Levels of the minor league system

[DodgerBlue8188]

I'm trying to understand the levels. The way I understand it is there is:

Rookie Level
A
AA
AAA

Now, I understand AA and AAA. But what about Rookie level. Is this simply a level for players who were just drafted? Pretty much meaning that if a player starts playing rookie level in 2008 he will have to improve enough to at least play on A level the next season? I guess another way of looking at it is thinking Rookie league is a league of red shirt freshmen. You only get 1 season to play there.

[Yankeebiscuitfan]

Interesting question. I am eagerly waiting for the reply.

[Brian McKenna]

There are different rookie levels. One is a short-season (starts in June) , lowest level, for new high school signees. Typically ones who aren't available, for one reason or another, to play in early April.

The other is an advanced rookie league. Mixture of recent draftees or signees and second-year players.

Above Rookie and but below A is a short season league like the NY-PA League and the Northwest League. This is typically where college players enter pro ball.

There are also three (or two depending on how you view it) levels of A ball. Low A, A and High A:
Low A - "a mix of high-quality first-season rookies from the previous year's draft and undrafted signings, as well as players moving up from the Short-Season leagues"

A - are guys working on certain problems - typically control issues for pitchers and batting difficulties.

High A - are those advancing through the organization (this is their 2nd or perhaps 3rd promotion), just a step below AA. Sometimes highly rated signees, typically with college experience or those with experience in foreign leagues, will start here.

[DodgerBlue8188]

There are different rookie levels. One is a short-season (starts in June) , lowest level, for new high school signees. Typically ones who aren't available, for one reason or another, to play in early April.

The other is an advanced rookie league. Mixture of recent draftees or signees and second-year players.

Above Rookie and but below A is a short season league like the NY-PA League and the Northwest League. This is typically where college players enter pro ball.

There are also three (or two depending on how you view it) levels of A ball. Low A, A and High A:
Low A - "a mix of high-quality first-season rookies from the previous year's draft and undrafted signings, as well as players moving up from the Short-Season leagues"

A - are guys working on certain problems - typically control issues for pitchers and batting difficulties.

High A - are those advancing through the organization (this is their 2nd or perhaps 3rd promotion), just a step below AA. Sometimes highly rated signees, typically with college experience or those with experience in foreign leagues, will start here.

Interesting. So how does this work with teams being affiliated with major league teams. Does each major league team have a low A, A and high A team. Or just some?

[beemax]

The lowest levels of Rookie Ball are:

Gulf Coast League
Arizona Rookie League

After that:

Pioneer League
Appalachain League

After that:

New York-Penn League
Northwest League

These are all short season (Start in June) leagues. The GCL, Arizona, Pioneer, and Appalachain have many more High School kids than the NYPL and the NWL, which cater to more college-age first year players.

As for the full season A ball Leagues, there are:

(A Ball)
South Atlantic League
Midwest League

(Advanced A Ball)
California League
Carolina League
Florida State League

After this you have AA and AAA.

Hope this helps.

[beemax]

Interesting. So how does this work with teams being affiliated with major league teams. Does each major league team have a low A, A and high A team. Or just some?

All teams have ballclubs at each level.

[bluezebra]

The was a time when the Minors when down to "D" ball.

There are also Independent Leagues, not affiliated with Organized Baseball.

There are TWO "A" level leagues. Lower "A" leagues are Midwest and South Atlantic. High "A" (also referred to as "Upper A") are California, Carolina, Florida State.

There are two Short-Season leagues, New York-Penn, Northwest.

Rookie leagues are Appalachian / Arizona / Dominican Summer / Gulf Coast / Pioneer / Venezuelan Summer

Double "A": Eastern / Southern / Texas

Triple "A": International / Mexican / Pacific Coast

Bob

[Pere]

The lowest levels of Rookie Ball are:

Gulf Coast League
Arizona Rookie League

There's also the summer leagues in the Dominican and Venezuela which are approximately equivalent to these leagues.

[Pere]

All teams have ballclubs at each level.

All MLB organizations have farm teams (one each) at each level from full-season low-A on up, but below that they're not all the same.

[Brian McKenna]

The was a time when the Minors when down to "D" ball.

There were also E an F leagues during WWII I believe.

[Milwaukee T]

Farm System

The classification did go down to E, but it was used only one year during World War II. That was a league that was in essence a group of young guys working in the shipyards and factories in Duluth and Superior that happened to know how to play ball.

The new classifications have become rather standard to a point. Each major league team has one affiliate each in AAA and AA, two in A, and at least one in R. The Academy level R is where teams have some freedom. The VSL and the DRL have often had teams affiliated with multiple major league teams and some MLB teams have no teams from time to time.

What you will often see is that AAA is a place for a player to be parked if he is working on something and buying time for an opening with the parent team. This is also where many major leaguers had gone in the past for rehab.

AA tends to be younger guys and where guys on the fast track up make a stop for some maturing.

A is split into unofficial levels. High A, Low A, and Short Season A. SS is often filled by guys looking to play ball and still go to school. It is a place to gain stats. Low A is generally the Midwest League and the SAL. It is where last year's draft picks will go if it is thier first season. It is also where a lot of non-draft players will break into the farm. It is good, hard played ball. It just is a place for guys to start and where they will likely spend the entire season. Many MLB stars start play at this level. High A is generally considered the California league and the Florida State League. That is where solid prospects are sent to work on a detail or two so that they can ride the fast train up to AA and beyond. Many players from Asia seem to make that as the first step in the system. One important thing to remember is that this unofficial split can not be used in seasons past as this is a step that fluctuates and has never been official in the past.

The Rookie Level is fun to disect as well and again can not be used going backward as it has fluctuated some over time. The Advanced Rookies are the NYP League and the App League. These are also short season leagues that have players that were either just drafted or looking to gain some quick innings before heading back to school. They are designed to weed out the marginal player either through the play on the field or the travel between cities. The low Rookies are designed basically as teaching stops. Seldom is there travel or fans. That is the Arizona and Gulf Coast in the USA, the DSL and VSL from the Island areas, and now the Mexican Rookie Academy for Mexico. You will likely see more players going to this level as security tightens and the players have harder time entering the USA.

Generally you will see the age of the player rise with the levels as well. And remember that in no way do these levels mean a player is exactly at any level. In recent years these levels have become more defined, but more blured as major league teams try to find playing time of any sort for the players that they want to see.

[Pere]

High A is generally considered the California league and the Florida State League.

Also the Carolina League, which I am not alone in holding as the best of the three.

The Advanced Rookies are the NYP League and the App League.

The NYPL is a short-season A league; the Appy is an advanced-R. Some organizations have teams in both these leagues, and use the NYPL as the next step (or next half-step) above the Appy.

[Milwaukee T]

My Bad

You are correct. I meant the Pioneer League. I was in the middle of a project and Pittsfield on my mind which must have put the NYPL up there as well.

[DodgerBlue8188]

You mention guys going to school and playing ball. I thought once you go pro you can't play college sports anymore? Or is minor leagues not considered pro?

[Milwaukee T]

Almost

A student can go play minor league baseball and will still be allowed to play at the college level in other sports. You will often see this show through on the football teams although it has morphed a bit as of late.

In the past you would see a player minor league baseball in the summer and then football in the fall or basketball in the winter. Now it plays out more that a plyer goes to the minors for the summer and sees where that goes as he bulks up. Then, if it is not working out, he will be found on the football team at 22 or 25. That is a huge misconception of the average fan. A lot of those college football players are not just kids moving on from high school; there are often many in thier mid twenties. This does happen for many differant reasons.