MiLB announces changes to umpire entities

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Minor League Baseball today announced new names and logos for the organization's umpiring and umpire training entities.

The Umpire School, a month-long training and evaluation school created by Minor League Baseball in 2012 to help identify and train potential professional umpires, as well as to improve the skills of amateur umpires, is now the Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy.

"We wanted to capitalize on the established brand of Minor League Baseball to help provide a clearer identity within the baseball industry," said Director Dusty Dellinger.

The academy, which takes place in January, combines classroom teaching sessions with on-field training for baseball umpires. Of the 87 attendees at the 2015 Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy, 26 were offered spots in the evaluation course that determines which umpires will be selected for assignments to professional leagues as part of Minor League Baseball Umpire Development.

Additionally, the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp., which oversees the assignment and development of current Minor League Baseball umpires, is now Minor League Baseball Umpire Development.

For more information on The Minor League Baseball Umpire Training Academy, visit www.milbumpireacademy.com.