Summer League Placements

Great question.  I assumed there was some level of discussion ahead of a coach lining up a slot - maybe "are you available for summer ball?" or something along those lines.  Saw another post where the Alaska league was discussed - surely something like this gets discussed (as opposed to the Cape versus the Hamptons league).

Looking forward to the responses.

Baseballmom;

It depends on the competition of the League and what he will learn.

Is the 12 hour drive a commute? One of our former Goodwill Series players has been selected to play in the Cape Cod and Northwoods League with instructions that he will be a relief pitcher.

College Coaches are now setting pitching limits [Boras/Harvey].

Bob

bbmom, I have some experience with this but by no means an expert so hopefully you will continue to get lots of other feedback from those with various other experiences.

In general, it is advisable to go where the college coach recommends.  Getting placement in a good league is of great value and should be appreciated.  Certainly, not all college freshman get placed.  It seems more the norm than exception that players are shipped off away from home.  Most such placements will involve staying at a host home.  If your son has another option that is closer to home, I think it would be OK to mention to coach but would advise doing so in a manner that is asking the coach which he would like to see him play.  Coaches form trusting relationships with summer college programs so there is a reasonable effort to assure a decent fit and a fair amount of playing time. 

This is just my strange way of thinking but I liken a summer college assignment to the "voluntary" fall work-out program, but with more outside relationships at stake.  You can probably refuse the assignment but if you don't have good reason, it will most likely not be looked at favorably.

Since your son is a P, you will also want to be aware of work load.  Most coaches will keep an eye on that, I think, when sending a kid off to throw again in the summer.  Just make sure that is part of the equation. Of course, if he doesn't throw much as a freshman, going to a good summer program and getting quality innings will be a huge plus.

We live 20 minutes from a college summer league team.  The manager of the team has known my son for 5 or 6 years.  He actually asked him about playing for them this past summer while he was doing some hitting instruction.  Mentioned a couple of my son's friends who he would also like to have.  Team is very good with kids from all over the country (including SEC kids) so my son (and I) had no problem with him playing there this summer.   When he got to school, the summer mgr had already contacted the college coach about him and they were good with him going there....but did say they would look into other teams if he'd like to go somewhere else.

new to the site & new to college baseball. son is a freshmen and coach is talking about the NYCBL for a summer league any one know anything about it? How does it work with a contract? He was told approx. 1,000 for housing? does he need a car?

still nothing final just talk so far and son hasen't had a final sit down with coach so not a lot of answers on his part.

My son played in the NYCBL as a HS senior. Seemed to be about half the league was D3 guys. Probably need a vehicle or plan to ride with someone to games , which can be several hours apart. Not sure if some teams have a bus but some do not. 

Ive known several other players that played NYCBL. Notta a bad freshman/Soph league if you like that part of the country.

thank you son, playing at small D2 college pretty far down on the depth chart just looking to get alot of reps/playing time since we don't know how much playing time he will get this year. looks like he could be staying in college dorms so how do they arrange meals? are they cooking for themselves? can/do they have jobs during the summer or are they to busy with workouts/baseball

Unfortunately I'm not sure on dorms and meals. We lived in that area for a LONG few years. While awaiting HS graduation and after his HS baseball season completed, he played in the NYCBL. It's borderline ridiculous how far into summer the NY high school year goes. He left for college the day after graduation for summer II term at his ACC school. So, I really only seen day-to-day operations for a month. We moved south right after his graduation.

OK, Thank you for the information. i guess we will just wait and see what happens.

good luck with your son's fall and spring season. my son really wanted to go south to play baseball and get away from the cold North also

I was a southerner living up north for work. Glad to be outta the cold! I was cold 9/12 months of the year. 

Anybody out there know anything about the Centennial State League?  My son and a few of his D3 teammates from the northeast are talking about playing in Colorado to see another part of the country.

While we are on the subject, My son played in the Texas Collegiate League last summer.  He has been offered to play in Alaska, the California League, or return to Texas.  Anyone have any comments or suggestions as to which one he should play in?

Overthehill;

which team in California. there are many differences.

Bob

How would one get more information about it other then the website itself.  I am interested in others who have actually participated in the league and a little explanation of it all.  Son is freshman in college and at this point has had several things mentioned to him about summer league ball.  Just want to make sure we get the right information before it gets later in the season.  Son is in Texas. 

I would say that in terms of ranking it would be: Alaska, California (team dependent), and then Texas. The SB Foresters have been consistently one of the best non Cape teams in the country. 

The Alaska league would be a very unique experience. I know a few kids who have been there. My son played in the CCL. 

I have lived in both TX and California, and depending on the team he could have a fun time in Cali, but it is a grind. They have to be at the field at 12PM and don't get home until 10PM, so he won't have that much free time to hit the beach...(and girls)

Interesting you mention the schedule. I've been wondering what a typical day in the Northwoods League looks like? How busy are these guys?

The team in California is the Neptune Beach Pearl, in Alaska is the Fairbanks Goldpanners.  The Texas league played 60 ball games not including the playoffs last summer.  They played six days a week and only were off on Mondays.  Two game series at each place.  Lots of time spent on the road between Louisiana, Victoria, Marshall, The Woodlands, College Station, and Tyler. 

I know a number of kids who have played in the Northwoods and it is about as close as you can come to MiLB schedule. I don't remember the exact number of games but a lot. Lots of travel, it is a real grind, probably the most demanding of all of the Collegiate Leagues. Very competitive also.

Consultant probably has a better idea on the CCL Northern Cal team, but in general they are not as competitive as the Southern Cal teams. 

If it was me I would vote for Alaska due to the uniqueness and competitiveness. The league has a long history and it would be a very interesting experience IMO. 

Son played 2 years in the NWL, most recently 2014. If I am not mistaken, the team played 70 games in something like 72 days. My son joined a little late because of school. Travel was unbelievable. Play a game, hop on a bus. Probably the most incredible stretch involved a 9 hour bus ride following a game, get in around 6am, at the park around 11am, game at 1pm then on a bus for a 2 hour bus ride for the second game of a "split" doubleheader, with a bus ride back after that game. But he loved it. Faced some great competition and made some great friends from all around the country. He was battling for PT in college and was able to get 200 ABs and PLENTY of PT both summers. Home fans very supportive. Very much a minor league experience.  

Agree with skraps. Closest to MILB of all the leagues. 

Historically, the Santa Barbara Foresters and San Luis Obispo Blues have been the class of the league.  The last three years, the Neptune Beach Pearl and LA Brewers have also had success.  Neptune Beach won the championship in walk-off fashion this summer in San Luis.

Bumping this along.  Have actually seen some of the summer teams begin pasting partial 2016 rosters.  Stumbled across a website that contained links to most leagues and teams.  Still having a hard time seeing an East Coast kid heading to Alaska - presumably one of the better summer leagues.  Still a couple of years out but am interested in past assignments, especially for kids just wrapping up their freshman year.

Alaska may be slipping a bit-we had a player contact us two summers ago that we had offered, that decided to go to the Alaska League. Very late, the team contacted him and said they were having financial issues so  they were releasing a lot of players and trying to get players/locals that lived closer to the town. I have no idea how that's even possible in Alaska but the player's college coach did tell us the team had released almost all of their roster. It could be that was just a one team problem but do your homework wherever you go.

Prospect league made some changes this year, this blurb is from the local paper.   Closest team to the Blue sox is now at least 4 1/2 hour trip one way. 

" