List of Washington Nationals minor league affiliates explained

The Washington Nationals farm system consists of six Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are independently owned, while two—the Florida Complex League Nationals and Dominican Summer League Nationals—are owned by the major league club.

From 1969 to 2004, the Washington Nationals played as the Montreal Expos. The Expos-Nationals franchise has been affiliated with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators of the Eastern League since 1991, making it the longest-running affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Nationals. Washington's newest affiliates are the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings of the International League and the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks of the South Atlantic League, which became Nationals affiliates in 2021.

Geographically, Washington's closest domestic affiliate is the Single-A Fredericksburg Nationals of the Carolina League, which are approximately 47miles away. Washington's furthest domestic affiliate is the FCL Nationals of the Florida Complex League some 860miles away.

Current affiliates

The Washington Nationals farm system consists of six minor league affiliates.^[1]

Class	Team	League	Location	Ballpark	Affiliated
Triple-A	Rochester Red Wings	International League	Rochester, New York	Innovative Field	2021
Double-A	Harrisburg Senators	Eastern League	Harrisburg, Pennsylvania	FNB Field	1991
High-A	Wilmington Blue Rocks	South Atlantic League	Wilmington, Delaware	Daniel S. Frawley Stadium	2021
Single-A	Fredericksburg Nationals	Carolina League	Fredericksburg, Virginia	Virginia Credit Union Stadium	2020
Rookie	FCL Nationals	Florida Complex League	West Palm Beach, Florida	The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches	1986
	DSL Nationals	Dominican Summer League	Boca Chica, Santo Domingo	Las Américas Complex	2009

Past affiliates

Key

Season	Each year is linked to an article about that particular Nationals/Expos season.	-		League champions -->

1969–1989

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.^[2]

Season	Triple-A	Double-A	Class A	Class A Short Season	Rookie
1969	Vancouver Mounties	—	West Palm Beach Expos	—	GCL Expos	^[3]
1970	Buffalo Bisons /  Winnipeg Whips	Jacksonville Suns	West Palm Beach Expos	Watertown Expos	GCL Expos	^[4]
1971	Winnipeg Whips	Québec Carnavals	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Falcons Watertown Expos	—	^[5]
1972	Peninsula Whips	Québec Carnavals	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Falcons	Cocoa Expos	^[6]
1973	Peninsula Whips	Québec Carnavals	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	—	^[7]
1974	Memphis Blues	Québec Carnavals	Kinston Expos West Palm Beach Expos	—	GCL Expos	^[8]
1975	Memphis Blues	Québec Carnavals	West Palm Beach Expos	—	Lethbridge Expos	^[9]
1976	Denver Bears	Québec Metros	West Palm Beach Expos	—	Lethbridge Expos	^[10]
1977	Denver Bears	Québec Metros	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	^[11]
1978	Denver Bears	Memphis Chicks	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	—	^[12]
1979	Denver Bears	Memphis Chicks	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	Calgary Expos	^[13]
1980	Denver Bears	Memphis Chicks	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	Calgary Expos	^[14]
1981	Denver Bears	Memphis Chicks	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	Calgary Expos	^[15]
1982	Wichita Aeros	Memphis Chicks	San Jose Expos West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	Calgary Expos	^[16]
1983	Wichita Aeros	Memphis Chicks	Gastonia Expos West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	Calgary Expos	^[17]
1984	Indianapolis Indians	Jacksonville Suns	Gastonia Expos West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	Calgary Expos	^[18]
1985	Indianapolis Indians	Jacksonville Expos	West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	—	^[19]
1986	Indianapolis Indians	Jacksonville Expos	Burlington Expos West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	^[20]
1987	Indianapolis Indians	Jacksonville Expos	Burlington Bees West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	^[21]
1988	Indianapolis Indians	Jacksonville Expos	Rockford Expos West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	^[22]
1989	Indianapolis Indians	Jacksonville Expos	Rockford Expos West Palm Beach Expos	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos DSL Expos	^[23] ^[24]

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.^[2]

