The Pioneer League Partnering with Pecos League for Pre-Season Tryout Camp
A Conversation with Pioneer League President and Pecos League Commissioner
A Conversation with Pioneer League President and Pecos League Commissioner
In the mercurial world of independent professional baseball, the one constant has been that things always change. Teams and leagues have come and gone over the years; some players climb the ladder to higher levels, but most don’t. However, the enduring legacy of indy ball are the stories of great players who were once overlooked, found their way onto an indy ball roster, and were suddenly “rediscovered”.
Witness veteran pitcher Rich Hill, World Series champion Kevin Millar, Diamondbacks David Peralta and the feel-good story of the 2021 World Series, reliever Tyler Matzek.
In fact, in 2021 alone the four independent MLB Partner Leagues, the Atlantic League, the American Association, the Frontier League, and the Pioneer League sent over 200 players to MLB rosters.
Indy ball is about young players with pro-level talent looking for a second chance because they either got overlooked in the draft or got bounced out at some point. They can play, they just need a chance to show what they got.
We recently had a conversation with two independent league executives, Pioneer League President Mike Shapiro and Pecos League Commissioner Andrew Dunn, about their new partnership to provide those “second chance” players a showcase at the Pioneer League’s upcoming tryout camp at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson AZ on April 1-4, 2022.
Mike, you’ve been an executive with several MLB clubs in the past, have owned and operated your own indy ball club and now you’re President of the Pioneer League. Can you tell us why this tryout camp is so important?
This camp we’re doing in partnership with the Pecos League is unique in that it offers quality players a real shot at a pro job because there will be so many jobs available. The Pioneer League will be signing at least 20 players to spring training invites and of those who don’t go with us, the Pecos League will be signing quite a few players as well. If you can play pro ball, this camp will offer the greatest opportunity for a pro contract compared to any other pre-season camp.
Andrew, why a partnership with the Pioneer League?
I’ve known Mike Shapiro for a long time, and we’ve always worked well together. He used to sign a lot of my Pecos League players and we developed a great working relationship and friendship. The Pioneer League is one of the best developmental leagues around; a place where players are treated right and given every opportunity to realize their dreams to be a pro ballplayer. I think what we do in the Pecos League by offering a lot of guys a shot to play and maybe put up some numbers, will fit in perfectly with the Pioneer League’s goal to focus on developing young players.
What do you guys hope will come out of this tryout camp?
Andrew: First of all, I’d like it to produce some real talented players who somehow didn’t get a look in the draft or somehow didn’t get the chance to show what they had even after they were drafted. Like Mike said, this camp will give quite a few players a real chance to realize their dreams of being a pro ballplayer. That’s what the Pecos League is all about and I couldn’t be happier that we can now expand those opportunities with a quality league like the Pioneer League.
Mike: More than anything, I’m hoping we find some good, projectable talent. Kids who deserve their shot. But, as well, I’m looking for this partnership with Andrew to be a long-term relationship whereby both our leagues can create an ongoing venue to recruit deserving players throughout the year.
Who will be at the camp to scout and sign players?
Mike: In addition to a Pioneer League scout, each of the ten Pioneer League clubs will send a scout or coach to evaluate players and then at the end of the 4-day camp we’ll hold a draft for each team to sign players to spring training invites. Those not signed will also get a shot at a pro contract with the Pecos League.
Andrew: The Pecos League will sign players after the Pioneer League gets the first shot in the draft. Depending on the level of talent, I expect we’ll sign quite a few guys. Remember, the Pecos League has 16 teams all over the Southwest and California. We’ve got teams up around the San Francisco Bay Area; teams in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico; we even have a team in Kansas. That’s a lot of opportunities to make one of our rosters.
Andrew, what’s the format of the camp?
Andrew: There’s going to be a couple of days of pro-style skills drills for position players, bullpen sessions for pitchers and catchers, and then an extended intra-squad game with live pitching to evaluate players in-game conditions.
Mike: I think it’s important to note that in a lot of these tryout camps I’ve seen before there just aren’t enough reps for hitters or, for that matter, enough innings for pitchers. By having a 4-day camp we’ll be able to take a good look at everyone and give them all a chance to show what they’ve got.
The Pioneer League Arizona Pro Showcase will be held from April 1-4, 2022, at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, AZ. For more information and to register for the camp please go to arizonaproshowcase.com
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”