The Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Tampa Bay Rays extended their player-development contract through the 2018 season, the teams announced Wednesday.

The Hot Rods have been affiliated with the Rays for their entire existence, beginning when Bowling Green was established as a South Atlantic League club in 2009. The team moved to the Midwest League the following year.

The team has reached the Midwest League playoffs three times (most recently in 2013) and is in strong contention for a second-half berth this year.

Twenty-four former Hot Rods players have reached the major leagues, including eight who made their big-league debuts this season.

Tampa Bay Rays LHP Blake Snell is one of eight former Bowling Green Hot Rods players who made his MLB debut in 2016. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)