Twins invite St. Paul Saints, 3 other teams to become minor league affiliates

Wednesday, the St. Paul Saints announced the organization has accepted an invitation to become a Triple-A Minor League affiliate for the Minnesota Twins.

A release from the Twins said the affiliation would begin with the 2021 season. The Saints currently belong to the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

"The opportunity to combine two iconic brands in promoting the game, both on and off the field, was something that was impossible to turn down. I look forward to a special and long-lasting relationship with one of the top organizations in all of Major League Baseball," Saints Chairman Marv Goldklang said.

Could the St. Paul Saints become a Twins minor league team?

The new affiliation creates the closes geographic relation between a parent club and Triple-A affiliate.

"This unprecedented relationship makes it easier to call players up from St. Paul to The Show or even allow players to get in a few rehab games before heading back to The Bigs after an injury. They can make the quick jaunt west on 94 or take a smooth ride on the Metro Green Line that connects CHS Field in Saint Paul to Target Field in Minneapolis," the Saints said in a news release.

The upcoming Saints season will be longer than the seasons they played while with the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, with games beginning in April and ending in September.

The Twins also invited the Wichita Surge, Cedar Rapids Kernels and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels to become Minor League affiliates.