Starting next year, Major League Baseball draft prospects will have a unique platform to showcase their talents to big league clubs.
MLB, in partnership with Prep Baseball Report, announced Monday the creation of the MLB Draft League. The league is made up of four former short-season Single-A teams that are losing their affiliations this winter, as well as the Trenton Thunder, formerly a Double-A affiliate.
Eligible players will compete in a 68-game season centered around next year’s draft, which has been pushed back to July, with an opportunity to gain exposure beforehand.
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MLB said prospects will receive “unprecedented visibility to MLB Club scouts through both in-person observation and state-of-the-art scouting technology, and educational programming designed to prepare them for careers as professional athletes.”
Kerrick Jackson, formerly the head coach of Southern University, will serve as the league’s president.
MLB is hoping to announce a sixth team in the coming weeks. Here are the current five participants:
Mahoning Valley Scrappers (Indians)
MLB
State College Spikes (Cardinals)
West Virginia Black Bears (Pirates)
Williamsport Crosscutters (Phillies)
Trenton Thunder (Yankees)
MLB also announced the Rookie ball Pioneer League will shift from minor league affiliation status to an independent partner league — which follows the Appalachian League transitioning to a college summer league/independent MLB partner.
Each announcement is part of a larger reorganization of the minor leagues, which are now under MLB’s direction, following the expiration of the MLB-MiLB Professional Baseball Agreement.
A look at the Pioneer League teams affected and their past affiliations:
Billings Mustangs (Reds)
Grand Junction Rockies (Rockies)
Great Falls Voyagers (White Sox)
Idaho Falls Chukars (Royals)
Missoula PaddleHeads (Diamondbacks)
Ogden Raptors (Dodgers)
Northern Colorado Owlz (Formerly Angels’ Orem Owlz — relocated as part of agreement)
Rocky Mountain Vibes (Brewers)