Durham Bulls remain Rays AAA affiliate

Yesterday the Durham Bulls and the Tampa Bay Rays announced they have extended their Player Development Contact with two more years through the 2020 season.  The current contract is still running and will end after the 2018 season.

The 2018 season will be the 21st of the cooperation between the two teams. The Bulls don’t know any other parent club than the Rays. Over the 21-year time span, the Bulls have captured 13 International League South Division titles and earned 14 playoff berths, while winning the 2017, 2013, 2009, 2003 and 2002 Governors’ Cup crowns. Additionally, the team has twice won the Triple-A National Championship, earning the title in 2017 and 2009. No IL team has made more playoff appearances or won more Governors’ Cup titles or division titles since the Bulls joined the league.

Owner Capitol Broadcasting Company Vice President-Baseball Operations Mike Birling stated: “We couldn’t be happier to extend our partnership with the Tampa Bay Rays. Over the last two decades, the Rays have provided us with great players, managers, and coaches who have led us to unparalleled success on the field, and who also represent us with class in the community. We look forward to continuing this special affiliation.”

Besides the name and the logo, this Durham Bulls club has nothing to do with the original team that was portrayed in the movie Bull Durham. That team was a single A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. In 1998 the team moved to Danville to become the 97s. The team played only one year in Durham as it moved to Myrtle Beach in 1999 to become the Pelicans. When the Tampa Bay Devil Rays started to play in 1998, the team needed an AAA affiliate as well. A new stadium, Durham Bulls Athletic Park, was already built in 1995, when the Bulls were still the Braves A-Advanced farm team.