Professional Development League

The Professional Development League is the new structure governing the minor leagues revealed on February 12, 2021 as a replacement for Minor League Baseball. Originally, under the new structure, gone were the former names of minor leagues based on geography, many of them anchored in over a century of history, replaced by generic monikers. These were thankfully replaced by the original names prior to the 2022 season, after MLB had completed the process of securing appropriate naming rights.

The PDL is structured as follows:

• AAA
  • International League (known as Triple-A East in 2021), consisting of two divisions: East Division and West Division
  • Pacific Coast League (known as Triple-A West in 2021), consisting of two divisions: East Division and West Division

• AA
  • Eastern League (known as Double-A Northeast in 2021), consisting of two divisions: Northeast Division and Southwest Division
  • Southern League (known as Double-A South in 2021), consisting of two divisions: North Division and South Division
  • Texas League (known as Double-A Central in 2021), consisting of two divisions: North Division and South Division

• High-A
  • Midwest League (known as High-A Central in 2021), consisting of two divisions: East Division and West Division
  • Northwest League (known as High-A West in 2021), consisting of a single division
  • South Atlantic League (known as High-A East in 2021), consisting of two divisions: North Division and South Division

• Low-A
  • California League (known as Low-A West in 2021), consisting of two divisions: North Division and South Division
  • Carolina League (known as Low-A East in 2021), consisting of three divisions: Central Division, North Division and South Division
  • Florida State League (known as Low-A Southeast in 2021), consisting of two divisions: East Division and West Division

• Complex Leagues
  • Arizona Complex League
  • Florida Complex League

• Partner Leagues
  • American Association
  • Atlantic League
  • Frontier League
  • Pioneer League
  • Appalachian League

Further Reading

• Benjamin Hill: "Historical league names return to the Minors", mlb.com, March 16, 2022. [1]
• Jonathan Mayo: "MLB announces new Minors teams, leagues: New model includes player salary increases, modernized facility standards, reduced travel", February 12, 2021. [2]