Arizona Complex League Guardians Explained

Arizona Complex League Guardians
Allyears:1967–1975, 1988–1990, 2006–present
City:Goodyear, Arizona
Misc:Gulf Coast League Indians (before 2009)
Arizona League Indians (2009–2022)
Class Level:Rookie
Current League:Arizona Complex League
Division:Central Division
Majorleague:Cleveland Guardians
Nickname:ACL Guardians (2022–present)
Pastparks:Chain of Lakes Park (2006–2008)
Leaguenum:1
Divnum:2
Firsthalfnum:1
Owner:Cleveland Guardians
Manager:Yan Rivera

The Arizona Complex League Guardians are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Goodyear Ballpark in Goodyear, Arizona. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and other countries.

History

The Cleveland Indians previously fielded a Rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League (GCL) during three tenures (1967–1975, 1988–1990, and 2006–2008) known as the Gulf Coast League Indians.[1] The team played at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven, Florida, during 2006–2008. Notable players for the GCL Indians include Jeff Newman in 1970;[2] Newman went on to play in Major League Baseball from 1976 to 1984, and was one of three managers for the 1986 Oakland Athletics.

In 2009, when the major-league Indians moved their spring training from Florida to Arizona, the Rookie-level team moved to the Arizona League (AZL), becoming the Arizona League Indians. The team has competed in Arizona since then.[1] In 2018 and 2019, the team fielded two squads in the league, differentiated by suffixes (1 and 2, or Blue and Red).[1] Prior to the 2021 season, the Arizona League was renamed as the Arizona Complex League (ACL). Following the rebranding of the Cleveland Indians to the "Cleveland Guardians" prior to the 2022 season, the organization's domestic complex team was renamed the "ACL Guardians."

Season-by-season

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
align=center colspan=5GCL Indians
1967 30–29 2nd No playoffs until 1983
1968 33–27 3rd
1969 30–23 2nd
1970 34–26 3rd Joe Lutz
1971 28–24 3rd Len Johnston
1972 34–26 3rd
1973 32–24 2nd Len Johnston
1974 16–36 8th Wilfredo Calvino
1975 19–33 6th
1988 38–25 5th
1989 34–29 7th
1990 23–40 13th
2006 21–29 11th
2007 28–31 8th
2008 27–29 11th Rouglas Odor
YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
align=center colspan=5AZL Indians
2009 24–32 8th (t)
2010 21–35 10th
2011 30–26 5th Anthony Medrano
2012 31–25 6th (t) Anthony Medrano
2013 28–28 7th Anthony Medrano Lost in 1st round
vs. AZL Rangers (1 game to 0)
2014 37–16 1st Anthony Medrano League Champs
vs. AZL Giants (1 game to 0)
Won in semifinals
vs. AZL Rangers (1 game to 0)
2015 23–33 12th (t) Anthony Medrano

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cleveland Indians Minor League Affiliates . . June 28, 2021.
  2. Web site: Jeff Newman Minor Leagues Statistics & History . . June 28, 2021.