Minor league baseball has five levels: Rookie, Single-A (Low-A), High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A (AAA), with Rookie being the entry level for players and AAA being the highest, just below Major League Baseball.

The South Bend Cubs are currently the High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and have had success on and off the field in the Midwest League in which they compete. That success could translate into jumping league and replacing the Chicago Cubs' AAA affiliate, the Iowa Cubs, as the last stop for ballplayers before Wrigley Field.

South Bend Cubs Owner Andrew Berlin says that decision is not up to his club, but that he is "making an argument," and "dreaming" right along with fans to bring the highest quality of baseball (outside of the MLB) to South Bend. 

“If we behave like a AAA – we’ll attract more fans," Berlin said. "The more professional we are, the better the presentation and the more comfortable the surroundings. And most importantly, whether or not our players are developing quickly and effectively and developing well to become candidates for a world-series team – ultimately that is the number one reason why we exist."

If that decision is handed down from the Chicago Cubs, the earliest the change could be made would be the 2031 season.