The Chicago Cubs have had a very busy affiliate shuffle season, changing three of their minor league affiliates – all three of their A-level teams – in the last week. At High-A, the Cubs are now affiliated with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the Carolina League, and at full-season Low-A, the Cubs are now affiliated with the South Bend Somethings (more on that one later this week).
At short-season Low-A, the Cubs are staying in the Northwest League, but leaving Boise in favor of Eugene, Oregon. There, they’ll pair up with the Emeralds – I dig that logo, man – with whom they were actually affiliated some 15ish years ago.
It was a poorly-kept secret that the Cubs had been unhappy with their facilities in Boise for quite some time, and the move to Eugene is unsurprising in that regard. The Emeralds share facilities with the Oregon Ducks baseball team at PK Park, which was just constructed in 2010. It’s state-of-the-art, especially as short-season franchise facilities go, and the Cubs are probably pretty excited to make the switch.
And, what do you know, they are.
“We are looking forward to working with Allan Benavides and the entire Emeralds organization, and are eager to begin working with the local community,” said Jason McLeod, the Cubs Senior Vice President, Scouting and Player Development, in a statement. “The Eugene ballclub offers a first-class facility at the University of Oregon, one of the most impressive facilities in short-season baseball.”
Sweet.
The player development contract is for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Some more on the Cubs’ new Northwest League Affiliate:
.@SluggoEmeralds is preeeeetty excited about joining the @Cubs. Who else is pumped about the big news?! #GoCubsGo pic.twitter.com/vOdGfdSp3U
— Eugene Emeralds (@EugeneEmeralds) September 19, 2014