High-A

What is now Class High-A was established as Class A-Advanced in 1990 by subdividing the existing Class A. Class A had been the third-highest level in the minor leagues since 1936 (when it was below Double-A and Class A1) and a hierarchy of Triple-A and Double-A above Class A had been in place since 1946.{{rp|15}} In 1963, the three classes below Class A (Classes B, C, and D) were abolished, with leagues at those levels moved into Class A.{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |editor1-first=Lloyd |editor1-last=Johnson |editor2-first=Miles |editor2-last=Wolff |edition=Third |publisher=Baseball America |date=2007 |isbn=978-1932391176}}{{rp|15}} In 1965, Class A was subdivided for the first time, with the establishment of lower-level Class A Short Season leagues.

The 1965 hierarchy was in place for 25 years, until Class A was further subdivided in 1990, with Class A-Advanced becoming the third-highest classification:

1. Triple-A
2. Double-A
3. Class A-Advanced
4. Class A ("Full-Season A")
5. Class A Short Season ("Short-Season A")
6. Rookie league

Three Class A leagues received the Class A-Advanced designation: the California League, Carolina League, and Florida State League.{{cite web |url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/truth-in-the-minor-league-class-structure-the-case-for-the-reclassification-of-the-minors/ |title=Truth in the Minor League Class Structure: The Case for the Reclassification of the Minors |first=John |last=Cronin |website=SABR |date=2013 |accessdate=April 16, 2021}} This arrangement continued until 2021, when Major League Baseball (MLB) restructured the minor leagues, eliminating Class A Short Season and discontinuing the use of all historical league names within Minor League Baseball.{{cite news |url=https://news.sportslogos.net/2021/02/15/a-breakdown-of-minor-league-baseballs-total-realignment-for-2021/baseball/ |title=A Breakdown of Minor League Baseball's Total Realignment for 2021 |first=Chris |last=Creamer |website=sportslogos.net |date=February 15, 2021 |accessdate=April 16, 2021}} The existing Class A-Advanced leagues were moved to the Class A level and operated under generic names (Low-A West, Low-A East, and Low-A Southeast) during 2021. The Class A-Advanced level was officially renamed as "Class High-A",{{cite book |url=https://registration.mlbpa.org/pdf/MajorLeagueRules.pdf |title=The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book |publisher=Office of the Commissioner of Baseball |location=New York City |date=2021 |via=mlbpa.org |accessdate=May 1, 2021 |page=10 |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129120209/https://registration.mlbpa.org/pdf/MajorLeagueRules.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite book |url=https://registration.mlbpa.org/pdf/MajorLeagueRules.pdf |title=The Official Professional Baseball Rules Book |publisher=Office of the Commissioner of Baseball |location=New York City |date=2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731201536/https://registration.mlbpa.org/pdf/MajorLeagueRules.pdf |archive-date=July 31, 2019 |via=Wayback Machine |pages=158–159}} and also operated three leagues during 2021 with generic names: High-A Central, High-A East, and High-A West.{{cite web|title=Teams by League and Classification|url=https://www.milb.com/about/leagues-teams|website=Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 8, 2020}} These three High-A leagues had historically been known as the Midwest League, South Atlantic League, and Northwest League—the first two had previously operated at the Class A level, while the latter had previously operated at the Class A Short Season level. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, MLB announced on March 16, 2022, that the leagues would revert to their prior names, effective with the 2022 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.milb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-historical-league-names-to-return-in-2022 |title=Historical league names to return in 2022 |publisher=Minor League Baseball |website=milb.com |date=March 16, 2022 |accessdate=March 29, 2022}}

In January 2023, it was announced that Veronica Gajownik had been hired to manage the Hillsboro Hops, making her the first woman to manage a High-A team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lmtonline.com/sports/article/Diamondbacks-affiliate-Hillsboro-names-woman-as-17732046.php|title=Diamondbacks affiliate Hillsboro names woman as manager|date=January 21, 2023|website=Laredo Morning Times}}

