Arizona Complex League

Last updated

Arizona Complex League
Arizona Complex League logo.svg
FormerlyArizona League (1988–2020)
Classification Rookie
Sport Baseball
Founded1988(36 years ago) (1988)
No. of teams15
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)		 ACL Dodgers (2024)
Most titles ACL Athletics (6)
Official website www.milb.com/arizona-complex

The Arizona Complex League (ACL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona, since 1988. Prior to 2021, it was known as the Arizona League (AZL). Along with the Florida Complex League (FCL), it forms the lowest rung on the North American minor-league ladder.

Contents

ACL teams play at the minor league spring training complexes of their parent Major League Baseball (MLB) clubs and are owned by those parent clubs. Admission is not charged and no concessions are operated at the teams' games. Every Cactus League team fields at least one team in the league. Night games are commonly played in the spring training stadium, although games may also be played at the team's practice fields.

As of the 2021 season, there is no league limit to how many players can be on an active roster, but no team can have more than three players with four or more years of minor-league experience. [1] Major-league players on rehabilitation assignments may also appear in the league.

History

Arizona League

The league began play in 1988 as the Arizona League (AZL) on an experimental basis with four teams playing a 60-game schedule—the teams were affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and a cooperative between the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners. [2] Games were scheduled in the morning in order to make sure the league did not compete with the Phoenix Firebirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. [3]

The Phoenix Diamondbacks debuted in 1996, the first affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks to start playing professional baseball, two years before their parent club joined Major League Baseball. A crowd of 6,124 attended the Diamondbacks' first game on June 25, 1996, a 15–7 loss to the Phoenix Athletics. A number of local dignitaries were at the game, including Buck Showalter and Jerry Colangelo. [4] [5]

The Colorado Rockies started their rookie league team a year before starting major league play as well in 1992, sharing a team with the Cubs. The team, composed of the Rockies' first-ever draft picks, received a different level of notoriety than the Diamondbacks for their first rookie league game: as the players wore either Rockies jerseys or Cubs jerseys, the team did not have their uniform pants ready at the start of the season, and had to borrow pants from the Cubs. [6]

Between 1998 and 2000 an unaffiliated team composed of young players from the Mexican League played out of the Tucson Electric Park spring training complex, in part to add a fourth team to a southern division. Three Tucson-based teams (the Mexican All-Stars, the Diamondbacks, and the Rockies) would leave the league after the 2000 season, largely due to travel concerns, followed by the White Sox two years later. All three teams later relocated their spring training complexes to the Phoenix metropolitan area, and the Diamondbacks and White Sox reinstated their rookie league teams.

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. [7] [8]

Arizona Complex League

Prior to the 2021 season, in continuation of MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues, the two US-based complex leagues were renamed, with the Arizona League becoming the Arizona Complex League (ACL).

For 2021, the league consisted of 18 teams. [9] In 2024, the schedule was changed from a late June to late August season to a season that stated in early May to late July season, meaning the league would no longer feature players drafted in the current year draft. [10]

Playoff procedure

Prior to 1998, the league champion was the team with best record over the course of the season. Since 1998, the season has been split into two half-seasons. From 1998 to 2008, the teams with the best records in each half faced off to decide the league champion. If the same team won both halves, they were automatically crowned champions (only one team accomplished this, the 2005 Arizona League Giants).

In 2009, the league split into two divisions, an alignment that was used through the 2012 season. The two teams in each division with the best record in each half-season played off for the division championship, and the winners advanced to the final. If the same team won their division in both halves, they advanced directly to the final.

From 2013 to 2019, the six teams who won their division in the first and second half of the season qualified for the playoffs. If a team won both halves, the next best team in that division by overall record qualified for the playoffs. The top two teams by overall record received a bye to the semifinals. All playoff games were single elimination, with the exception of a best-of-3 final. [11]

As of 2022, four teams—three division winners and one wild card team—qualify for the playoffs seeded by winning percentage regardless of division standing, with seeds 1 vs. 4 and 2 vs. 3 playing in a single-game semi-final. A best-of-three series between the two semi-final winners follows to determine the league champion. [12]

Current teams

Teams in the league are not referred to by their home city, but simply by their parent club's name. A prefix of ACL (previously AZL or Arizona League) is typically used to differentiate the team from its parent club and other farm teams with the same nickname. City names have been used previously instead of a prefix, such as with the Peoria Padres and Peoria Mariners. [13] [14] Franchises that field more than one team use differentiating suffixes, typically based on team colors (e.g. Blue and Gold). As of the 2024 season, no major league club fields more than one ACL team.

