Minor-league club

FARM TEAM

Think of the group that develops future stars before they reach the big leagues, often associated with rural training grounds.

A "farm team" is a common term in sports, especially baseball, for a minor-league club that develops players for the major leagues—just like a farm grows crops. The clue plays on this well-known phrase, where "minor-league club" directly points to the answer without any hidden wordplay. It’s a straightforward definition, so no tricks here, just a nod to how teams nurture talent before calling them up to the big leagues.