{{location map+ |USA |float=left|width=750|alt=High-A team locations in the United States|caption={{unbulleted list

| 8px Midwest League

| 8px Northwest League

| 8px South Atlantic League

}}

|places=

{{location map~ |USA |lat=39.764167 |long=-84.185 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Dragons |position=bottom}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=41.074056 |long=-85.142861 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=TinCaps |position=bottom}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=43.609169 |long=-84.236703 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Loons |position=top}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=41.3940 |long=-81.2607 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Captains | position=bottom}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=42.734722 |long=-84.545278 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Lugnuts |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=43.040195 |long=-85.659832 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Whitecaps |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=42.53539 |long=-89.007947 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Sky Carp |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=41.968056 |long=-91.686389 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Kernels |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=40.6875 |long=-89.5975 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Chiefs |position=bottom}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=41.518669 |long=-90.582242 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=River Bandits |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=41.670394 |long=-86.255478 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Cubs |position=top}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=44.283524 |long=-88.468742 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Timber Rattlers |position=top}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=47.967 |long=-122.203 |mark=Green pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=AquaSox |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=47.662 |long=-117.345 |mark=Green pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Indians |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=46.267 |long=-119.172 |mark=Green pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Dust Devils |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=49.2431 |long=-123.1063 |mark=Green pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Canadians |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=44.059 |long=-123.066 |mark=Green pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Emeralds |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=45.5536 |long=-122.9082 |mark=Green pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Hops |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=39.510278 |long=-76.169167 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=IronBirds |position=bottom}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=35.595833 |long=-82.552778 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Tourists |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=36.981667 |long=-86.444444 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Hot Rods |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=40.692778 |long=-73.990278 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Cyclones |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=36.08 |long=-79.819444 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Grasshoppers|position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=34.844444 |long=-82.385556 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Drive |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=34.945 |long=-81.935833 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Spartanburgers|position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=41.599167 |long=-73.918056 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Renegades |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=40.077069 |long=-74.19851 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=BlueClaws |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=34.26 |long=-85.185 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Emperors |position=left}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=39.745833 |long=-75.546667 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Blue Rocks |position=right}}

{{location map~ |USA |lat=36.102764 |long=-80.260492 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Dash |position=left}}

}}{{clear}}

{{main|Midwest League}}

{{:Midwest League}}

{{main|Northwest League}}

{{:Northwest League}}

{{main|South Atlantic League}}

{{:South Atlantic League}}

{{missing information|section|pre-2021 playoff structure|small=no|date=September 2024}}

The format for the 2024 postseason at High-A will consist of four teams per league in a best-of-three division series, followed by a best-of-three championship series. The four playoff participants per league will be the winners of each division from both halves based on the best winning percentage of each half. In the event the same club wins both halves, the club with the next-best winning percentage in the second half will advance.

However, with only six clubs in the Northwest League, the format for the postseason will consist of a single, best-of-five championship series. The two playoff participants will be decided based on the best winning percentage of each half. In the event the same club wins both halves, the club with the next-best winning percentage in the second half will advance.

In the event of any ties, the following tiebreakers will apply in the order below:{{cite web |title=2024 Playoff Procedures |url=https://www.milb.com/events/playoffs/procedures |website=MiLB.com |date=June 18, 2024}}

1. Head-to-head record between the clubs in the respective half (if three or more clubs, best winning percentage in games among the clubs).
2. If the clubs remain tied, best overall winning percentage over the last 20 games.
3. If the clubs remain tied, best overall winning percentage over an additional game (i.e., the last 21 games, the last 22 games, etc.) until one emerges with a better winning percentage in that span of games.

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{official website|www.milb.com}}

{{Professional Baseball}}

{{Midwest League}}

{{Northwest League}}

{{South Atlantic League}}

Category:Minor league baseball

Category:Midwest League

Category:Northwest League

Category:South Atlantic League