List of Kansas City Royals minor league affiliates explained

The Kansas City Royals farm system consists of seven Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are independently owned, while three—the Arizona Complex League Royals and two Dominican Summer League Royals teams—are owned by the major league club.

The Royals have been affiliated with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers of the Pacific Coast League since 1969, making it the longest-running affiliation in the organization. Their newest affiliates are the High-A Quad Cities River Bandits of the Midwest League and the Single-A Columbia Fireflies of the Carolina League, which became Royals affiliates in 2021.

Geographically, Kansas City's closest domestic affiliate is the Omaha Storm Chasers, which are approximately 169miles away. Kansas City's furthest domestic affiliate is the Rookie Arizona Complex League Royals some 1057miles away.

Current affiliates

The Kansas City Royals farm system consists of seven minor league affiliates.^[1]

Class	Team	League	Location	Ballpark	Affiliated
Triple-A	Omaha Storm Chasers	International League	Papillion, Nebraska	Werner Park	1969
Double-A	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Texas League	Springdale, Arkansas	Arvest Ballpark	2008
High-A	Quad Cities River Bandits	Midwest League	Davenport, Iowa	Modern Woodmen Park	2021
Single-A	Columbia Fireflies	Carolina League	Columbia, South Carolina	Segra Park	2021
Rookie	ACL Royals	Arizona Complex League	Surprise, Arizona	Surprise Stadium	2022
	DSL Royals Blue	Dominican Summer League	Boca Chica, Santo Domingo	Kansas City Royals Complex	2023
	DSL Royals Gold

Past affiliates

Key

Season	Each year is linked to an article about that particular Roylas season.
	League champions^[2]

1968–1989

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.^[3]

Season	Triple-A	Double-A	Class A	Class A Short Season	Rookie
1968	—	—	Dubuque Royals High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms	Corning Royals	—
1969	Omaha Royals	Elmira Pioneers	High Point-Thomasville Royals Waterloo Hawks	Corning Royals Winnipeg Goldeyes	Kingsport Royals	^[4]
1970	Omaha Royals	Elmira Pioneers	San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals	—	Billings Mustangs Kingsport Royals	^[5]
1971	Omaha Royals	Elmira Royals	San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals	—	Billings Mustangs Kingsport Royals GCL Royals	^[6]
1972	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals	—	Billings Mustangs Kingsport Royals GCL Royals	^[7]
1973	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals	—	Billings Mustangs Kingsport Royals GCL Royals	^[8]
1974	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	San Jose Bees Waterloo Royals	—	GCL Royals GCL Royals Academy	^[9]
1975	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Waterloo Royals	—	GCL Royals	^[10]
1976	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Waterloo Royals	—	GCL Royals	^[11]
1977	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Daytona Beach Islanders	—	GCL Royals	^[12]
1978	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Fort Myers Royals	—	GCL Royals	^[13]
1979	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Fort Myers Royals	—	GCL Royals Blue GCL Royals Gold	^[14]
1980	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Charleston Royals Fort Myers Royals	—	GCL Royals Blue GCL Royals Gold	^[15]
1981	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Charleston Royals Fort Myers Royals	—	GCL Royals Blue GCL Royals Gold	^[16]
1982	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Charleston Royals Fort Myers Royals	—	Butte Copper Kings GCL Royals	^[17]
1983	Omaha Royals	Jacksonville Suns	Charleston Royals Fort Myers Royals	—	Butte Copper Kings GCL Royals	^[18]
1984	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Charleston Royals Fort Myers Royals	Eugene Emeralds	—	^[19]
1985	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Fort Myers Royals	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	^[20]
1986	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Fort Myers Royals	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	^[21]
1987	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Appleton Foxes Fort Myers Royals	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	^[22]
1988	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Appleton Foxes Baseball City Royals	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	^[23]
1989	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Appleton Foxes Baseball City Royals	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals DSL Royals	^[24] ^[25]

1990–2020

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.^[3]

