One level below the big leagues

Editorially verified for the Oct 14, 2026

22 Down

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A baseball game at the Triple-A level of Minor League Baseball.

Clue explained

AAA is shorthand for Triple-A, the highest level of Minor League Baseball and one step below MLB. Triple-A clubs are affiliated with major-league organizations, and their rosters often include prospects close to the majors as well as experienced players who can be called up when needed. It’s the last rung of the minor leagues, though reaching it doesn’t guarantee a major-league debut.

Clue type:
Definition

NYT Midi Crossword

This clue's Wednesday, October 14, 2026 appearance

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Or reveal one clue at a time with the Hint and Answer buttons below.

Across

  1. 1Spherical object
  2. 4Thwarts, as a plan
  3. 9Affirmative vote
  4. 10Fan of fine fare
  5. 11Consider possible, but not guaranteed
  6. 13Dark
  7. 14___ Fifth Avenue
  8. 15Country that's home to Vat Phou, a UNESCO World Heritage site
  9. 17Eddie Murphy's character in "Beverly Hills Cop"
  10. 22Orangutans have long ones
  11. 23Clichéd and overused, as a phrase
  12. 24Fruit whose name is 75% vowels
  13. 25Standing upright
  14. 26Org.
  15. 27Sch. near Washington Square Park in Manhattan

Down

  1. 1Honolulu locale
  2. 2Actor Gosling
  3. 3Word that can follow Liberty, Taco or Tinker
  4. 4Animal with "fennec" and "arctic" species
  5. 5"I messed up!"
  6. 6Notion
  7. 7Puppy "kiss"
  8. 8Filming locations
  9. 10___ position (curled-up pose)
  10. 12Enters one by one
  11. 16Frequently
  12. 17Paths of beer pong shots
  13. 18Dec. 25
  14. 19"In ___ of gifts ..."
  15. 20And so on: Abbr.
  16. 21So far
  17. 22One level below the big leagues

The answer to “One level below the big leagues” in the New York Times Midi crossword is AAA — a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 14, 2026, a Wednesday puzzle, at 22-Down. Below you'll find why that fill fits, every other answer we've recorded for this clue, and links into the puzzle it came from.

“One level below the big leagues” answer

AAA (3 letters)

Reveal the solution one letter at a time with the tiles above if you'd rather nudge yourself toward it than see the whole word at once. Just want it outright? The answer is AAA.

When else has “One level below the big leagues” appeared?

New York Times Midi reuses clues across dates, sometimes with a different answer depending on the grid. Here's where this exact clue has shown up, and what the answer was each time — handy when you're checking whether today's fill is the only one.

October 14, 2026 (most recent) → AAA. We haven't indexed another appearance of this exact clue yet.

Frequently asked questions

What is the answer to “One level below the big leagues”?

The answer is AAA, a 3-letter word. It most recently appeared in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 14, 2026.

How many letters is the answer to “One level below the big leagues”?

3 letters: AAA.

When did this clue appear?

Most recently in the New York Times Midi crossword on October 14, 2026 (a Wednesday puzzle), at 22-Down.

Can “One level below the big leagues” have a different answer?

Yes — New York Times Midi sometimes reuses a clue with a different solution to fit the grid. The answers we've recorded for each date it appeared are listed above when available.

Where can I find the rest of this day's NYT Midi answers?

The full grid for October 14, 2026 is on the NYT Midi answers page, with every clue and answer from that puzzle.

New York Times Midi Crossword is published by The New York Times; WordHint is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher.

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