The Seven Minor League Baseball Levels

In all baseball depth charts the placement of players in different minor league programs is essential. The minors are used to help with developing players who have contracts with certain teams. In fact, all minor leagues have teams that are affiliated with all Major League Baseball teams. However, there are seven different minor league baseball levels that are essential for teams to use for their baseball depth charts. Here's a look at those levels from the lowest to the highest with some examples of teams.

The Rookie League is the lowest level in the minors. Consisting of the Gulf Coast and Arizona Leagues, there leagues deal with players who have just been drafted or are used from summer leagues in South America.

The Advanced Rookie Leagues is next up. These are the Appalachian and Pioneer Leagues. These leagues deal with players who have recently been drafted and some second year players. Teams include the Missoula Osprey, Casper Ghosts and Johnson City Cardinals.

Third, there are the Short-Season A Leagues. These are the New York-Penn and Northwest Leagues. Some recent college and high school draftees are used here, and the season starts in late June so that players can finish their college or high school careers. Examples include the Vancouver Canadians, Brooklyn Cyclones and State College Spikes.

Fourth, there are the Standard A Leagues. The South Atlantic and Midwest Leagues deal with undrafted signings and top quality first year players. These are usually those who were drafted in the first few rounds of a draft. A full season is played in these leagues too. Teams include the Lexington Legends and Kane County Cougars.

The Advanced A Leagues, which are the California, Florida and Carolina Leagues, are especially notable in that there are places where signings from Asia or Australia will generally get their North American starts in these leagues. Teams include the San Jose Giants, Tampa Yankees and Myrtle Beach Pelicans.

The AA Leagues, which are the Texas, Southern and Northwest Leagues, are the second highest leagues. Foreign league veterans or top prospects are commonly used, and some teams will move players directly from AA to the majors. Teams include the Portland Sea Dogs, Birmingham Barons and Tulsa Drillers.

The AAA Leagues, which are the International and Pacific Coast Leagues, are the highest leagues in baseball depth charts for the minors. These consist of not only high level players but also some baseball veterans. Some players will report to AAA teams for their rehabilitation assignments. Teams are located in the larger areas that have no major teams, including the Scranton Yankees, Durham Bulls, Salt Lake Bees and Sacramento River Cats.

Those are the seven minor league baseball levels that are considered for all baseball depth charts. These levels are used to help with determining where new and current players will be placed in the development programs that these teams have. By using these decisions it will help to make it so that the entire program can be built properly.