The Minnesota Twins will soon have their top minor league team right in their own backyard as the St. Paul Saints will become the top Triple-A affiliate for the team.

According to Startribune.com, a reorganization of Minor League Baseball will find the Saint Paul Saints leaving independent baseball and becoming a part of the Minnesota Twins organization. The Twins’ Triple-A site had been in Rochester, New York, which will now be the home of the Washington Nationals’ top farm team.

A related change will also find the Twins' Class AA team moving from Pensacola, Florida to Wichita, Kansas.

By having closer affiliates, the Twins will enjoy the benefits of reduced travel times and costs.  For example, as StarTribune.com notes, a Twins player on a rehabilitation stint in St. Paul will now simply drive himself across the Twin Cities rather face extensive travel and related costs.

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This is all part of big picture reorganization plan from Major League Baseball, who is calling for there to be 120 affiliates, which is a reduction by more than 40 teams.

The Minnesota Twins other affiliates are not expected to be impacted by these changes, meaning the Class A teams in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Fort Myers, Florida should play on as usual as a part of the organization.

Major League Baseball Spring Training is scheduled to officially begin on Saturday, February 27.  The Minnesota Twins will open their regular season schedule on Thursday, April 1 in Milwaukee to face the Brewers.  Twins home opener at Target Field is Thursday, April 8 against the Seattle Mariners.

 

2021 Minnesota Twins Schedule Highlights

 

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