Cloverleafs Springfield Cubs |
Clinton Steers Sioux Falls Canaries Visalia Cubs |
Carthage Cubs Janesville Cubs Lumberton Auctioneers Rutherford County Owls St. Augustine Saints |
[31] |
1950 | Los Angeles Angels Springfield Cubs |
Nashville Volunteers | Des Moines Bruins Grand Rapids Jets |
Rock Hill Chiefs | Clovis Pioneers Sioux Falls Canaries Springfield Cubs Visalia Cubs |
Carthage Cubs Janesville Cubs Moultrie Cubs Rutherford County Owls |
[32] |
1951 | Los Angeles Angels Springfield Cubs |
Nashville Volunteers | Des Moines Bruins Grand Rapids Jets |
Greensboro Patriots Rock Hill Chiefs |
Clovis Pioneers Sioux Falls Canaries Topeka Owls Visalia Cubs |
Carthage Cubs Janesville Cubs Rutherford County Owls |
[33] |
1952 | Los Angeles Angels (Open) Springfield Cubs |
— | Des Moines Bruins Macon Peaches |
Greensboro Patriots | Sioux Falls Canaries Topeka Owls Visalia Cubs |
Blackwell Broncos Hickory Rebels Janesville Cubs |
[34] |
1953 | Los Angeles Angels (Open) Springfield Cubs |
— | Des Moines Bruins Macon Peaches |
Cedar Rapids Indians | Sioux Falls Canaries Stockton Ports |
Gainesville Owls Hickory Rebels Janesville Cubs |
[35] |
1954 | Los Angeles Angels (Open) | Beaumont Exporters | Des Moines Bruins Macon Peaches |
Cedar Rapids Indians | Blackwell Broncos Magic Valley Cowboys Stockton Ports |
Gainesville Owls Hickory Rebels |
[36] |
1955 | Los Angeles Angels (Open) | — | Des Moines Bruins Macon Peaches |
Burlington Bees | Lafayette Oilers Magic Valley Cowboys Vicksburg Hill Billies |
Gainesville Owls / Ponca City Cubs Paris Lakers |
[37] |
1956 | Los Angeles Angels (Open) | Tulsa Oilers | Des Moines Bruins | Burlington Bees | Lafayette Oilers Magic Valley Cowboys |
Crestview Braves Paris Lakers Ponca City Cubs |
[38] |
1957 | Portland Beavers (Open) | Fort Worth Cats Memphis Chickasaws |
Des Moines Bruins | Burlington Bees | Bakersfield Bears Lafayette Oilers Magic Valley Cowboys |
Paris Lakers Ponca City Cubs Pulaski Cubs |
[39] |
1958 | Portland Beavers | Fort Worth Cats | Pueblo Bruins | Burlington Bees | Magic Valley Cowboys | Carlsbad Potashers Paris Lakers Pulaski Cubs |
[40] |
1959 | Fort Worth Cats | San Antonio Missions | Lancaster Red Roses | Burlington Bees | — | Carlsbad Potashers Morristown Cubs Paris Lakers |
[41] |
1960 | Houston Buffs | San Antonio Missions | Lancaster Red Roses | — | St. Cloud Rox | Carlsbad Potashers Morristown Cubs |
[42] |
1961 | Houston Buffs | San Antonio Missions | — | Wenatchee Chiefs | St. Cloud Rox | Carlsbad Potashers Morristown Cubs |
[43] |
1962 | Salt Lake City Bees[n 1] | San Antonio Missions | — | Wenatchee Chiefs | St. Cloud Rox | Palatka Cubs | [45] |
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. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | Salt Lake City Bees | Amarillo Gold Sox | Pocatello Chiefs St. Cloud Rox Wenatchee Chiefs |
— | — | [46] |
1964 | Salt Lake City Bees | Fort Worth Cats | St. Cloud Rox Wenatchee Chiefs |
— | Treasure Valley Cubs | [47] |
1965 | Salt Lake City Bees | Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs | Duluth-Superior Dukes Quincy Cubs Wenatchee Chiefs |
— | Treasure Valley Cubs | [48] |
1966 | Tacoma Cubs | Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs | Lodi Crushers Quincy Cubs |
Duluth-Superior Dukes | Treasure Valley Cubs | [49] |
1967 | Tacoma Cubs | Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs | Lodi Crushers Quincy Cubs |
— | Caldwell Cubs | [50] |
1968 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Lodi Crushers Quincy Cubs |
— | Caldwell Cubs | [51] |
1969 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Quincy Cubs | Huron Cubs | Caldwell Cubs | [52] |
1970 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Quincy Cubs | Huron Cubs | Caldwell Cubs | [53] |
1971 | Tacoma Cubs | San Antonio Missions | Quincy Cubs | — | Caldwell Cubs | [54] |
1972 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quincy Cubs | — | GCL Cubs | [55] |
1973 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quincy Cubs | — | GCL Cubs | [56] |
1974 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Key West Conchs | — | GCL Cubs | [57] |
1975 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Key West Cubs | — | GCL Cubs | [58] |
1976 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Pompano Beach Cubs | — | GCL Cubs | [59] |
1977 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Pompano Beach Cubs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs | [60] |
1978 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Pompano Beach Cubs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs | [61] |
1979 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs | [62] |
1980 | Wichita Aeros | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs | [63] |
1981 | Iowa Oaks | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs | Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs | [64] |
1982 | Iowa Cubs | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs Salinas Spurs |
Geneva Cubs | GCL Cubs | [65] |
1983 | Iowa Cubs | Midland Cubs | Quad Cities Cubs Salinas Spurs |
Geneva Cubs | Pikeville Cubs | [66] |
1984 | Iowa Cubs | Midland Cubs | Lodi Crushers Quad Cities Cubs |
