Houston Astros: Six options for the team's new AAA affiliate

After four years, the Houston Astros and Fresno Grizzlies are severing ties. The team is searching for a new AAA affiliate, here are four options to consider.

Sunday afternoon, Houston Astros president of business operations, Reid Ryan, announced that the organization was severing ties with their AAA affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies. The two organization had been partnered for the past four seasons.

While affiliated with the Astros, the Grizzlies had four very successful seasons. The had division and conference titles and 2015 and 2018. The 2015 season, though, was even more successful. The team also won league and class titles that year.

All in all, the Grizzlies won 316 games while affiliated with the Houston Astros from 2015 until 2018. The team lost 251 games for a total winning percentage of .557. All in all, four very good years with the team producing very good players for this Astros team.

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However, now the Houston Astros are seeking out a new AAA affiliate. Prior to moving the AAA team to Fresno, the Astros had their AAA team in Oklahoma City for four years from 2011 to 2014. This team was much closer than the Grizzlies were, which seems to be a goal for the new AAA affiliate.

Prior to Oklahoma City, the Astros were affiliated with the Round Rock Express for over a decade. From 2000 to 2004, the Express were the Astros AA affiliate while New Orleans were the Astros AAA affiliate. From 2005 through 2010, the Express were the Astros AAA affiliate.

With the team set to move their AAA affiliate again, as I mentioned earlier, it makes sense the team will seek an affiliate that is significantly closer than Fresno was. So, let’s take a look at four options that the team may consider.

A few AA promotions

Promoting a team from the AA rankings to the AAA rankings isn’t unheard of. I mentioned it before, the Astros moved the Express from AA to AAA in 2005 and the team, if it is unable to find a suitable AAA team could choose this route again.

The three options that fit what the Houston Astros are looking for the best are the Corpus Christi Hooks, San Antonio Missions, and the Frisco RoughRiders. The Rough Riders are probably less of an option than the Hooks and the Missions as their facilities are smaller.

The Missions are a newly minted team this year as the Colorado Springs Sky Sox are moving to replace the old Missions who are moving to Amarillo. The new Missions are yet to name an affiliate for the 2019 season. Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium is 204 miles from Minute Maid Park.

The Astros could also promote the Hooks, who are currently the team’s AA affiliate. The Hooks have a tremendous following and are owned by Nolan and Reid Ryan. Whataburger Field, home of the Hooks, is 208 miles from Minute Maid.

A move back the Sooner State

The Houston Astros could also elect to move back to Oklahoma City. The Dodgers, formerly the Red Hawks, are currently affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers, obviously. However, the Dodgers didn’t just affiliate with Oklahoma City, they purchased a part of the team so this move would be a lot more complicated and thus more unlikely.

Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is 444 miles away from Minute Park and isn’t back in the state of Texas.

Staying west

The Astros could choose to stay west but stay in the state of Texas. The El Paso Chihuahuas are currently affiliated with the San Diego Padres. Acquiring rights to affiliate with El Paso would get the AAA affiliate back in the state of Texas but is very far away at 746 miles.

Moving east

Another option for the Houston Astros would be to move their AAA affiliate back to New Orleans. The Astros were affiliated with New Orleans from 1997 to 2004 back when the Baby Cakes were the Zephyrs. Moving the team to New Orleans would have the benefit of being close, 339 miles, yet still in another state.

The best and most likely option

The Houston Astros best option is to try to move the team back to Round Rock. Austin is a city that is thirsting for a sports team and the Express have been a below average team for a while and moving the Astros AAA affiliate back would bring a better team to the area.

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The organization hasn’t seen nearly as much success with the Rangers than they did with the Astros, either on the diamond or in attendance. So, a move back could benefit them even though they aren’t immediately eligible for a switch.

Less than 170 miles from Minute Maid, Dell Diamond offers the best option due to location and previous affiliation. The closeness of the Express would be a boon to the Astros and to the Express as many fans would likely want to travel to see the team’s top prospects.

Time will tell where the team is ultimately able to move. A move to Round Rock is the best option and probably the most likely one but, there is a roadblock there. Promoting the unaffiliated Missions team is an intriguing option as well.

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Regardless, here’s to even closer games that we, as fans, can travel to and partake in even more Houston Astros events. The team is trying to announce a new affiliate by the end of the week.

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Houston Astros: Six options for the team’s new AAA affiliate

By T.A. Mock | Sep 17, 2018