![Josh Vitters plays for the Peoria Chiefs in 2009. (By User mwlguide on Flickr (Original version) User UCinternational (Crop) [CC-BY-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons)](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/aEVTE36f82_zuQY4fWKX2_bjX2Q=/0x254:887x845/2420x1613/filters:focal(0x254:887x845):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/assets/1307677/Josh_Vitters.jpg)
The Peoria Chiefs, the Cubs' affiliate in the Midwest League since 2005 (and before that, for many years in the 1980s and 1990s), will finish their 2012 season playing the Kane County Cougars at Elfstrom Stadium in suburban Geneva.
According to this report from the Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer, next year the Kane County Cougars will be the home team for Cubs prospects:
Sources say the Cubs are in the process of working out a player development agreement with the Kane County Cougars in an effort to move their Midwest League affiliate from Peoria – putting those Class A players 120 miles closer to Chicago.
The change would mean ending a relationship with the Peoria Chiefs that goes back nearly 30 years between a 10-year affiliation in the 1980s and early ‘90s and the current eight-year affiliation.
It'll be rough for downstate Illinois Cubs fans who have enjoyed watching prospects play at Peoria. On the other hand, it'll be better for Cubs player development to have their prospects play just 45 miles from Wrigley Field, where it'll be easy for management to go to watch games.