Baseball America Ranks MLB Clubs by Drive Time to Triple‑A Affiliates

Baseball America ranked MLB clubs by driving time to their Triple-A affiliates, laying out how geography shapes player movement, rehab logistics, and front-office coordination. The analysis shows that proximity is more than convenience - it can alter roster management, player development pathways, and even the economics of in-season roster tweaks.

Clubs with short drives to Triple-A partners enjoy tangible operational benefits. Faster player movement translates to quicker emergency recalls and more efficient rehab assignments, allowing teams to shuttle pitchers and position players back and forth without costly charter flights or multi-leg travel. Short commutes also smooth coordination between big league and Triple-A coaching staffs, which can streamline instruction, scouting communication, and adoption of organizational philosophies across levels.

Teams located farther from their Triple-A affiliates face trade-offs. Long drives raise the cost and complexity of rapid callups, increase travel fatigue for recalled players, and complicate front-office oversight during critical stretches of the season. Those logistical burdens can influence how a club builds depth, leaning more on established major league pieces or satellite training sites rather than relying on immediate access to Triple-A reinforcements.

The ranking includes a sortable list and commentary that connect geographic alignment to concrete roster outcomes. In practice, drive time matters when deciding which prospects get sustained exposure at Triple-A, how clubs stage rehab assignments during long homestands, and how aggressively organizations pursue midseason trades versus internal promotions. For player development staff, proximity also affects scouting and evaluation cadence, since easier travel makes routine visits and hands-on assessments more feasible.

Beyond the diamond, the geographic ties between parent clubs and Triple-A teams carry cultural and business implications. Close affiliates help cultivate regional fan pipelines, encouraging cross-promotional ticketing and joint marketing that can boost attendance and merchandise sales. For players, nearby assignments reduce time away from family and make community integration more sustainable. Conversely, distant alignments can dilute local fan interest in prospects and weaken community bonds that Minor League teams rely on.

This analysis matters to general managers, minor league directors, and engaged fans because drive time is an underappreciated variable in roster planning. As affiliations evolve and clubs weigh the costs of travel against developmental priorities, proximity will remain a strategic lever in roster design. Expect teams to factor drive time into future affiliation decisions and operational playbooks, with tangible effects on how quickly prospects reach the big leagues and how efficiently clubs respond to injuries and slumps.