The Detroit Tigers farm system consists of seven Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are owned by the major league club, while three—the Toledo Mud Hens, Erie SeaWolves, and West Michigan Whitecaps—are independently owned.
The Tigers have been affiliated with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens of the International League since 1987, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Tigers. It is also the longest independently-owned partnership in the team's history including previous stints from 1937 to 1939, 1949 to 1951, and 1967 to 1973. Among all teams, the longest relationship has been with the Lakeland Flying Tigers of the Florida State League, who were affiliates form 1963 to 1964 before reaffiliating in 1967. Their newest affiliate is the Erie SeaWolves of the Eastern League, which became the Tigers' Double-A club in 2001.
Geographically, Detroit's closest domestic affiliate is the Toledo Mud Hens, which are approximately 54miles away. Detroit's furthest domestic affiliates are the Single-A Lakeland Flying Tigers and the Florida Complex League Tigers of the Rookie Florida Complex League, which share a facility some 988miles away.
The Detroit Tigers farm system consists of seven minor league affiliates.[1]
Season | Each year is linked to an article about that particular Tigers season. | - | League champions --> |
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Minor League Baseball operated with five classes (Double-A, Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D) from 1932 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 | Double-A | Class A | Class B | Class C | Class D | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1919 | — | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | [4] | |
1920 | — | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | [5] | |
1921 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [6] | |
1922 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [7] | |
1923 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [8] | |
1924 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [9] | |
1925 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [10] | |
1926 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [11] | |
1927 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [12] | |
1928 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [13] | |
1929 | — | — | Fort Worth Panthers | — | — | — | [14] | |
1930 | — | — | Beaumont Exporters | — | — | — | [15] | |
1931 | — | — | Beaumont Exporters | — | — | — | [16] | |
1932 | — | Toronto Maple Leafs | Beaumont Exporters | Decatur Commodores | Huntington Boosters | Moline Plowboys | [17] | |
1933 | — | Toronto Maple Leafs | Beaumont Exporters Hutchinson Wheat Shockers / Bartlesville Broncos | Quincy Shipbuilders / Nashua Millionaires / Brockton Shoemakers | Huntington Boosters Shreveport Sports | — | [18] | |
1934 | — | — | Beaumont Exporters | — | Charleston Senators Shreveport Sports / Greenwood Chiefs | Charleroi Tigers | [19] | |
1935 | — | Portland Beavers | Beaumont Exporters | Springfield Senators | Charleston Senators Henderson Oilers | Charleroi Tigers | [20] | |
1936 | — | Milwaukee Brewers | Beaumont Exporters (A1) | Augusta Tigers | Charleston Senators Jackson Senators | Alexandria Aces Charleroi Tigers Palatka Azaleas Tiffin Mud Hens | [21] | |
1937 | — | Toledo Mud Hens | Beaumont Exporters (A1) Sioux City Cowboys | Winston-Salem Twins | Charleston Senators Henderson Oilers | Beckley Bengals Lake Charles Skippers Tiffin Mud Hens | [22] | |
1938 | — | Toledo Mud Hens | Beaumont Exporters (A1) | — | Charleston Senators Hot Springs Bathers | Hobbs Boosters Tiffin Mud Hens | [23] | |
1939 | — | Toledo Mud Hens | Beaumont Exporters (A1) | — | Henderson Oilers Hot Springs Bathers | Fulton Tigers Newport Tigers Sioux City Cowboys Tiffin Mud Hens | [24] | |
1940 | — | Buffalo Bisons | Beaumont Exporters (A1) | — | Henderson Oilers Hot Springs Bathers Muskegon Reds | Fulton Tigers | [25] | |
1941 | — | Buffalo Bisons San Francisco Seals | Beaumont Exporters (A1) Elmira Pioneers | Augusta Tigers Hagerstown Owls Winston-Salem Twins | Muskegon Reds Texarkana Twins Utica Braves | Fulton Tigers Jamestown Falcons Tallassee Indians | [26] | |
1942 | — | Buffalo Bisons | Beaumont Exporters (A1) Elmira Pioneers | Augusta Tigers Hagerstown Owls Winston-Salem Twins | Pittsfield Electrics | Fulton Tigers Jamestown Falcons | [27] | |
1943 | — | Buffalo Bisons | — | Hagerstown Owls | — | — | [28] | |
1944 | — | Buffalo Bisons | — | Hagerstown Owls | — | Jamestown Falcons | [29] | |
1945 | — | Buffalo Bisons | — | — | — | Jamestown Falcons | [30] | |
1946 | Buffalo Bisons | Dallas Rebels | Williamsport Grays | — | Lubbock Hubbers Muskogee Reds Rome Colonels | Jamestown Falcons | [31] | |
1947 | Buffalo Bisons | Dallas Rebels | Williamsport Tigers | Hagerstown Owls Montgomery Rebels | Lubbock Hubbers Rome Colonels | Jamestown Falcons Nazareth Barons Thomasville Tigers Troy Trojans | [32] | |
1948 | Buffalo Bisons Seattle Rainiers | Little Rock Travelers | Flint Arrows Williamsport Tigers | Hagerstown Owls | Durham Bulls Rome Colonels | Clinton Blues Jamestown Falcons Thomasville Tigers Troy Tigers | [33] | |
