The Express previously spent eight seasons, from 2011-18, as the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, Almendarez said.
#RRExpress Statement on Affiliation. https://t.co/N2PiF04j61 pic.twitter.com/W3icnaDbD7
— Round Rock Express (@RRExpress) December 9, 2020
Per the statement, the Round Rock Express have been recognized by Major League Baseball “as one of the top 30 Triple-A markets.”
The Express will be one of four minor league affiliates for the Texas Rangers during the 2021 season.
The Texas Rangers’ new affiliate teams include:
- The Round Rock Express as the Triple-A affiliate;
- The Frisco RoughRiders as the Double-A affiliate;
- The Hickory Crawdads as the High-A affiliate; and
- The Down East Wood Ducks as the Low-A affiliate.
We have invited four minor league teams to become our affiliates for the 2021 season. pic.twitter.com/gqv75HS8Mh
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) December 9, 2020
The next step for the Round Rock Express will be to review updated governing documents from the MLB.
The Astros announced the Sugar Land Skeeters as their new Triple-A franchise Nov. 20.