Geneva Cubs | Pikeville Cubs | [67] |
1985 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Peoria Chiefs Winston-Salem Spirits |
Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs | [68] |
1986 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Peoria Chiefs Winston-Salem Spirits |
Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs | [69] |
1987 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Peoria Chiefs Winston-Salem Spirits |
Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs | [70] |
1988 | Iowa Cubs | Pittsfield Cubs | Charleston Wheelers Peoria Chiefs Winston-Salem Spirits |
Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs | [71] |
1989 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Charleston Wheelers Peoria Chiefs Winston-Salem Spirits |
Geneva Cubs | Wytheville Cubs | [72] |
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 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Winston-Salem Spirits | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs | — | [73] |
1991 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Winston-Salem Spirits | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs | DSL Cubs/Royals | [74][75] |
1992 | Iowa Cubs | Charlotte Knights | Winston-Salem Spirits | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs AZL Cubs/Rockies |
DSL Cubs/Rockies/Royals | [76] |
1993 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Geneva Cubs | Huntington Cubs GCL Cubs |
DSL Cubs/Rangers | [77] |
1994 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Williamsport Cubs | Huntington Cubs GCL Cubs |
DSL Cubs/Padres | [78] |
1995 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | GCL Cubs | DSL Cubs/Padres | [79] |
1996 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Cubs | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | GCL Cubs | DSL Cubs/Padres | [80] |
1997 | Iowa Cubs | Orlando Rays | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [81] |
1998 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Rockford Cubbies | Williamsport Cubs | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [82] |
1999 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [83] |
2000 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [84] |
2001 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [85] |
2002 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Puerto Cabello[n 2] |
[87] |
2003 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [88] |
2004 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Lansing Lugnuts | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [89] |
2005 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [90] |
2006 | Iowa Cubs | West Tenn Diamond Jaxx | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs | [91] |
2007 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Cubs/Twins |
[92] |
2008 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[93] |
2009 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[94] |
2010 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[95] |
2011 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[96] |
2012 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Peoria Chiefs | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[97] |
2013 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Kane County Cougars | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Cubs |
[98] |
2014 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Daytona Cubs | Kane County Cougars | Boise Hawks | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Cubs |
[99] |
2015 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs VSL Cubs |
[100] |
2016 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[101] |
2017 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs | DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[102] |
2018 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs 1 AZL Cubs 2 |
DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[103] |
2019 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs 1 AZL Cubs 2 |
DSL Cubs 1 DSL Cubs 2 |
[104] |
2020[n 3] | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | South Bend Cubs | Eugene Emeralds | AZL Cubs Blue AZL Cubs Red |
DSL Cubs Blue DSL Cubs Red |
[106] |
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.[107] Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.[108]
Season | Triple-A | Double-A | High-A | Single-A | Rookie | Foreign Rookie | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | South Bend Cubs | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | ACL Cubs | DSL Cubs Blue DSL Cubs Red |
[109] |
2022 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | South Bend Cubs | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | ACL Cubs | DSL Cubs Blue DSL Cubs Red |
[110] |
2023 | Iowa Cubs | Tennessee Smokies | South Bend Cubs | Myrtle Beach Pelicans | ACL Cubs | DSL Cubs Blue DSL Cubs Red |
[111] |
Minor league baseball affiliates by franchise | |||||||
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American League |
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National League |
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