Marlins sign Clinton, Iowa, team as new Low-A affiliate

MIAMI — After 16 years, one of the Marlins’ minor league affiliates will be leaving North Carolina.

Miami announced it will be moving its Low-A team — the Greensboro Grasshoppers — to Clinton, Iowa, next year. The Marlins agreed to a two-year player development contract with the Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League.

The LumberKings previously had a 10-year agreement with the Seattle Mariners.

During its affilation with the Grasshoppers, the team notched three playoff berths, two division titles, and a league championship in 2011.

The Marlins last played in the Midwest League from 1993 to 2002 as the Kane County Cougars. Former standouts Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis and Edgar Renteria were among the 66 players who made it to the majors from the affiliate.

“I had an opportunity to play and coach in the Midwest League early in my career and it’s a good league,” Marlins vice president of player development and scouting Gary Denbo said. “It’s a good developmental league and we feel like it’s on par with the other Low-A leagues.

“We feel like it’s going to give us an opportunity to put some of our younger players next year, we’re going to have guys like Connor Scott, Osiris Johnson and Will Banfield. They’re probably going to start at that level next year and we hope that enhances that development playing against that type of competition at a young age and we’re happy to be there in Clinton.

Following the news, the Greensboro Grasshoppers agreed to a player development contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.