LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - After 12 seasons as the minor league affiliate of the Houston Astros, chief operating officer Andy Shea on Thursday announced a new four-year deal with the Kansas City Royals.

The Legends have been with the Astros since beginning play in the South Atlantic League in 2001.

"This is a good fit for us because it's a successful organization that puts a lot of time, effort and resources into the minor league system, both on and off the field," Shea said. "For us, it was a no-brainer."

Kansas City's director of minor league operations, Scott Sharp, said his team is committed to finding the best players and putting a winning team on the field.

"We think winning is part of the development process," Sharp said. "You can't expect players to win at the major league level if they haven't won at the minor league level."

The Royals previous class A affiliate was the Kane County Cougars of the Midwest League.