The Los Angeles Dodgers are changing minor league affiliates at the Double-A and Triple-A level. The Dodgers will be switching their Triple-A team from the Albuquerque Isotopes to the Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Pacific Coast League. They will also be switching their Double-A team from the Chattanooga Lookouts to the Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League.
Both of their new affiliates are in Oklahoma which will make travel for the players, scouts, coaches and executives a lot easier and quicker. The Dodgers also have agreed to a new deal with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Low-A Great Lake Loons, and the Rookie Level Ogden Raptors.
The Dodgers have been reportedly searching for a new Triple-A affiliate to better analyze their players. The Isotopes play in one of the most hitter-friendly parks in all levels of professional baseball which was making it tough for the Dodgers to analyze their players. Their hitters were putting up extreme numbers while their pitchers looked awful.
This is the first time the Drillers and Redhawks have been affiliated with the same club since they were a part of the Texas Rangers in 2002. The RedHawks just finished their fourth season with the Houston Astros and the Drillers just finished their 12th season with the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies are now affiliated with the Isotopes.
Fans of the Drillers or RedHawks should be excited to see some of the Dodgers prospects like pitchers Julio Urias, Zach Lee, Chris Anderson and Grant Holmes, shortstop Corey Seager, Outfielders Alex Verdugo and Scott Schebler and catchers Julian Leon and Kyle Farmer. Peter Guber, co-owner of the Dodgers, is also part of the group that owns the RedHawks.
The Dodgers will announce the deals in a press conference on Wednesday. Dodgers President Stan Kasten and Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda are expected to be at the press conference.