DivisionTeamMLB affiliationCityStadiumCapacity
East ACL Athletics Athletics Mesa Fitch Park 10,000
ACL Cubs Chicago Cubs Mesa Sloan Park 15,000
ACL D-backs Arizona Diamondbacks Scottsdale Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 11,000
ACL Giants San Francisco Giants Scottsdale Scottsdale Stadium 12,000
ACL Rockies Colorado Rockies Scottsdale Salt River Fields at Talking Stick 11,000
Central ACL Angels Los Angeles Angels Tempe Tempe Diablo Stadium 9,785
ACL Brewers Milwaukee Brewers Phoenix American Family Fields of Phoenix 8,000
ACL Dodgers Los Angeles Dodgers Phoenix Camelback Ranch 12,000
ACL Guardians Cleveland Guardians Goodyear Goodyear Ballpark 10,000
ACL Reds Cincinnati Reds Goodyear Goodyear Ballpark 10,000
West ACL Mariners Seattle Mariners Peoria Peoria Sports Complex 12,882
ACL Padres San Diego Padres Peoria Peoria Sports Complex 12,882
ACL Rangers Texas Rangers Surprise Surprise Stadium 10,500
ACL Royals Kansas City Royals Surprise Surprise Stadium 10,500
ACL White Sox Chicago White Sox Phoenix Camelback Ranch 12,000

Past teams

League champions

Finals opponent in parentheses, if applicable.

† 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic [8]
Source: [15]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In 2021, the league did not have a postseason; ACL Rockies had the best winning percentage for the season, 44–15 (.746).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida Complex League</span> American minor baseball league

The Florida Complex League (FCL) is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Before 2021, it was known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL). Together with the Arizona Complex League (ACL), it forms the lowest rung on the North American minor-league ladder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Blanco</span> Venezuelan baseball player & coach (born 1971)

Henry Ramón Blanco is a Venezuelan professional baseball coach and former player. He is currently the catching and strategy coach for the Washington Nationals. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2013, appearing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners. He later served as quality assurance coach for the Cubs. Although a light-hitting player, he was regarded as one of the best defensive catchers of his era.

The following are the baseball events of the year 2001 throughout the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Cloud Rox (collegiate summer baseball)</span> Baseball team in St. Cloud, Minnesota

The St. Cloud Rox are a baseball team that play in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. Their home games are played at the Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The Arizona Complex League Brewers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Arizona Complex League (ACL) and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Phoenix, Arizona, and play their home games at American Family Fields of Phoenix.

The 2005 Major League Baseball season was notable for the league's new steroid policy in the wake of the BALCO scandal, which enforced harsher penalties than ever before for steroid use in Major League Baseball. Several players, including veteran Rafael Palmeiro, were suspended under the new policy. Besides steroids it was also notable that every team in the NL East finished the season with at least 81 wins. Additionally it was the first season featuring a baseball team in Washington, D.C. since the second iteration of the Washington Senators last played there in 1971; the Washington Nationals had moved from Montreal, the first relocation of a team in 33 years and currently the most recent time this has occurred in the majors.

The Shreveport Captains (1971–2000) and Shreveport Swamp Dragons (2001–02) were a professional minor-league baseball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana. They were affiliated with the California Angels (1971–72), Milwaukee Brewers (1973–74), Pittsburgh Pirates (1975–78) and San Francisco Giants (1979–2002).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Roenicke</span> American baseball player & coach (born 1956)

Ronald Jon Roenicke is an American former professional baseball outfielder, coach, and manager. During his playing career, Roenicke played eight seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. He later served as a coach for the Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and Boston Red Sox, and as manager for the Milwaukee Brewers and Red Sox. He is the younger brother of former MLB outfielder Gary Roenicke.

