First PDC news of the off season

Today it was announced that the Pittsburgh Pirates have extended the Player Development Contract with their AAA affiliate Indianapolis Indians.

The Indians are the Pirates AAA team since 2005 and will stay with the Bucs through the 2020 season.

The Pirates’ farm system currently ranks 6th. The club is stockpiling talent. Since the Indians joined the Pittsburgh farm system, the team recorded seven winning seasons.

Of course the mutual courtesy was exchanged as Pirates Director of Player Development, Larry Broadway said “I could not be more pleased that we have extended our relationship with the Indians through the 2020 season,” said Broadway. “Indianapolis is a wonderful community, Victory Field is an outstanding ballpark and the entire Indians’ staff is committed to making their operation the best in baseball.  We look forward to building on this tremendous affiliate relationship over the next five years, and hopefully many more beyond that” and Indians Vice President of Baseball and Administrative Affairs, Cal Burleson said “The Pirates have one of the best player development programs in professional baseball and we appreciate the relationship between our two organizations. In addition to providing us with talented players and leadership, Pittsburgh has established a very positive culture throughout their organization that focuses on constant improvement, playing the game the right way, and being good role models in the community.”

Since joining the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Indians have won division titles in 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2015. So far the club did not manage to win an International League title since affiliating with Pittsburgh even though they were very close this year as they fell to Columbus in five games.