Ashford University Field will be the home ballpark of the Seattle Mariners’ Midwest League affiliate for at least two more seasons. (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)

The Clinton LumberKings and the Seattle Mariners have extended their player-development contract through the 2018 season, the teams announced Monday.

The LumberKings have been affiliated with the Mariners since the 2009 season. They currently have the best overall record in the Midwest League this season. Their 82-51 record is two wins better than the Bowling Green Hot Rods, who have the league’s second-best overall record.

Here are some quotes and other pertinent information from Clinton’s press release about the PDC renewal:

“We’re very excited to be re-affiliated with the Seattle Mariners,” LumberKings general manager Ted Tornow said. “This year has been a magical year for us, as it has been a recommitment to playing baseball. We’ve been really excited about all of the great prospects and talent they have given us over the years and we look forward to the next two years with them moving forward.”

During the eight years of the Mariners affiliation with the LumberKings, the club has made the playoffs five times, including the 2016 season. Current Mariners stars such as Kyle Seager, Taijuan Walker, James Paxton, Ketel Marte and Edwin Diaz all played in Clinton. The club has thrown four no-hitters during the span, and this season, the team is two wins shy of setting a franchise record for wins, a mark that was set back in 1963 by the Clinton C-Sox, who went 83-41.

With the extension, the Mariners will have the second-longest affiliation of any parent club affiliated with the Clinton Baseball Club. The San Francisco Giants had the longest affiliation, which ran from 1980 until 1994.

“I’ve been here less than a year and our work in Clinton has gone remarkably well,” Mariners director of player development, Andy McKay, said. “Obviously the results have showed on the field, and as a group the Mariners could not be more excited to continue this commitment with the City of Clinton and the LumberKings for the next two years.”