Below are lists of Rule 5 draft results since 1997. Players selected in the Major League Baseball (MLB) phase of the Rule 5 draft must be kept on their new team's active roster for the entire following MLB season, or they are placed on waivers and offered back to their original team if not claimed. Players chosen in the Minor League Baseball phase(s) of the Rule 5 draft remain with their new organization without restrictions.

The 2004 Major League Baseball season ended when the Boston Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-game World Series sweep. The Red Sox championship ended an 86-year-long drought known as the Curse of the Bambino. The Red Sox were also the first team in MLB history and the third team from a major North American professional sports league ever to come back from a 3–0 postseason series deficit and win. This happened in the ALCS against the New York Yankees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lethbridge Black Diamonds</span> Minor league baseball team

The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992–1995 before becoming the Lethbridge Black Diamonds from 1996–1998. They were one of the first two farm clubs of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Only 16 months after Arizona was granted a major league baseball franchise, the first farm club — the Lethbridge Black Diamonds — took the field. The team started playing two years before their parent club even played a game. The team played their first game in June 1996, whereas the Arizona Diamondbacks started playing in April 1998. The team played in the Pioneer League, which is a rookie league, with a shortened season, in Minor League Baseball. Their home stadium was Henderson Stadium. In 1999, the team was moved and became the Missoula Osprey.

The 2001 Major League Baseball season finished with the Arizona Diamondbacks defeating the New York Yankees in seven games for the World Series championship. The September 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C. pushed the end of the regular season from September 30 to October 7. Because of the attacks, the World Series was not completed until November 4. The 2001 World Series was the first World Series to end in November.

The 2002 Major League Baseball season finished with two wild-card teams contesting the World Series; the Anaheim Angels defeated the San Francisco Giants in seven games for the World Series championship. It was the first title in Angels team history. This was the first season for MLB.tv.

The 1998 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees sweeping the San Diego Padres in the World Series, after they had won a then AL record 114 regular season games. The Yankees finished with 125 wins for the season, which remains the MLB record.

The 1981 Major League Baseball season culminated with the Los Angeles Dodgers defeating the New York Yankees in the World Series, capturing the franchise's fifth World Series title. The season had a players' strike, which lasted from June 12 to July 31, and split the season into two halves. Teams that won their division in each half of the season advanced to the playoffs. This was the first split season in American League history, and second for the National League, which had played a split season in 1892.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgia Bulldogs baseball</span> Baseball team of the University of Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs baseball team represents the University of Georgia in NCAA Division I college baseball.

The 1998 Major League Baseball expansion resulted in the establishment of Major League Baseball (MLB)'s 29th and 30th teams beginning play for the 1998 season. After initiating an expansion committee in March 1994, 27 groups representing nine cities submitted bids for the proposed expansion teams. After a yearlong process, on March 9, 1995, the league awarded the National League franchise to Phoenix and the American League franchise to Tampa Bay. The Arizona Diamondbacks and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, subsequently began play for the 1998 season.

The Arizona Complex League White Sox are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Arizona. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and other countries.

Sports in Arizona includes professional sports teams, college sports, and individual sports. All four major league sports teams in Arizona are based in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

References

  1. ↑ The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book (PDF). New York City: Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. 2021. pp. 10–11, 100. Retrieved June 26, 2021– via mlbpa.org.
  2. ↑ "1988 Arizona League". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved June 26, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Rookie baseball league to begin play in Valley". Arizona Republic. February 19, 1988. p. 53.
  4. ↑ Brazzle, Ken (July 26, 1996). "D'back rookies show potential to festive fans". Tucson Citizen.
  5. ↑ Sherman, Len. Big League, Big Time. pp. 125–132.
  6. ↑ "Rockies' team has rocky road in early going". Arizona Republic. June 24, 1992.
  7. ↑ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  8. 1 2 "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Arizona League Divisions". Arizona League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  10. ↑ Cooper, J. J. (February 13, 2024). "Arizona, Florida Complex League Schedules Changing For 2024".
  11. ↑ "Playoff Procedures - MiLB.com Standings - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  12. ↑ "MiLB Playoff Procedures". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  13. ↑ Sanders, Jeff (March 31, 2015). "Padres' minor league teams at a glance". San Diego Union Tribune. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Mariners' minor-league teams". seattletimes.com. March 30, 2011. Archived from the original on February 4, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Baseball Leagues by Season". TheBaseballCube.com.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.