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2023 Rookie-level All-Stars and award winners

Rangers' Vargas, Rays' Suarez and more claim top Rookie honors
@RobTnova24
October 5, 2023

Last but certainly not least, it is time to recognize the prospects playing where the path to The Show begins. Minor League Baseball already revealed its end-of-season award winners and All-Star teams for the Single-A, High-A, Double-A and Triple-A circuits. Now it's time to unveil this year's Rookie-level honors. In

DSL Tigers' Acosta, DSL Rockies' Ugarte suspended

Pair will sit 56 games in '24 once Dominican Summer season begins
September 29, 2023

A pair of Dominican Summer Leaguers will miss time in 2024 after testing positive for banned drugs. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced Friday that two Minor League players -- Tigers pitcher Luis Acosta and Rockies infielder Ronny Ugarte -- have been suspended following their violations of the

2023 Rookie-level playoffs coverage

ACL Brewers join FCL Braves as Complex League champions
August 28, 2023

Aug. 27

Nats' Crews goes 3-for-3 in pro debut

No. 2 overall Draft pick scores three runs in Rookie ball
August 3, 2023

The Dylan Crews hype train has officially left the station. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 Draft made his pro debut in the Florida Complex League on Thursday, going a perfect 3-for-3, including a double off the right-field wall in his first at-bat. Crews also scored three runs

Pioneer League becoming MLB 'Partner League'

Eight teams transferring to newly independent circuit for 2021
@SamDykstraMiLB
November 30, 2020

A new brand of baseball is coming to the Mountain time zone in 2021. The Pioneer League has been designated a "Partner League" of Major League Baseball, both the circuit and MLB announced Monday. The move will transform the Rookie Advanced loop into an independent league and comes as part

Minor League caps tell stories for fans

Hat enthusiasts spark conversation with choices, collections
@tylermaun
August 10, 2020

This month we’re profiling Minor League Baseball fans across the country who go to impressive lengths to show their love of the game in creative ways and stay connected to their favorite teams even when the action on the field is on hold. Do you think you can stake your

Did you know? Pioneer League edition

Unique facts about the Rookie Advanced circuit's eight teams
@BensBiz
August 6, 2020

When it comes to size, scope and longevity, few, if any, sporting bodies can rival Minor League Baseball. With 160 teams in nearly as many markets, there are innumerable nooks and crannies to explore. This marks the final installment in a 14-part series dedicated to such explorations, providing one unique,

Did you know? Appalachian League edition

Unique facts about the Rookie Advanced circuit's 10 teams
@BensBiz
July 28, 2020

When it comes to size, scope and longevity, few, if any, sporting bodies can rival Minor League Baseball. With 160 teams in nearly as many markets, there are innumerable nooks and crannies to explore. This marks the penultimate installment in a 14-part series dedicated to such explorations, providing one unique,

Crooked Numbers: Looking back at the weirdness

A rollicking compendium of strange-but-true on-field occurrences
@BensBiz
July 23, 2020

One of the greatest things about baseball -- perhaps the very best thing -- is that you never know when you're going to see something that you've never seen before. Every pitch, every swing and every moment is imbued with the potential of the unprecedented. That's where Crooked Numbers comes

Fans share what MiLB means to them

Minors have given families, friends moments to cherish
@jtbloss
July 13, 2020

The question was simple. The answers were anything but. After it was revealed two weeks ago that this would be the first year without Minor League Baseball since 1901, we took to Twitter to ask, “What does Minor League Baseball mean to you and your loved ones?” In hundreds of

Toolshed: Recent noteworthy Pioneer seasons

Major League regulars, current prospects highlighted Rookie circuit
@SamDykstraMiLB
July 7, 2020

Short-season campaigns across the Minor Leagues were scheduled to begin last month. Like all other leagues in the Minors, those seasons were officially canceled last week. But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the short-season leagues right now anyway. The New York-Penn, Northwest, Appalachian and Pioneer leagues represent the first

The Road to The Show™: Nate Pearson

Young hurler has inched closer to leaving Jays nest for the bigs
@MavalloneMiLB
July 6, 2020

Each week, MiLB.com profiles an elite prospect by chronicling the steps he's taken to reach the brink of realizing his Major League dream. Here's a look at Jays right-hander Nate Pearson. Toronto's top prospect is a prime example why wins and losses are a devalued statistic to many, particularly in

Toolshed: Recent noteworthy Appy League seasons

Elizabethton, teenage hitters dominated Rookie Advanced circuit
@SamDykstraMiLB
July 3, 2020

Short-season campaigns across the Minor Leagues were scheduled to begin last month. Like all other leagues in the Minors, those seasons were officially canceled earlier this week. But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate the short-season leagues right now anyway. The New York-Penn, Northwest, Appalachian and Pioneer leagues represent the

Shots in the dark: MiLB fireworks memories

As the Fourth looms, scribe shares his pyrotechnic recollections
@BensBiz
July 2, 2020

The most popular promotion in Minor League Baseball? Year after year, the answer is the same -- fireworks. Absurd bobbleheads and regional food-based theme nights might get all the attention, but fireworks are the backbone of promo schedules. Friday Night Fireworks are a common occurrence at all levels of play,

Reds' Gutierrez suspended for 80 games

Dodgers' Aleaziz, Idrogo and Twins' Rosario also receive bans
@MavalloneMiLB
June 28, 2020

Vladimir Gutierrez was one of four Minor Leaguers suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, Major League Baseball announced Sunday. The No. 15 Reds prospect received an 80-game suspension after he tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol. Dodgers prospects Reza Aleaziz and Juan Idrogo and

Toolshed: What MLB's return means for prospects

How 60-man player pools, early expanded rosters will affect youth
@SamDykstraMiLB
June 26, 2020

We have at least some answers about Major League Baseball's planned return after the league announced this week it will adhere to the March 26 agreement and pay players prorated salaries for a 60-game schedule set by Commissioner Rob Manfred. We have the when. July 1 for pitchers and catchers.

Calling for change in the broadcast booth

Black Play-By-Play Broadcaster Grant assists new voices
@BensBiz
June 11, 2020

When it comes to effecting change in America, you can talk about it or you can be about it. Adam Giardino chose the latter approach. Giardino, a broadcasting professional with 10 years experience who works for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, is the driving force behind the Black Play-by-Play Broadcaster Grant.

Toolshed: Previewing the 2020 MLB Draft

Five-round format, Torkelson's Tiger ties should stand out this week
@SamDykstraMiLB
June 9, 2020

Every Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft is different. Different Draft order. Different players being drafted. Different signing bonus pools available to clubs and players. This one, well, this one is considerably more different than others. The 2020 Draft will take place June 10-11 with the first round and Competitive

A Rocky Mountain ballpark drive-in 

Vibes host movie night for fans and their automobiles
@BensBiz
June 4, 2020

The Rocky Mountain Vibes hosted a showing of Back to the Future on Saturday night, doing so in a way that reflects our very strange present. The Vibes, Rookie Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, screened the 1985 time travel comedy on the videoboard at UCHealth Park. Fans watched from

Toolshed: 2018 Draft retrospective

Mize's move to Motor City, Royals' run on pitchers stand out
@SamDykstraMiLB
June 2, 2020

The 2020 First-Year Player Draft is coming, and without regular-season baseball being played yet due to the coronavirus pandemic, it will be the first big Major League Baseball event of the summer. The 2020 edition will take place June 10-11 and be limited to five rounds this year, but it