How do the Summer College Leagues Rate?

 I know the Cape is known as the most prestigious and scouted summer league out there. Tradition and history is on their side. But there are many, many more that rank right up there with them. Coastal Plain League, Valley League, PG league, among many more.

One view....

http://www.mademan.com/mm/10-b...-summer-leagues.html

PG's view...

http://www.perfectgame.org/Art...ew.aspx?article=7560

BB13, I think this article is from 2010. Since the split with some of its eastern division teams, and the introduction of the PGCBL, the New York league has not been nearly as good. Not to say it is not a good league, but its mission is different now than when this article was written. Many of the New York teams are giving opportunities to more DII and DIII players. They also no longer get nearly as many players from the big College Conferences, SEC, ACC, Big 10, Pac12, etc as they used to.

There have been quite a few new leagues pop up in that time as well.

My son will be playing in the Great Lakes league this year. Today I would not put it in the Top 10, but close. And there is no way that the Northwoods league should be that far down any list.

This has been discussed may times in the after high school forum here:

http://community.hsbaseballweb...um/after-high-school

I think lhprhp article is probably more accurate.

I've seen various attempts to rate the leagues based on number of draft choices, percentage of D1 players, percentage of players who were starters at D1 schools, and so forth.  The leagues everyone has heard of fare well in those rankings.

However, "best" and "best for you" may be different, depending on your goals.  If your purpose this summer is to prove yourself against the best competition possible and position yourself for next year's draft, "best" may be one of those elite leagues mentioned above.

For the majority of players who are looking at summer ball as a chance to get reps they didn't get this spring, to improve enough to compete for a bigger role on their team next spring, to prove to potential transfer schools they can compete against college players, to complete rehab work after an injury, or otherwise to establish themselves as college players, "best for you" may be a less well known league where you know you'll get playing time and be kept around all summer.  

My son is playing in a middle-ish league this summer.  Even if he could have aimed higher, he'd have made the same choice because the summer coach gave him regular starts when he needed them last summer, so he's going back where he knows he'll still play even if he has a rocky outing or two.  Best for him is where he gets the ball once a week.

Good points Swampboy.  My son is doing the same thing.  My son is between his freshman and sophomore year at a D2.  His goal is just to get some work off the mound this summer without doing a lot of traveling.  He needs to dial things in some and stay in throwing shape for the fall.  He is playing in a local collegiate league where he will hopefully get his start once a week.  Rest of the week he is throwing and working out.  I think that is what is best for him at this time.  In a year or two, if he is considering the possibilities of the draft, one of those top leagues may be something he looks into, but he's not at that point now, so what he is doing is, I think, what's best for him right now.

Good points made Swampboy!

While this might be beyond my pay grade, here is how I would rank the top Collegiate Summer Leagues. This is mostly based on talent level and strength of operation.

1. Cape Cod (By far the most talent)

2. Northwoods (Very much like small minor league operations)

3. New England

4. Alaskan

5. West Coast

The PG League keeps getting better and some clubs draw very well. The goal is to get into the top 5.