1949 | Buffalo Bisons Toledo Mud Hens | Little Rock Travelers | Flint Arrows Williamsport Tigers | Durham Bulls Lynn Tigers | Butler Tigers Rome Colonels | Jamestown Falcons Thomasville Tigers Troy Tigers | [34] | |
1950 | Toledo Mud Hens | Little Rock Travelers | Flint Arrows Williamsport Grays | Durham Bulls | Butler Tigers | Jamestown Falcons Richmond Tigers Thomasville Tigers | [35] | |
1951 | Toledo Mud Hens | Little Rock Travelers | Williamsport Tigers | Davenport Tigers Durham Bulls | — | Jamestown Falcons Richmond Tigers Wausau Timberjacks | [36] | |
1952 | Buffalo Bisons | Little Rock Travelers | Williamsport Tigers | Davenport Tigers Durham Bulls | — | Kinston Eagles Jamestown Falcons Wausau Timberjacks | [37] | |
1953 | Buffalo Bisons | Little Rock Travelers | Montgomery Grays | Durham Bulls | Bakersfield Indians Jackson Senators | Jamestown Falcons Wausau Timberjacks | [38] | |
1954 | Buffalo Bisons | Little Rock Travelers | Wilkes-Barre Barons | Durham Bulls | Greenville Tigers Idaho Falls Russets | Jamestown Falcons Valdosta Tigers | [39] | |
1955 | Buffalo Bisons | Little Rock Travelers | Augusta Tigers | Durham Bulls Terre Haute Tigers | Idaho Falls Russets Greenville Bucks | Jamestown Falcons Panama City Fliers Valdosta Tigers | [40] | |
1956 | Charleston Senators | — | Augusta Tigers Syracuse Chiefs | Durham Bulls Terre Haute Tigers | Idaho Falls Russets | Hazlehurst-Baxley Tigers Jamestown Falcons Palatka Tigers Panama City Fliers Valdosta Tigers | [41] | |
1957 | Charleston Senators | Birmingham Barons | Augusta Tigers | Durham Bulls | Idaho Falls Russets | Erie Sailors Montgomery Rebels Orlando Flyers Valdosta Tigers | [42] | |
1958 | Charleston Senators | Birmingham Barons | Augusta Tigers Lancaster Red Roses | Durham Bulls | Idaho Falls Russets | Decatur Commodores Erie Sailors Montgomery Rebels Valdosta Tigers | [43] | |
1959 | Charleston Senators | Birmingham Barons | Knoxville Smokies | Durham Bulls | — | Decatur Commodores Erie Sailors Montgomery Rebels | [44] | |
1960 | Denver Bears | Birmingham Barons Victoria Rosebuds | Knoxville Smokies | Durham Bulls | Duluth–Superior Dukes | Decatur Commodores Montgomery Rebels | [45] | |
1961 | Denver Bears | Birmingham Barons | Knoxville Smokies | Durham Bulls | Duluth–Superior Dukes | Decatur Commodores Jamestown Tigers Montgomery Rebels | [46] | |
1962 | Denver Bears | — | Knoxville Smokies | — | Duluth–Superior Dukes | Jamestown Tigers Montgomery Rebels Thomasville Tigers | [47] |
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 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1963 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Duluth–Superior Dukes Jamestown Tigers Lakeland Tigers Thomasville Tigers | — | — | [48] | |
1964 | Syracuse Chiefs | Knoxville Smokies | Duluth–Superior Dukes Jamestown Tigers Lakeland Tigers | — | Cocoa Tigers | [49] | |
1965 | Syracuse Chiefs | Montgomery Rebels | Daytona Beach Islanders Duluth–Superior Dukes Jamestown Tigers Rocky Mount Leafs | — | — | [50] | |
1966 | Syracuse Chiefs | Montgomery Rebels | Daytona Beach Islanders Rocky Mount Leafs Statesville Tigers | — | — | [51] | |
1967 | Toledo Mud Hens | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers Rocky Mount Leafs Statesville Tigers | Erie Tigers | — | [52] | |
1968 | Toledo Mud Hens | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers Rocky Mount Leafs | Batavia Trojans | GCL Tigers | [53] | |
1969 | Toledo Mud Hens | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers Rocky Mount Leafs | Batavia Trojans | Bristol Tigers | [54] | |
1970 | Toledo Mud Hens | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers Rocky Mount Leafs | Batavia Trojans | Bristol Tigers | [55] | |
1971 | Toledo Mud Hens | Montgomery Rebels | Clinton Pilots Lakeland Tigers Rocky Mount Leafs | Batavia Trojans | Bristol Tigers | [56] | |
1972 | Toledo Mud Hens | Montgomery Rebels | Clinton Pilots Lakeland Tigers Rocky Mount Leafs | — | Bristol Tigers | [57] | |
1973 | Toledo Mud Hens | Montgomery Rebels | Anderson Tigers Clinton Pilots Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [58] | |
1974 | Evansville Triplets | Montgomery Rebels | Clinton Pilots Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [59] | |
1975 | Evansville Triplets | Montgomery Rebels | Clinton Pilots Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [60] | |
1976 | Evansville Triplets | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [61] | |
1977 | Evansville Triplets | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [62] | |
1978 | Evansville Triplets | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [63] | |
1979 | Evansville Triplets | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [64] | |
1980 | Evansville Triplets | Montgomery Rebels | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [65] | |
1981 | Evansville Triplets | Birmingham Barons | Lakeland Tigers Macon Peaches | — | Bristol Tigers | [66] | |
1982 | Evansville Triplets | Birmingham Barons | Lakeland Tigers Macon Peaches | — | Bristol Tigers | [67] | |
1983 | Evansville Triplets | Birmingham Barons | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [68] | |
