Dodgers agree to affiliation agreement with Double-A Tulsa through 2016

TULSA -- The Dodgers made official on Wednesday a player development contract with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, a two-year agreement through the 2016 season.

The move coincides with the Dodgers also switching their Triple-A affiliation to Oklahoma City with an agreement to purchase the RedHawks, giving the Dodgers two affiliates 107 miles apart.

"We are thrilled to be working with the Hubbard family and making Tulsa our home for the Dodgers’ Double-A team," said Dodgers president & CEO Stan Kasten in a press release. "Having our top two minor league teams within the state of Oklahoma will certainly be great for our organization and for the Dodger fans in the state."

Went Hubbard purchased the Tulsa Drillers in 1986. He passed away in 2012, and his sons Dale and Jeff now own the team. Baseball began in Tulsa in 1905 with the Oilers, a team through 1976. The Drillers began play the next season, in 1977.

The Dodgers were affiliated with the Chattanooga Lookouts for six seasons. The Lookouts on Wednesday announced a four-year development contract with the Twins.

Tulsa was a Rockies affiliate since 2003 before the player development contract expired in September.

The Dodgers will have a team in the Texas League for the first time since 2000, the last of a 24-year affiliation with the Double-A San Antonio Missions.

The Drillers play at ONEOK Field in Tulsa, a park built in 2010 that holds 7,833. AT&T Field in Chattanooga was built in 1999 and had a capacity of 6,340.

"We are excited to bring the Dodgers brand of baseball to Tulsa and a fantastic facility in ONEOK Field," said Dodgers VP and head of player development De Jon Watson. "We look forward to a strong partnership with an outstanding ownership group."