Arizona Diamondbacks add Amarillo Sod Poodles as Double-A affiliate

The Arizona Diamondbacks will keep three of their four minor league affiliates, with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles joining the organization in 2021.

The shakeup, which was announced in a release on Tuesday, sees the Sod Poodles of the Texas League replace the Jackson Generals, who were the team’s Double-A affiliate from 2017-19.

The Sod Poodles joined the Texas League in 2019, serving as the Double-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres.

The D-backs renewed their agreement with Pacific Coast League stalwart, the Reno Aces, who enter their 13th season as the D-backs’ top affiliate in 2021.

Arizona also will continue the organization’s affiliation with the Hillsboro Hops, who move up to the Single-A Advanced Northwest League.

The two teams have been affiliated since 2013, with the Hops serving as the Diamondbacks’ Short-Season Single-A affiliate.

The fourth team that will be affiliated with the D-backs is the Visalia Rawhide of the Single-A California League.

The Rawhide are the D-backs’ longest-tenured affiliate, with the two clubs working together since 2007.

“We are proud of our long-standing partnerships in Reno, Visalia and Hillsboro,” said D-backs executive vice president & general manager Mike Hazen in the release. “We are also looking forward to bringing Amarillo into the mix as we continue to stress the importance of player development throughout the organization.”

The D-backs also will field teams in the Arizona League and Dominican Summer League.

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