Baseball America ranks the parent clubs

The most recent issue of Baseball America ranked the farm systems for all 30 MLB teams and anyone who watched the MWL over the last couple years won't be surprised to learn the Texas Rangers clocked in at No. 1 on the list. Just last year Clinton saw prospects like Derek Holland, Neftali Feliz, Justin Smoak, Engel Beltre, Blake Beavan, and Michael Main (among others) pass through Alliant Energy Field.

The Rangers are gone, off to the Sally League in what they thought was a premptive move involving the realignment of two Cal League franchises that now looks like it won't come to fruition.

Now, while these rankings are interesting and one could argue fairly accurate, their meaning shouldn't be misconstrued by those who follow the MWL. Organizations can rank very highly but that may not show up at a MWL park near you because it has already passed through. On the other hand, ones that rank low may be on their way up with a bullet and them main reasons for that could be arriving here shortly. In other words, these aren't any indicator of what type of talent your favorite MWL affiliate is going to field in the coming year.

Here, without further blathering, is how each organization affiliated with a MWL team fared in BA's rankings:

8. St. Louis (Quad Cities)

11. Kansas City (Burlington)

14. Cincinnati (Dayton)

19. Toronto (Lansing)

22. Minnesota (Beloit)

23. LA Dodgers (Great Lakes)

24. Seattle (Clinton)

25. LA Angels (Cedar Rapids)

26. Arizona (South Bend)

27. Chicago Cubs (Peoria)

28. Detroit (West Michigan)

29. San Diego (Ft. Wayne)