HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros have named their four minor league affiliates: the Sugar Land Skeeters (Triple A), Corpus Christi Hooks (Double A), Asheville Tourists (High A) and Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Class A). All four affiliates officially accepted Major League Baseball’s invitation to become Professional Development League (PDL) license holders today. The Astros have an ownership stake in the Sugar Land, Corpus Christi and Fayetteville franchises.

The Astros announced their affiliation with Triple A Sugar Land in November and will commence play at Constellation Field for the 2021 season. Sugar Land joins the organization after spending the last 10 years in the Independent Atlantic League (2010-20), which included two league titles (2016, 2018). Their home, Constellation Field, which opened in 2012, is located approximately 22 miles from Minute Maid Park.

The Astros will be returning to Corpus Christi for their 16th consecutive season in 2021, dating back to the club’s move to the Texas League in 2005. The home of the Hooks, Whataburger field, which also opened in 2005, underwent a renovation in the 2019-20 offseason, which improved the stadium’s netting, batting cages, weight room and clubhouse. Other upgrades were made to the suites, the stadium’s berm, irrigation, and the playing surface.

Asheville joins the Astros organization after spending the last 26 years as the Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies (1994-2020). Asheville has a storied history, having joined affiliated baseball in 1934 as a Red Sox affiliate. Since then, they’ve been affiliated with 11 different Major League teams over the last 75 years, including 13 years as an Astros affiliate (1967, 1982-93). Two players from the Astros Hall of Fame suited up for the Tourists in the 1980’s, Craig Biggio (1987) and Shane Reynolds (1989).

The Astros have operated the Class A Fayetteville franchise since the 2017 season, originally joining the Carolina League as an expansion team. The team operated as the Buies Creek Astros for two seasons (2017-18) before moving to their permanent home in Fayetteville, N.C., and rebranding as the Fayetteville Woodpeckers. The Woodpeckers play at Segra Stadium, which opened for the 2019 season.