High-A

High-A, officially Class High-A (formerly known as Class A-Advanced and sometimes abbreviated A+), is the third-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) in the United States and Canada, below Triple-A and Double-A, and above Single-A. It is one of the four full-season classifications in the affiliated minor league system.

Classification Hierarchy

In the current minor league system (post-2021 restructuring), the levels from highest to lowest are:

1. Triple-A (AAA)
2. Double-A (AA)
3. High-A (A+)
4. Single-A (A)
5. Rookie-level (complex leagues and Dominican Summer League)

History

What is now Class High-A was established as Class A-Advanced in 1990 by subdividing the existing Class A. Prior to 1990, Class A had been the third-highest level since 1936, with a hierarchy of Triple-A and Double-A above it in place since 1946. In 1965, Class A was first subdivided with the creation of Class A Short Season leagues.

The 1990 subdivision created the following hierarchy:

1. Triple-A
2. Double-A
3. Class A-Advanced (now High-A)
4. Class A ("Full-Season A")
5. Class A Short Season ("Short-Season A")
6. Rookie league

Three leagues originally received the Class A-Advanced designation: the California League, Carolina League, and Florida State League.

2021 Restructuring

In 2021, Major League Baseball restructured the minor leagues, eliminating Class A Short Season and discontinuing the use of historical league names. The existing Class A-Advanced leagues were moved to the Class A level, and the Class A-Advanced level was officially renamed Class High-A. Three new High-A leagues operated during 2021 with generic names: High-A Central, High-A East, and High-A West.

Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to historical minor league names, the leagues reverted to their prior names effective with the 2022 season.

Current Leagues and Teams

As of the 2022 season, there are 30 teams classified at the High-A level, one for each MLB franchise, organized into three leagues:

• Midwest League (12 teams) — covering the Midwestern United States
• Northwest League (6 teams) — covering the Pacific Northwest
• South Atlantic League (12 teams) — covering the eastern United States

Level of Play

High-A is considered an important developmental stage. It sits between Single-A and Double-A and serves as an adjustment level where players face more polished competition. Pitchers at this level typically have better secondary pitches, and hitters face more advanced strike-zone judgment and defensive reliability. The season length for High-A is 132 games.

Player Restrictions

Under current rules, no more than two players and one player-coach with six or more years of prior minor-league experience may be on a High-A active roster. The active roster size is 30 players.

Notable First

In January 2023, Veronica Gajownik was hired to manage the Hillsboro Hops (Northwest League), making her the first woman to manage a High-A team.

See Also

• Minor League Baseball
• Triple-A
• Double-A
• Single-A