Houston Astros Announce PDC Extensions with Round Rock, Corpus Christi

Houston Astros extend player development contract with Triple-A, Double-A affiliates through the 2010 season

02/13/2008, HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros and Ryan-Sanders Baseball announced today a two-year extension of the Player Development Contracts (PDC) between the Astros and two affiliates: Triple A Round Rock and Double A Corpus Christi. Both affiliates are under the Ryan-Sanders Baseball ownership group, and the contracts will run through the 2010 season.

"The Astros are very proud of our relationship with Ryan-Sanders Baseball and the Round Rock and Corpus Christi franchises," said Ricky Bennett, Astros assistant general manager and director of player development. "Both franchises play a vital role in our player development efforts, and we feel very fortunate to extend this valued relationship through the 2010 season. Both Dell Diamond and Whataburger Field are tremendous venues for any Major League club to develop its future Major League talent, and we appreciate the contributions that the Ryans and their staffs have made."

The 2008 season will be the ninth under which the Round Rock Express has been an Astros affiliate and the fourth as the Triple A club. The Express was the Double A affiliate for the franchise's first five seasons, from 2000-04. Corpus Christi has been Houston's Double A farm club since the Hooks' inception in 2005, with 2008 marking the fourth season of the franchise. With today's announcement, Houston's top two affiliates will continue to be within driving distance of the Major League team.

"What we've created over the last four years with Ryan-Sanders Baseball and the Houston Astros is very special," said Reid Ryan, Founder and CEO of Ryan-Sanders Baseball. "The fan bases in South and Central Texas have followed Astros prospects from Double A to Triple A on to the Majors. We are excited about continuing this tradition by extending our player development contract through 2010."

With the Astros as their Major League partner, both Round Rock and Corpus Christi have become two of the most successful minor league franchises. Round Rock has made five playoff appearances, capturing the Texas League title in 2000 and advancing to the Pacific Coast League Championship in 2006. The Express set Texas League attendance records in each of its five Double A seasons and has drawn more than 5.4 million fans to The Dell Diamond since 2000, the third-highest mark in all of minor league baseball.

The Hooks have drawn 1,490,876 fans to Whataburger Field since their inaugural 2005 season. They drew more than 500,000 in each of the franchise's first two seasons. The 2006 team, featuring Hunter Pence and eight others who ultimately reached the big leagues, captured Corpus Christi's first Texas League championship since 1958. Corpus Christi has finished second twice and third once in total attendance among all Double A clubs.

Source: MLB

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •