For 14 seasons, the Chicago Cubs’ Northwest League short-season class A affiliate was the Boise Hawks. In two of the first four years, the Hawks won the league championship and were in the playoffs four of its first six years. In the Theo Epstein era, the Boise Hawks made the playoffs every year from 2012 to 2014. I was a little stunned at the end of 2014 when the Cubs announced they would not be renewing their development contract with Boise. Instead the Cubs were moving west in the same league to Eugene, Oregon.
Jason McLeod, the Cubs Senior Vice President, Scouting and Player Development, said of the deal,
“We are looking forward to working with Allan Benavides and the entire Emeralds organization, and are eager to begin working with the local community.