The Pittsburgh Pirates farm system consists of seven Minor League Baseball affiliates across the United States and in the Dominican Republic. Four teams are owned by the major league club, while three—the Indianapolis Indians, Altoona Curve, Greensboro Grasshoppers—are independently owned.
The Pirates have been affiliated with the Double-A Altoona Curve of the Eastern League since 1999, making it the longest-running active affiliation in the organization among teams not owned by the Pirates. It is also the longest affiliation in the team's history. Their newest affiliate is the High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League, which became a Pirates affiliate in 2019.
Geographically, Pittsburgh's closest domestic affiliate is the Altoona Curve, which are approximately away. Pittsburgh's furthest domestic affiliates are the Single-A Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League and the Florida Complex League Pirates of the Rookie Florida Complex League, which play at separate facilities in Bradenton, Florida, some away.
Current affiliates
The Pittsburgh Pirates farm system consists of seven minor league affiliates.
ClassTeamLeagueLocationBallparkAffiliated Triple-A Indianapolis Indians International League Indianapolis, Indiana Victory Field 2005 Double-A Altoona Curve Eastern League Altoona, Pennsylvania Peoples Natural Gas Field 1999 High-A Greensboro Grasshoppers South Atlantic League Greensboro, North Carolina First National Bank Field 2019 Single-A Bradenton Marauders Florida State League Bradenton, Florida LECOM Park 2010 Rookie FCL Pirates Florida Complex League Bradenton, Florida Pirate City Complex 1969 DSL Pirates Black Dominican Summer League Boca Chica, Santo Domingo Pirates Academy 2018 DSL Pirates Gold
Past affiliates
Key SeasonEach year is linked to an article about that particular Pirates season.
1920–1962 Minor League Baseball operated with five classes (Double-A, Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class D) from 1920 to 1935. Class A1, between Double-A and Class A, was added in 1936. The minors continued to operate with these six levels through 1945. Triple-A was established as the highest classification in 1946, and Class A1 became Double-A, with Class A through D remaining. These six levels continued through 1962. The Pacific Coast League (PCL) was reclassified from Triple-A to Open in 1952 due to the possibility of becoming a third major league. This arrangement ended following the 1957 season when the relocation of the National League's Dodgers and Giants to the West Coast ended any chance of the PCL being promoted.
SeasonTriple-A Double-AClass AClass BClass CClass D 1920 — — — Wichita Falls Spudders — — 1921 — — Wichita Falls Spudders — — — 1921 — — — — — — 1923 — — — — — — 1924 — — — — — — 1925 — — — — — — 1926 — — — — — — 1927 — — — — — — 1928 — — — — — — 1929 — — — — — — 1930 — — Wichita Aviators — — — 1931 — — — — — — 1932 — — Tulsa Oilers — — — 1933 — — Tulsa Oilers — — — 1934 — — Little Rock Travelers — Springfield Pirates McKeesport Tubers 1935 — Kansas City Blues Birmingham Barons — Portsmouth Pirates — 1936 — — Scranton Miners — Hutchinson LarksPortsmouth Pirates Jeannette Little PiratesPortageville-Owensboro PiratesWinnipeg Maroons 1937 — Montreal Royals — Savannah Indians Hutchinson Larks Paducah Indians 1938 — Montreal Royals Knoxville Smokies (A1) Savannah Indians Hutchinson Larks Carthage Pirates 1939 — — Knoxville Smokies (A1) Gadsden Pilots Hutchinson Pirates Carthage PiratesJamestown JaguarsMcKeesport Little PiratesValdosta Trojans 1940 — Syracuse Chiefs Albany Senators Gadsden PilotsHarrisburg Senators Gloversville-Johnstown GloversHutchinson Pirates Carthage PiratesFort Lauderdale TarponsLondon PiratesMcKeesport Little Braves / Oil City Oilers 1941 — — Albany Senators Harrisburg Senators Hutchinson PiratesGloversville-Johnstown Glovers London PiratesMoultrie PackersOil City Oilers 1942 — — Albany Senators Harrisburg Senators Hutchinson Pirates Hornell MaplesMoultrie PackersOil City Oilers 1943 — Toronto Maple Leafs Albany Senators York White Roses — Hornell Maples 1944 — Toronto Maple Leafs Albany Senators York White Roses — Hornell Maples 1945 — — Albany Senators York