Minor league attendance highest in 4 years

NEW YORK (AP) — The average regular season attendance in the minor leagues rose 1.8 percent this year to its highest level since 2009.

The National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues said Tuesday the average was 4,040, up from 3,967 and the most since 4,055 four years ago.

The total was 41.55 million for 10,285 dates, up from 41.28 million for 10,045 dates. There were 176 teams, the same as last year.

Indianapolis took over from Lehigh Valley (Pa.) as the top-drawing American club at 637,579, and International League rival Columbus had the highest U.S. average at 9,212.

Frisco (Texas) topped Double-A for the ninth consecutive year at 479,873 and 7,075. Dayton (Ohio) drew 579,946 and averaged 8,405, and it has led Class A in all 14 years of its existence.

Brooklyn (N.Y.) drew the most among short-season and rookie teams at 232,224 and 6,276, and the Cyclones have topped their level in all 13 seasons.

Monterrey of the Mexican League led the minors in average at 11,145.