1984 | Evansville Triplets | Birmingham Barons | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [69] | |
1985 | Nashville Sounds | Birmingham Barons | Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [70] | |
1986 | Nashville Sounds | Glens Falls Tigers | Gastonia Tigers Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [71] | |
1987 | Toledo Mud Hens | Glens Falls Tigers | Fayetteville Generals Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [72] | |
1988 | Toledo Mud Hens | Glens Falls Tigers | Fayetteville Generals Lakeland Tigers | — | Bristol Tigers | [73] | |
1989 | Toledo Mud Hens | London Tigers | Fayetteville Generals Lakeland Tigers | Niagara Falls Rapids | Bristol Tigers DSL Tigers/Giants | [74] [75] |
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 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | Toledo Mud Hens | London Tigers | Lakeland Tigers | Fayetteville Generals | Niagara Falls Rapids | Bristol Tigers | DSL Tigers/Padres/Red Sox | [76] [77] | |
1991 | Toledo Mud Hens | London Tigers | Lakeland Tigers | Fayetteville Generals | Niagara Falls Rapids | Bristol Tigers | DSL Tigers/Cardinals | [78] [79] | |
1992 | Toledo Mud Hens | London Tigers | Lakeland Tigers | Fayetteville Generals | Niagara Falls Rapids | Bristol Tigers | DSL Tigers/Cardinals | [80] | |
1993 | Toledo Mud Hens | London Tigers | Lakeland Tigers | Fayetteville Generals | Niagara Falls Rapids | Bristol Tigers | DSL Tigers/Cardinals | [81] | |
1994 | Toledo Mud Hens | Trenton Thunder | Lakeland Tigers | Fayetteville Generals | Jamestown Jammers | Bristol Tigers | DSL Tigers | [82] | |
1995 | Toledo Mud Hens | Jacksonville Suns | Lakeland Tigers | Fayetteville Generals | Jamestown Jammers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [83] | |
1996 | Toledo Mud Hens | Jacksonville Suns | Lakeland Tigers Visalia Oaks | Fayetteville Generals | Jamestown Jammers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [84] | |
1997 | Toledo Mud Hens | Jacksonville Suns | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Jamestown Jammers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [85] | |
1998 | Toledo Mud Hens | Jacksonville Suns | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Jamestown Jammers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [86] | |
1999 | Toledo Mud Hens | Jacksonville Suns | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [87] | |
2000 | Toledo Mud Hens | Jacksonville Suns | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [88] | |
2001 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [89] | |
2002 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [90] | |
2003 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [91] | |
2004 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [92] | |
2005 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers | [93] | |
2006 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers/Marlins | [94] | |
2007 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [95] | |
2008 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [96] | |
2009 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Oneonta Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [97] | |
2010 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [98] | |
2011 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [99] | |
2012 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [100] | |
2013 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [101] | |
2014 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [102] | |
2015 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers | DSL Tigers VSL Tigers | [103] | |
2016 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers East GCL Tigers West | DSL Tigers | [104] | |
2017 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers East GCL Tigers West | DSL Tigers | [105] | |
2018 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers East GCL Tigers West | DSL Tigers 1 DSL Tigers 2 | [106] | |
2019 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Connecticut Tigers | GCL Tigers East GCL Tigers West | DSL Tigers 1 DSL Tigers 2 | [107] | |
2020 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | Lakeland Flying Tigers | West Michigan Whitecaps | Norwich Sea Unicorns | GCL Tigers East GCL Tigers West | DSL Tigers 1 DSL Tigers 2 | [108] |
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.[109] Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.[110]
Season | Triple-A | Double-A | High-A | Single-A | Rookie | Foreign Rookie | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | West Michigan Whitecaps | Lakeland Flying Tigers | FCL Tigers East FCL Tigers West | DSL Tigers | [111] | |
2022 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | West Michigan Whitecaps | Lakeland Flying Tigers | FCL Tigers | DSL Tigers 1 DSL Tigers 2 | [112] | |
2023 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | West Michigan Whitecaps | Lakeland Flying Tigers | FCL Tigers | DSL Tigers 1 DSL Tigers 2 | [113] | |
2024 | Toledo Mud Hens | Erie SeaWolves | West Michigan Whitecaps | Lakeland Flying Tigers | FCL Tigers | DSL Tigers 1 DSL Tigers 2 | [114] |