The Minor League Ladder

Have you ever wondered what the possibilities were for a player after they play for the Owlz?
Here's a look at all of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's affiliate teams and the leagues they are a part of.

Rookie:
An affiliate fo the Angels since the early 1990s the Arizona League (AZL) Angels play in Tempe, Arizona.

The AZL Angels are members of the Arizona league made up of teams in and around Phoneix, Arizona and play their games in the spring training complexes or on their practice field. They are the lowest rung of the minor league system and are mostly made up of players from the Dominican Republic and Venezuela and players drafted straight out of high school. They play a short season from mid-Jue to August, and their games can be attended for free. In order to play in this league, a player can't have more than 3 years of previous experience in the minor leagues.

The Orem Owlz are also a part of the Rookie League and are just a step above the AZL Angels. The Owlz have been an Angels affiliate since 2001. They are a part of the Pioneer League which is made up of teams in the Rocky Mountain region of the U.S. The majority of the players in the Pioneer League are in their first or second year of minor league play.

Single-A:
With their home field located in Burlington, Iowa the Burlington Bees have been an affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels since 2013. They are a part of the Midwest League and unlike the Rookie League, they play a full season from April to September. Players that play in Single-A have been in the minors for 2 or 3 years.

The Inland Empire 66ers play in San Bernardino, California. They've been an affiliate team of the Angels since 2011. They are apart of the Single-A league but are just a step higher being Single-A advanced. Most of the players on these teams have been playing for 3 or 4 years but sometimes those who have college experience begin their play at this level. The 66ers are apart of the California League that consist of teams west of the Rockies. They play a season from April to mid-September.

Double-A:
The Angels affiliate Double-A team is the Mobile BayBears, who currently play in Mobile, Alabama The BayBears will be moving to Madison, Alabama in 2020 and will become the Rocket City Trash Pandas. They've been an affiliate since 2017. The Double-A League is the second highest level in the minor league just one step below Triple-A. Players who start in this league are usually from foreign leagues or top college prospects.

Triple-A:
The Salt Lake Bees are the Angels Triple-A affiliate team and have been since 2001. They play in Salt Lake City, Utah, just an hour drive from the Owlz home field.
They are a part of the Pacific Coast League and are the last league in the Minors before moving on to the MLB. There is a lot of movement between the Triple-A teams and the MLB teams because players are often optioned up or down for a temporary position to replace a player on their roster.