A's Extend Player Development Contract with Single-A Beloit
Athletics and Snappers Agree on Two-Year Extension Through 2016
OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics have announced the club has extended its Player Development Contract with Single-A Beloit (Wisc.) of the Midwest League through the 2016 season. The Beloit Snappers have served as a minor league affiliate for the A's since 2013.
"We are pleased to continue our working relationship with Beloit," said A's Vice President and General Manager Billy Beane. "Dennis Conerton and his staff have done an outstanding job during the two seasons we have spent with the Snappers. It continues to be a mutually beneficial affiliation, and we look forward to growing this partnership in the years to come."
Beloit's minor league history dates back to 1982, when it joined the Midwest League as an expansion franchise affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers. Beloit continued to operate in the Brewers' farm system through 2004, fielding such future Major Leaguers as Ben Sheets, Prince Fielder, Greg Vaughn, Geoff Jenkins and Ron Belliard. In 2005, the Snappers changed affiliation to the Minnesota Twins, a relationship that continued through 2012. Some of the A's best young talent has been showcased in Beloit over the past two seasons, including Matt Olson, Daniel Robertson and Renato Nunez.
"We are extremely happy about the A's coming back to Beloit. We have had a great relationship with Oakland the last two years and are pleased to continue it," said Dennis Conerton, president of the Snappers. "The Oakland A's have a national presence and are well respected throughout baseball, which in turn expands the Beloit Snappers fan base."
The Snappers play their home games at 3,501-seat Harry C. Pohlman Field, which first opened in the team's charter 1982 season. The stadium was renovated in 1995.
Besides Beloit, the other Oakland A's 2015 minor league affiliates are Triple-A Nashville (Pacific Coast League), Double-A Midland (Texas League), Single-A Stockton (California League), Short-Season A Vermont (New York-Penn League) and Rookie League Arizona (Arizona League).