CLEVELAND — CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from April 4, 2019.
The Cleveland Indians have announced an updated structure to their Minor League farm system.
And it now includes a more prominent path through Lake County.
While the Columbus Clippers will remain Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate and the Akron RubberDucks will remain its Double-A affiliate, the Lake County Captains have been promoted to Advanced Single-A. Lake County had previously served as the Indians' Single-A affiliate since 2003.
But with the introduction of the MLB Draft League resulting in the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' departure from Cleveland's farm system, the Indians found themselves in a position to reshuffle their farm system. The Lynchburg Hillcats -- which had previously served as Cleveland's Advanced Single-A affiliate since 2015 -- will now serve as the Indians' lower level Single-A team.
As a result, the Indians' farm system now appears as follows:
- Triple-A: Columbus Clippers
- Double-A: Akron RubberDucks
- Advanced Single-A: Lake County Captains
- Single-A: Lynchburg Hillcats
"The Office of the Commissioner has been engaged with stakeholders across the game – including all 30 MLB Club Baseball Operations Departments, Minor League owners and government officials – over the past two years to modernize the sport’s Player Development system and maintain baseball in every community in which it is currently played," the Indians said in a statement. "This new model will better serve fans, players and Clubs throughout the United States and Canada by improving player working conditions and pay, better aligning Major and Minor League Clubs geographically while capitalizing on the marketing potential of the PD system and positioning the sport for growth in the coming years."