White Roses — Hornell MaplesSalisbury Pirates 1946 Hollywood Stars Birmingham Barons Albany Senators Anniston RamsSelma CloverleafsYakima StarsYork White Roses Oil City Oilers Bartlesville OilersHornell MaplesSalisbury PiratesTallahassee PiratesTallassee Indians 1947 Indianapolis Indians — Albany Senators Selma CloverleafsYork White Roses Fargo-Moorhead TwinsKeokuk PiratesRiverside DonsUniontown Coal Barons Bartlesville OilersHornell MaplesLeesburg PiratesRehoboth Beach PiratesSalisbury PiratesTallahassee Pirates 1948 Indianapolis Indians New Orleans Pelicans Albany SenatorsFort Wayne Generals Anderson RebelsDavenport PiratesWaco PiratesYork White Roses Fargo-Moorhead TwinsKeokuk PiratesUniontown Coal Barons Bartlesville PiratesGreenville PiratesLeesburg PiratesNew Iberia PelicansRehoboth Beach PiratesSalisbury PiratesSanta Rosa PiratesTallahassee Pirates 1949 Indianapolis Indians New Orleans Pelicans Albany Senators Davenport PiratesWaco PiratesYork White Roses Keokuk PiratesModesto RedsUniontown Coal Barons Bartlesville PiratesGreenville PiratesSalisbury PiratesTallahassee Pirates 1950 Indianapolis Indians New Orleans Pelicans Albany SenatorsCharleston Rebels Waco PiratesYork White Roses Hutchinson ElksModesto Reds Bartlesville PiratesGreenville PiratesMayfield ClothiersSalisbury PiratesTallahassee Pirates 1951 Indianapolis Indians New Orleans Pelicans Charleston Rebels Burlington BeesWaco Pirates Butler TigersHutchinson ElksModesto Reds Bartlesville PiratesBrunswick PiratesEugene LarksMayfield ClothiersSalisbury Pirates 1952 Hollywood Stars (Open) New Orleans Pelicans Charleston RebelsDenver Bears Burlington-Graham PiratesWaco Pirates Billings MustangsHutchinson ElksModesto RedsSt. Jean Canadians Bartlesville Pirates / Pittsburg PiratesBatavia ClippersBristol TwinsBrunswick PiratesMayfield Clothiers 1953 — New Orleans Pelicans Charleston RebelsDenver Bears Burlington-Graham PiratesWaco Pirates / Longview Pirates Billings MustangsHutchinson ElksSt. Jean Canadians Batavia ClippersBristol TwinsBrunswick PiratesDublin Irish 1954 Hollywood Stars (Open) New Orleans Pelicans Denver BearsWilliamsport Grays Burlington-Graham PiratesWaco Pirates Billings MustangsHutchinson ElksSt. Jean Canadians Brunswick PiratesClinton PiratesDublin Irish 1955 Hollywood Stars (Open) New Orleans Pelicans Lincoln ChiefsWilliamsport Grays Burlington-Graham PiratesWaco Pirates Billings MustangsSalinas PackersSt. Jean Canadians Brunswick PiratesClinton PiratesDublin Irish 1956 Hollywood Stars (Open) New Orleans Pelicans Lincoln ChiefsWilliamsport Grays Kinston EaglesWaco Pirates Billings MustangsDouglas Copper KingsGrand Forks Chiefs Brunswick PiratesClinton PiratesDublin Irish 1957 Columbus JetsHollywood Stars (Open) — Lincoln Chiefs Beaumont Pirates Douglas Copper KingsGrand Forks ChiefsSan Jose JoSox Clinton PiratesJamestown FalconsSalem Rebels 1958 Columbus JetsSalt Lake City Bees — Lincoln Chiefs Tri-City Braves Douglas Copper KingsGrand Forks ChiefsSan Jose Pirates / Las Vegas Wranglers Clinton PiratesSalem RebelsSan Angelo Pirates 1959 Columbus JetsSalt Lake City Bees — Columbus Pirates / Gastonia Pirates Wilson Tobs Grand Forks ChiefsIdaho Falls Russets Dubuque PackersSalem RebelsSan Angelo Pirates / Roswell Pirates 1960 Columbus JetsSalt Lake City Bees — Savannah Pirates Burlington Bees Grand Forks Chiefs Dubuque PackersHobbs PiratesKingsport Pirates 1961 Columbus Jets — Asheville Tourists Burlington Bees Grand Forks Chiefs Batavia PiratesHobbs PiratesKingsport PiratesShelby Colonels 1962 Columbus Jets — Asheville Tourists Kinston Eagles Grand Forks Chiefs Batavia PiratesBurlington BeesKingsport Pirates
1963–1989 Prior to the 1963 season, Major League Baseball (MLB) initiated a reorganization of Minor League Baseball that resulted in a reduction from six classes to four (Triple-A, Double-A, Class A, and Rookie) in response to the general decline of the minors throughout the 1950s and early-1960s when leagues and teams folded due to shrinking attendance caused by baseball fans' preference for staying at home to watch MLB games on television. The only change made within the next 27 years was Class A being subdivided for the first time to form Class A Short Season in 1966.