Season	Triple-A	Double-A	Class A-Advanced	Class A	Class A Short Season	Rookie	Foreign Rookie
1990	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Baseball City Royals	Appleton Foxes	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	DSL Royals/Mets	^[26] ^[27]
1991	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Baseball City Royals	Appleton Foxes	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	DSL Royals/Cubs	^[28] ^[29]
1992	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Baseball City Royals		Appleton Foxes	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	DSL Royals/Cubs/Rockies	^[30]
1993	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Rockford Royals	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	DSL Royals/Rockies	^[31]
1994	Omaha Royals	Memphis Chicks	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Rockford Royals	Eugene Emeralds	GCL Royals	DSL Royals/Rockies	^[32]
1995	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Springfield Sultans	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals/Rockies	^[33]
1996	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lansing Lugnuts	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals/Rockies	^[34]
1997	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lansing Lugnuts	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals	^[35]
1998	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lansing Lugnuts	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals	^[36]
1999	Omaha Golden Spikes	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Charleston Alley Cats	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals	^[37]
2000	Omaha Golden Spikes	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Charleston Alley Cats	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals	^[38]
2001	Omaha Golden Spikes	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals	^[39]
2002	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	Spokane Indians	GCL Royals	DSL Royals	^[40]
2003	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	—	AZL Royals 1 AZL Royals 2	DSL Royals	^[41]
2004	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	—	Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[42]
2005	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	High Desert Mavericks	Burlington Bees	—	Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[43]
2006	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	High Desert Mavericks	Burlington Bees	—	Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[44]
2007	Omaha Royals	Wichita Wranglers	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[45]
2008	Omaha Royals	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[46]
2009	Omaha Royals	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[47]
2010	Omaha Royals	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Burlington Bees	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[48]
2011	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Kane County Cougars	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[49]
2012	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Kane County Cougars	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[50]
2013	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[51]
2014	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars	DSL Royals	^[52]
2015	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[53]
2016	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[54]
2017	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals	^[55]
2018	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals 1 DSL Royals 2	^[56]
2019	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals 1 DSL Royals 2	^[57]
2020	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Lexington Legends	—	Burlington Royals Idaho Falls Chukars AZL Royals	DSL Royals DSL Royals

2021–present

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.^[58] Low-A was reclassified as Single-A in 2022.^[59]

Season	Triple-A	Double-A	High-A	Single-A	Rookie	Foreign Rookie
2021	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Quad Cities River Bandits	Columbia Fireflies	ACL Royals Blue ACL Royals Gold	DSL Royals Blue DSL Royals White	^[60]
2022	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Quad Cities River Bandits	Columbia Fireflies	ACL Royals	DSL Royals Glass DSL Royals Stewart	^[61]
2023	Omaha Storm Chasers	Northwest Arkansas Naturals	Quad Cities River Bandits	Columbia Fireflies	ACL Royals	DSL Royals Blue DSL Royals Gold	^[62]

External links

• Baseball-Reference: Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 7, 2023.
2. Web site: 2020 Kansas City Royals Media Guide. Houston Astros. Major League Baseball. 2020. November 7, 2023. 363. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220422002437/https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2020%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Kansas%20City%20Royals%20Media%20Guide.pdf. April 22, 2022.
3. Web site: Cronin. John. Truth in the Minor League Class Structure: The Case for the Reclassification of the Minors. The Baseball Research Journal. Society for American Baseball Research. Spring 2013. October 7, 2023.
4. Web site: 1969 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
5. Web site: 1970 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
6. Web site: 1971 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
7. Web site: 1972 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
8. Web site: 1973 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
9. Web site: 1974 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
10. Web site: 1975 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
11. Web site: 1976 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
12. Web site: 1977 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
13. Web site: 1978 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
14. Web site: 1979 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
15. Web site: 1980 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
16. Web site: 1981 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
17. Web site: 1982 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
18. Web site: 1983 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
19. Web site: 1984 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
20. Web site: 1985 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
21. Web site: 1986 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
22. Web site: 1987 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
23. Web site: 1988 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
24. Web site: 1989 Dominican Summer League Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 15, 2023. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140329124140/http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=8dce88c2. March 29, 2014.
25. Web site: 1989 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
26. Web site: 1990 Dominican Summer League Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 16, 2023. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140313153030/http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=3d6064f2. March 13, 2014.
27. Web site: 1990 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
28. Web site: 1991 Dominican Summer League Statistics. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 16, 2023. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140313160141/http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?id=af0668d5. March 13, 2014.
29. Web site: 1991 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
30. Web site: 1992 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
31. Web site: 1993 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
32. Web site: 1994 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
33. Web site: 1995 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
34. Web site: 1996 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
35. Web site: 1997 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
36. Web site: 1998 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
37. Web site: 1999 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
38. Web site: 2000 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
39. Web site: 2001 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
40. Web site: 2002 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
41. Web site: 2003 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
42. Web site: 2004 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
43. Web site: 2005 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
44. Web site: 2006 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
45. Web site: 2007 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
46. Web site: 2008 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
47. Web site: 2009 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
48. Web site: 2010 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
49. Web site: 2011 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
50. Web site: 2012 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
51. Web site: 2013 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
52. Web site: 2014 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
53. Web site: 2015 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
54. Web site: 2016 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
55. Web site: 2017 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
56. Web site: 2018 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
57. Web site: 2019 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 1, 2023.
58. Web site: Mayo. Jonathan. MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues. Major League Baseball. February 12, 2021. February 12, 2021.
59. Web site: Historical League Names to Return in 2022. Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. March 16, 2022.
60. Web site: 2021 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 11, 2023.
61. Web site: 2022 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 11, 2023.
62. Web site: 2023 Kansas City Royals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 11, 2023.