Pirates extend PDC with their AA affiliate
The Pittsburgh Pirates have extended their player development contract with their AA affiliate in the Eastern League, the Altoona Curve. While most other MLB clubs recently extended the PDCs with their farm teams by only two years, the Pirates and the Curve have signed a four year extension.
The cooperation with the Curve is the longest running of the Pirates in their 137-year history. If the new extension ends in 2022, the teams will have a 24-year relationship.
Ever since the club was founded in 1998, the both clubs have been together. The team saw the light after Arizona and Tampa Bay were awarded an MLB franchise. This resulted in the expansion at all levels of the minor leagues. So the Curve was the newest addition in the Eastern League.
Of course the traditional pleasantries were exchanged between the both clubs.
“We are extremely excited to extend our long-term partnership with the Altoona Curve for at least another four seasons,” Pirates President Frank Coonelly said. “We have developed a close working relationship with the Lozinak family and the Curve management team, building what we believe to be a model partnership between a minor league affiliate and its parent major league club. In addition to its geographic proximity to Pittsburgh and the wonderful home ballpark at Peoples Natural Gas Field, Altoona is special to the Pirates because the entire Altoona community and the great Curve fans have always embraced our players, coaches and staff, making both playing and living in Altoona a truly special experience for them.”
The affiliation between both clubs is one of the longest running. Of all full-season minor league clubs, there are only 23 with a longer running affiliation.
“On a day-to-day basis, it is truly an honor to work so closely with everyone from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization,” Curve general manager Derek Martin said. “I am excited for all of us that this storybook relationship will continue through 2022.”
The option for Altoona as a farm team was a logical one. The team is less than 100 miles away from PNC Park.