The Padres have found a new home for their Double-A affiliate: Amarillo, Texas.

Amarillo Professional Baseball and the Padres on Monday announced they have agreed to a player development contract that runs through the 2020 season.

High Single-A Lake Elsinore and short-season Tri-City also announced two-year deals with the Padres. Player development contracts with Triple-A El Paso and low Single-A Fort Wayne were announced earlier in the year.

The Double-A affiliate’s move to Amarillo — marking a return of professional affiliated baseball to the Texas Panhandle for the first time in 37 years — includes moving into a new $45.5 million ballpark.


The finalists for a name-the-team contest are the Boot Scooters, Bronc Busters, Jerky, Long Haulers and Sod Poodles.

Amarillo Professional Baseball is owned by the Elmore Sports Group, which operated the affiliation with the San Antonio Missions, who had been with the Padres since 2007. The Missions will play Triple-A ball in 2019 as a Brewers affiliate.

“The San Diego Padres are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Elmore Sports Group as Double-A Baseball returns to Amarillo,” Padres farm director Sam Geaney said in a statement. “We’re excited to watch our talented farm system develop in a brand new ballpark and bring a Texas League championship back to Amarillo.”


Sports Videos

jeff.sanders@sduniontribune.com