Minor League Baseball

**Minor League Baseball** (**MiLB**) is a hierarchy of professional baseball minor leagues the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball (MLB) and help prepare players to join major league teams. Those teams which are affiliated with MLB teams operate under the Commissioner of Baseball within the scope of organized baseball. Several leagues, known as independent baseball leagues, consist of teams with no affiliation to MLB teams.

Starting with the 2021 season, the number of MLB-affiliated minor leagues with teams in the United States and Canada has been reduced to 14, with a total of 150 teams (five per each of the 30 MLB franchises). There is also an MLB-affiliated rookie league in the Dominican Republic.

## Current System

Entering the 2021 season, the minor league classification system divides leagues into one of four classes: Triple-A (AAA), Double-A (AA), High-A (A+), and Single-A (A). MLB franchises may also maintain a complex-based rookie team in the Arizona League or Gulf Coast League, and international summer baseball teams in the Dominican Summer League.

#### Triple-A

Main article: Triple-A

Beginning in 2022, This classification currently includes two affiliated leagues: International League and the Pacific Coast League, which replaced the Triple-A East and Triple-A West , respectively. For most of the 20th century, Triple-A also included the American Association, based in the Midwest, but that league disbanded with its clubs absorbed by the other two leagues, as part of a reorganization of the Triple-A level in 1997.

Both young players and veterans play for Triple-A teams. Parent clubs often hold players who are on the 40-man roster, but not on the active MLB roster, at the Triple-A level. Such players are eligible to be added to a team's active major league roster. For teams in contention for a pennant late in a season, it gives them fresh players, while for teams not in contention, it gives them an opportunity to evaluate their second-tier players against major league competition. Some Triple-A players are "career minor leaguers", former prospects whose skill growth has halted and are not likely to advance to MLB, unless as a temporary replacement.

#### Double-A

Main article: Double-A

Beginning in 2022, There are currently three leagues in this classification: Eastern League, Southern League, and the Texas League, which replaced Double-A Northeast, Double-A South and Double-A Central, respectively. Some players jump to the majors from this level, as many of the top prospects are put here to play against each other rather than against minor and major league veterans in Triple-A. A small handful of players might be placed here to start, usually veterans from foreign leagues with more experience in professional baseball. The expectation is usually that these veteran players will be in the majors by the end of the season, as their salaries tend to be higher than those of most prospects.

#### High-A

Main article: High-A

One level below Double-A is the High-A level, also known as "Class A+" or "Class A-Advanced". Beginning in 2022, this classification has three leagues: Carolina League, Midwest League, and Northwest League, which succeed the High-A East, High-A Central, and High-A West, respectively, with the Midwest League having previously been a Low-A League and the Northwest League having previously been a short-season league.

This level of play is often a second or third promotion for a minor league player, although a few high first-round draftees, particularly those with college experience, begin at this level.