An update on the southern league
Throughout the spring and summer months, rumors swirled around about a possible contraction of Minor League Baseball. Those rumors were confirmed on December 9, when Major League Baseball clubs sent out their affiliation invitations, each team limited to just four affiliates. In years past, there were roughly 160 affiliated Minor League teams, but this upcoming season, there will just be 120 teams. Rather than mentioning every team that changed or lost affiliation, I’ll just mention the teams that played in the Southern League in 2019.
Teams Staying with Same MLB Club
- Biloxi Shuckers – Invited by Milwalkee to remain team’s Double-A Affiliate
- Birmingham Barons – Invited by Chicago White Sox to remain team’s Double-A Affiliate
- Chattanooga Lookouts – Invited by Cincinnati to remain team’s Double-A Affiliate
- Jacksonville jumbo Shrimp – Invited by Miami Marlins to become team’s Triple-A Affiliate
- Mississippi Braves – Invited by Atlanta to remain team’s Double-A Affiliate
- Montgomery Biscuits – Invited by Tampa Bay to remain team’s Double-A Affiliate
- Rocket City Trash Pandas – Invited by LA Angels to remain team’s Double-A Affiliate
- Tennessee Smokies – Invited by Chicago Cubs to remain team’s Double-A Affiliate
Teams Changing Affiliation
- Pensacola Blue Wahoos – Changing from Minnesota to Miami, stay in Double-A
Teams Losing Affiliation
- Jackson Generals – Previously Double-A Affiliate of Arizona
As of now, we do not know if the two departing teams will be replaced, but I would not imagine that they would be. It appears as if the Southern League will just play with eight teams for the foreseeable future, but we’ll update this article if anything is announced.
