The Kansas City Royals, over the last 48 hours, have announced Player Development Contract (PDC) extensions with the franchises’ Rookie-Level affiliate in Idaho Falls, Idaho; the Single-A affiliate in Wilmington, Delaware; and the Single-A affiliate in Lexington, Kentucky. The extensions, all two years in length, will extend the current partnership with the teams through the 2020 season.
The Idaho Falls Chukars are in the Pioneer League, winners of the league title in 2013, and runner-up in 2015. Melaleca Field, seating 3,400 spectators, is the home field of the Chukars, who are 39-32 this season and trail Grand Junction by two games in the Pioneer League’s South standings, heading into the final week of the regular season.
The Lexington Legends call the South Atlantic League home, playing at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, a 6,994 stadium that opened in 2001. Last Friday, the team clinched the Second Half Southern Division title, and will open the South Atlantic League playoffs this week, hosting Rome in a best-of-three series.
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a member of the Carolina League, and have won league titles in 1994, ’96, ’98, and ’99. The team has served as a Royals affiliate from 1993-2004 and again from 2007 to the present date. This year’s Blue Rocks team finished 68-72, with a 37-33 mark in the second half. The team plays its home games at 6,404 seat Daniel S. Frawley Stadium, a park opened in 1993.