The Oakland Athletics have come to an agreement on a player development contract with Triple A-Las Vegas 51s through the 2020 season, according to a team release.
The 51s will replace the Nashville Sounds as the team’s primary Triple-A team.
“It is an incredibly exciting time to partner with the Las Vegas 51s,” said Athletics vice president Billy Beane in a statement. “Their ownership group is committed to providing a first-class environment for our players.”
The move to Vegas is the closest an A’s Triple-A team has been to the Bay Area since 2015 when the A’s ended their player development contract with the Sacramento Rivercats and moved operations to Nashville. The move is expected to help ease the commute for prospects and players on rehab assignments.
“The proximity with the Bay Area to Las Vegas will also provide the opportunity to move players much easier regarding the roster transactions from the Triple-A to the Major League level, ” said 51s president
Don Logan. “McCarran International Airport has non-stop flights to the numerous PCL markets, as well as the big cities, that enables our team to have the best travel in the 16-team league. This will be a great situation for our fans to watch top prospects in the A’s system as well as players on Major League rehabilitation.”
In addition to providing an easier commute for prospects, the 51s are slated to move into Las Vegas Ballpark in nearby Summerlin in 2019. The park, which is expected to seat 10,000 spectators, will host “civic, community, nonprofit and sporting events.”
Said Logan: “The new [player development contract] will provide a tremendous environment for the players with the state-of-the-art amenities that will enhance player development with the indoor hitting cages, mounds and workout areas in the Las Vegas Ballpark.”
Since moving to Oakland in 1968, the A’s have had Triple-A affiliates in 12 cities, including Nashville (2015-18), Sacramento (2000-14), Vancouver (1999), Edmonton (1995-1998), Tacoma (1981-1994), Ogden (1979-80), Vancouver (1978), San Jose (1977), Tucson (1973-76), Iowa (1969-72) and Vancouver (1968).