Season	Triple-A	Double-A	Class A-Advanced	Class A	Class A Short Season	Rookie	Foreign Rookie
1990	Indianapolis Indians	Jacksonville Expos	West Palm Beach Expos	Rockford Expos	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[25] ^[26]
1991	Indianapolis Indians	Harrisburg Senators	West Palm Beach Expos	Rockford Expos Sumter Flyers	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[27] ^[28]
1992	Indianapolis Indians	Harrisburg Senators	West Palm Beach Expos	Albany Polecats Rockford Expos	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[29]
1993	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	West Palm Beach Expos	Burlington Bees	Jamestown Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[30]
1994	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	West Palm Beach Expos	Burlington Bees	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[31]
1995	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	West Palm Beach Expos	Albany Polecats	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[32]
1996	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	West Palm Beach Expos	Delmarva Shorebirds	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[33]
1997	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	West Palm Beach Expos	Cape Fear Crocs	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[34]
1998	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	Jupiter Hammerheads	Cape Fear Crocs	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[35]
1999	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	Jupiter Hammerheads	Cape Fear Crocs	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[36]
2000	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	Jupiter Hammerheads	Cape Fear Crocs	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[37]
2001	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	Jupiter Hammerheads	Clinton LumberKings	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[38]
2002	Ottawa Lynx	Harrisburg Senators	Brevard County Manatees	Clinton LumberKings	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[39]
2003	Edmonton Trappers	Harrisburg Senators	Brevard County Manatees	Savannah Sand Gnats	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos/Diamondbacks	^[40]
2004	Edmonton Trappers	Harrisburg Senators	Brevard County Manatees	Savannah Sand Gnats	Vermont Expos	GCL Expos	DSL Expos	^[41]
2005	New Orleans Zephyrs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Savannah Sand Gnats	Vermont Expos	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals VSL Nationals/Marlins	^[42]
2006	New Orleans Zephyrs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Savannah Sand Gnats	Vermont Lake Monsters	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals 1 DSL Nationals 2	^[43]
2007	Columbus Clippers	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Vermont Lake Monsters	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals 1 DSL Nationals 2	^[44]
2008	Columbus Clippers	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Vermont Lake Monsters	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals 1 DSL Nationals 2	^[45]
2009	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Vermont Lake Monsters	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[46]
2010	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Vermont Lake Monsters	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[47]
2011	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[48]
2012	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[49]
2013	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[50]
2014	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[51]
2015	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[52]
2016	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[53]
2017	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[54]
2018	Syracuse Chiefs	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[55]
2019	Fresno Grizzlies	Harrisburg Senators	Potomac Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[56]
2020	Fresno Grizzlies	Harrisburg Senators	Fredericksburg Nationals	Hagerstown Suns	Auburn Doubledays	GCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[57]

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	Rochester Red Wings	Harrisburg Senators	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Fredericksburg Nationals	FCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[60]
2022	Rochester Red Wings	Harrisburg Senators	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Fredericksburg Nationals	FCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[61]
2023	Rochester Red Wings	Harrisburg Senators	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Fredericksburg Nationals	FCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[62]
2024	Rochester Red Wings	Harrisburg Senators	Wilmington Blue Rocks	Fredericksburg Nationals	FCL Nationals	DSL Nationals	^[63]

External links

• Baseball-Reference: Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates

Notes and References

1. Web site: Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 7, 2023.
2. 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.
3. Web site: 1969 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
4. Web site: 1970 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
5. Web site: 1971 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
6. Web site: 1972 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
7. Web site: 1973 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
8. Web site: 1974 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
9. Web site: 1975 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
10. Web site: 1976 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
11. Web site: 1977 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
12. Web site: 1978 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
13. Web site: 1979 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
14. Web site: 1980 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
15. Web site: 1981 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
16. Web site: 1982 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
17. Web site: 1983 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
18. Web site: 1984 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
19. Web site: 1985 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
20. Web site: 1986 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
21. Web site: 1987 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
22. Web site: 1988 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
23. 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.
24. Web site: 1989 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
25. 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.
26. Web site: 1990 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
27. 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.
28. Web site: 1991 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
29. Web site: 1992 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
30. Web site: 1993 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
31. Web site: 1994 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
32. Web site: 1995 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
33. Web site: 1996 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
34. Web site: 1997 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
35. Web site: 1998 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
36. Web site: 1999 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
37. Web site: 2000 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
38. Web site: 2001 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
39. Web site: 2002 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
40. Web site: 2003 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
41. Web site: 2004 Montreal Expos Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
42. Web site: 2005 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
43. Web site: 2006 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
44. Web site: 2007 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
45. Web site: 2008 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
46. Web site: 2009 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
47. Web site: 2010 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
48. Web site: 2011 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
49. Web site: 2012 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
50. Web site: 2013 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
51. Web site: 2014 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
52. Web site: 2015 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
53. Web site: 2016 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
54. Web site: 2017 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
55. Web site: 2018 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
56. Web site: 2019 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
57. Web site: 2020 Washington Nationals Media Guide. Washington Nationals. Major League Baseball. 2020. November 6, 2023. 351–357. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20220422002506/https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2020%20Media%20Guides/2020%20Washington%20Nationals%20Media%20Guide.pdf. April 22, 2022.
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 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
61. Web site: 2022 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
62. Web site: 2023 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. November 6, 2023.
63. Web site: 2024 Washington Nationals Minor League Affiliates. Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. October 4, 2024.