Dodgers extend partnership with Class-A Great Lakes through 2018

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers on Wednesday announced the extension of their player development contract with the Great Lakes Loons, keeping their Class-A affiliation in the Midwest League through 2018.

The Dodgers have been affiliated with the Loons since 2007, the inaugural season of the franchise.

“Through the first 10 years of Loons baseball the Dodgers have sent 43 future Major League players to the Great Lakes Bay Region and helped to build many lasting memories for our fans,” Great Lakes general manager Scott Litle said in a statement. “We value our long-term relationship and are looking forward to the next two seasons of developing the Dodgers next great players.”

Current Dodgers to come through Great Lakes include Clayton Kershaw, who started the first game in Loons history in 2007, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson, Julio Urias, Ross Stripling and Brock Stewart.

Current Loons include pitchers Yadier Alvarez and Imani Abdullah, ranked the Dodgers’ 10th and 13th-best prospects, respectively in midseason rankings by our David Hood, as well as age-18-season infielders Omar Estevez, Erick Meza and Brendon Davis, plus 2016 draft picks Luke Raley, Darien Tubbs, Saige Jenco, Jeff Paschke, Steve Berman and Zack McKinstry.

The Dodgers are part of the ownership group with Triple-A Oklahoma City, but their other domestic minor league affiliations all expire after the 2016 season. Typically, these player development contracts are for two years.

The organization has been affiliated with Double-A Tulsa for two years, Advanced Class-A Rancho Cucamonga for six years and Rookie-level Ogden for 14 seasons.