Get to know the members of the Triple-A West

As the 2021 season approaches, MiLB.com introduces the 11 leagues created by the restructuring of Minor League Baseball across four levels of play. Below is a team-by-team introduction to the Triple-A West, including affiliation, previous circuit and most recent championship. (Note: "Established" refers to the first year of a team's continuous operation in that market regardless of league or level.) For details on the Triple-A East, click here.

Half the size of its Triple-A counterpart, this 10-team circuit features nine clubs from the former Pacific Coast League and one from the independent ranks. That entity, the Sugar Land Skeeters, enters the same division as two other Texas teams -- the Round Rock Express and El Paso Chihuahuas -- in what could become an interesting three-way rivalry for Lone Star bragging rights.

The Triple-A West's other division features rivals from Nevada -- the Reno Aces and Las Vegas Aviators -- a perennial powerhouse from California (Sacramento River Cats), a Utah team with one of the oldest monikers in the Minors (Salt Lake Bees) as well as a long-established Washington club (Tacoma Rainiers).

Without further ado, meet the teams making up the Triple-A West:

East Division

ALBUQUERQUE ISOTOPES

Affiliate: Colorado Rockies (since 2015)
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico (425 miles from Coors Field)
Ballpark: Rio Grande Credit Union Field at Isotopes Park (opened April 11, 2003)
Established: 2003 (previous Albuquerque clubs, including the Dukes, dating back to 1915)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: None

Did you know? The team name was inspired, at least in part, by an episode of "The Simpsons" in which the Springfield Isotopes threaten to move to Albuquerque. In fact, when Isotopes Park opened in 2003, the front office decided to enhance the fan experience by installing life-size statues of Springfield's most famous family.

EL PASO CHIHUAHUAS

Affiliate: San Diego Padres (since 2014)
Location: El Paso, Texas (723 miles from Petco Park)
Ballpark: Southwest University Park (opened April 28, 2014)
Established: 2014 (previous El Paso clubs, including the Diablos, dating back to 1915)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2016

Did you know? Home plate at Southwest University Park is roughly a third of a mile from the Rio Grande.

OKLAHOMA CITY DODGERS

Affiliate: Los Angeles Dodgers (since 2015)
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (1,330 miles from Dodger Stadium)
Ballpark: Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark (opened April 16, 1998)
Established: 1962 (as the 89ers; previous Oklahoma City clubs dating back to 1904)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 1996

Did you know? A 9-foot statue of Oklahoma native Johnny Bench greets fans outside Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark's home plate gate.

ROUND ROCK EXPRESS

Affiliate: Texas Rangers (since 2021)
Location: Round Rock, Texas (178 miles from Globe Life Field)
Ballpark: Dell Diamond (opened April 16, 2000)
Established: 2000
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2000

Did you know? The team is named for Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who was nicknamed "The Ryan Express."

SUGAR LAND SKEETERS

Affiliate: Houston Astros (since 2021)
Location: Sugar Land, Texas (22 miles from Minute Maid Park)
Ballpark: Constellation Field (opened April 26, 2012)
Established: 2012
Previous league: independent Atlantic League
Last championship: 2018

Did you know? The Skeeters have several famous alumni, including Roger Clemens (2012), Rafael Palmeiro (2012) and former NBA star Tracy McGrady (2014).

West Division

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS

Affiliate: Oakland A’s (since 2019)
Location: Summerlin, Nevada (555 miles from the Oakland Coliseum)
Ballpark: Las Vegas Ballpark (opened April 6, 2019)
Established: 1983 (as the Stars; previous Las Vegas clubs dating back to 1947)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 1988

Did you know? The Las Vegas franchise twice placed back-to-back PCL MVPs: Sandy Alomar Jr. won the honor for the Stars in 1988-'89, and two decades later, J.P. Arencibia followed Randy Ruiz (2009) for the 51s.

RENO ACES

Affiliate: Arizona Diamondbacks (since 2009)
Location: Reno, Nevada (740 miles from Chase Field)
Ballpark: Greater Nevada Field (opened April 17, 2009)
Established: 2009 (previous Reno clubs dating back to 1907)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2012

Did you know? Twitter was just gaining prominence when the Aces debuted, but the team was prepared. Brett McGinness, then the team's marketing director, had the foresight to snag the @Aces handle -- one that remains the most concise in Minor League Baseball.

SACRAMENTO RIVER CATS

Affiliate: San Francisco Giants (since 2015)
Location: West Sacramento, California (84 miles from Oracle Park)
Ballpark: Sutter Health Park (opened May 15, 2000)
Established: 2000 (previous Sacramento clubs dating back to 1883)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2019

Did you know? The River Cats have won 12 division titles, five league titles and three Triple-A National Championships -- including in 2019 -- since their inaugural season in 2000.

SALT LAKE BEES

Affiliate: Los Angeles Angels (since 2001)
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah (681 miles from Angel Stadium)
Ballpark: Smith's Ballpark (opened April 11, 1994)
Established: 1994 (as the Salt Lake City Buzz; previous Salt Lake City clubs dating back to 1901)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: None

Did you know? The Bees moniker, a reference to Utah's status as the "Beehive State," was first used by a Salt Lake-based PCL club in 1915 and remains among the oldest in Minor League Baseball.

TACOMA RAINIERS

Affiliate: Seattle Mariners (since 1995)
Location: Tacoma, Washington (36 miles from T-Mobile Park)
Ballpark: Cheney Stadium (opened April 16, 1960)
Established: 1960 (as the Giants; previous Tacoma clubs dating back to 1890)
Previous league: Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Last championship: 2010

Did you know? Since McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket no longer hosts a Minor League team, Cheney Stadium stands as the oldest Triple-A ballpark in use in the Minors. It’s undergone several major renovations over the years, most recently in 2011.