SeasonTriple-ADouble-AClass AClass A Short SeasonRookie 1963 Columbus Jets Asheville Tourists Batavia PiratesGastonia PiratesKinston EaglesReno Silver Sox — Kingsport Pirates 1964 Columbus Jets Asheville Tourists Batavia PiratesGastonia PiratesKinston EaglesReno Silver Sox — Salem Rebels 1965 Columbus Jets Asheville Tourists Batavia PiratesGastonia PiratesKinston Eagles — Salem Rebels 1966 Columbus Jets Asheville Tourists Clinton PilotsGastonia PiratesRaleigh Pirates — Salem Rebels 1967 Columbus Jets Macon Peaches Clinton PilotsGastonia PiratesRaleigh Pirates — Salem Rebels 1968 Columbus Jets York Pirates Clinton PilotsGastonia PiratesSalem Rebels — GCL Pirates 1969 Columbus JetsYork Pirates Gastonia PiratesSalem Rebels Geneva Pirates GCL Pirates 1970 Columbus Jets Waterbury Pirates Gastonia PiratesSalem Rebels Niagara Falls Pirates GCL PiratesGCL Tourists 1971 Charleston Charlies Waterbury Pirates Monroe PiratesSalem Rebels Niagara Falls Pirates GCL Pirates 1972 Charleston Charlies Sherbrooke Pirates Gastonia PiratesSalem Pirates Niagara Falls Pirates GCL Pirates 1973 Charleston Charlies Sherbrooke Pirates Charleston PiratesSalem Pirates Niagara Falls Pirates GCL Pirates 1974 Charleston Charlies Thetford Mines Pirates Charleston PiratesSalem Pirates Niagara Falls Pirates GCL Pirates 1975 Charleston Charlies Shreveport Captains Charleston PiratesSalem Pirates Niagara Falls Pirates GCL Pirates 1976 Charleston Charlies Shreveport Captains Charleston PatriotsSalem Pirates Niagara Falls Pirates GCL Pirates 1977 Columbus Clippers Shreveport Captains Charleston PatriotsSalem Pirates Niagara Falls Pirates GCL Pirates 1978 Columbus Clippers Shreveport Captains Charleston PiratesSalem Pirates — GCL Pirates 1979 Portland Beavers Buffalo Bisons Salem PiratesShelby Pirates — GCL Pirates 1980 Portland Beavers Buffalo Bisons Salem PiratesShelby Pirates — GCL Pirates 1981 Portland Beavers Buffalo Bisons Alexandria DukesGreenwood Pirates — GCL Pirates 1982 Portland Beavers Buffalo Bisons Alexandria DukesGreenwood Pirates — GCL Pirates 1983 Hawaii Islanders Lynn Sailors Alexandria DukesGreenwood Pirates Watertown Pirates GCL Pirates 1984 Hawaii Islanders Nashua Pirates Macon PiratesPrince William Pirates Watertown Pirates GCL Pirates 1985 Hawaii Islanders Nashua Pirates Macon PiratesPrince William Pirates Watertown Pirates GCL Pirates 1986 Hawaii Islanders Nashua Pirates Macon PiratesPrince William Pirates Watertown Pirates GCL Pirates 1987 Vancouver Canadians Harrisburg Senators Macon PiratesSalem Buccaneers Watertown Pirates GCL Pirates 1988 Buffalo Bisons Harrisburg Senators Augusta PiratesSalem Buccaneers Watertown Pirates Princeton PiratesGCL Pirates 1989 Buffalo Bisons Harrisburg Senators Augusta PiratesSalem Buccaneers Welland Pirates Princeton PiratesGCL PiratesDSL Pirates/Mets/Cardinals
1990–2020 Minor League Baseball operated with six classes from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, the Class A level was subdivided for a second time with the creation of Class A-Advanced. The Rookie level consisted of domestic and foreign circuits.