What Are The Levels Of Minor League Baseball?

If you’re a baseball fan, you might be wondering what the levels of minor league baseball are. Here’s a quick rundown of the different levels of the minor leagues, from the lowest to the highest.

Introduction

Minor League Baseball is organized into several levels, each with its own challenges and rewards. The levels are as follows:

-Triple-A: The highest level of Minor League Baseball, Triple-A consists of four regional leagues with a total of 14 teams. These teams generally have the best players and are the closest to the major leagues.
-Double-A: Double-A is made up of eight leagues with a total of 30 teams. This level is considered to be a step below Triple-A, but many players at this level are still considered to be major league prospects.
-Class A-Advanced: There are 10 Class A-Advanced leagues, each with six teams. This level is considered to be a step below Double-A.
-Class A: Class A is made up of 14 leagues, each with eight teams. This is the lowest full-season level of Minor League Baseball.
-Rookie Advanced: Rookie Advanced consists of seven leagues, each with six teams. These teams play a shorter season than other Minor League levels, generally starting in June and ending in early September.
-Rookie: Rookie ball is the first level of baseball for most professional players. There are 28 Rookie leagues across the United States, each consisting of either four or eight teams.

Triple-A (AAA)

The Triple-A (AAA) level is the highest level of minor league baseball. It consists of 30 teams in two leagues, the International League and the Pacific Coast League. These teams are affiliated with major league baseball teams and act as their farm system, developing players who may be called up to the major leagues.

Players at the Triple-A level are considered to be the best of the best in minor league baseball. They are often close to being called up to the major leagues, but need more development or need to prove themselves at a higher level before they are ready for the jump.

Players at this level receive higher salaries than players at lower levels, and some players may even be on major league contracts. The competition is also typically much higher at this level, as players are vying for a spot on a major league roster.

The Triple-A level is one step below the major leagues, and is considered to be the highest level of minor league baseball.

Double-A (AA)

The Double-A level is the second highest in Minor League Baseball (MiLB). There are 33 Double-A teams in three leagues at this level: the Eastern League, Southern League, and the Texas League. The Double-A classification was created in 1946 with eight teams in the South Atlantic (“Sally”) League.

The Quick Answer:
There are three Minor League Baseball (MiLB) Double-A levels:
the Eastern League,
the Southern League, and
the Texas League.

There are 33 teams total at the Double-A levels.

Single-A (A)

The lowest level of professional baseball in the United States is Single-A (A), followed by Double-A (AA), Triple-A (AAA), and the Major Leagues.

Single-A (A) baseball is the first level of full-season minor league baseball. Players in Single-A (A) are typically between 18 and 25 years old. The average player salary in Single-A (A) is $3,900 per month.

Double-A (AA) is the second level of full-season minor league baseball. Players in Double-A (AA) are typically between 22 and 28 years old. The average player salary in Double-A (AA) is $2,150 per month.

Triple-A (AAA) is the third level of full-season minor league baseball. Players in Triple-A (AAA) are typically between 24 and 32 years old. The average player salary in Triple-A (AAA) is $2,150 per month.

The Major Leagues are the highest level of professional baseball in the United States. Players in the Major Leagues are typically between 24 and 34 years old. The average player salary in the Major Leagues is $4,500 per month.

Short Season A

Short season A level minor league baseball is a classification of professional baseball in the United States, occupying the second lowest rung on the minor league ladder below full-season A. It does not stand for anything officially.

Short season A was created in 1963 as a classification for the newly created New York–Penn League, which featured teams located in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and would therefore have trouble sustaining a full season schedule. Today, the league consists of 14 teams competing in two separate divisions.

The other short season A leagues are the Northwest League and the Appalachian League. These two leagues were founded in 1955 and 1957, respectively, and both currently consist of 10 teams competing in two separate divisions.

Players at the short season A level are typically younger players who have not yet beendeemed ready for full-season competition, as well as skilled players who were drafted out of college but did not sign with a Major League organization.

Rookie Ball

Rookie ball is the lowest level of Minor League Baseball. There are two hot Professional Rookie Leagues, the Gulf Coast League and the Arizona League, in which most players make their professional debuts. The shorter season leader is the Gulf Coast League which starts play in June and runs through early September. The Arizona League features a slightly longer campaign with games starting in late July and lasting into September or early October.

Most Rookie-level leagues are operated as a farm system by Major League organizations, but two leagues are independent: the Appalachian League and the Pioneer League.