The San Antonio Missions have received an invitation to join the Texas League as the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

The announcement came Wednesday morning as part of Major League Baseball’s reorganization of the minor leagues.

“We are pleased to have received an invitation to affiliate with the San Diego
Padres,” Missions President Burl Yarbrough said in a news release. “We enjoyed a terrific 12-year partnership with the Padres through the 2018 season.

“However, we first need to have the overall agreement with Major League Baseball formalized before any affiliation can be finalized.

“Once we receive the full details, we’ll be evaluating the proposal carefully to assure that it works for the Missions, our fans and the City of San Antonio before formally accepting.”

In 2019, the Missions moved up from Double-A and joined the Triple-A Pacific Coast League as an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. As a Brewers’ organization team, the Missions finished 80-60 and in second place in their division.

They were technically affiliated with the Brewers on a two-year deal through 2020. But the season was scrapped in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

In rejoining the Texas League, the Missions would be returning as the only charter member and 13-time champion in the league’s history.

The Missions played 113 seasons in the Texas League and were the winningest franchise in league history with more than 7,500 victories.

As a Padres affiliate from 2007 – 2018, the Missions won three league championships and made seven playoff appearances.

During the Padres affiliation, future MLB players Fernando Tatis Jr, Chris Paddack and Corey Kluber played for the Missions.

MLB is still formalizing plans and schedules for the 2021 minor league season. Once plans are formalized, the Missions will release their schedule.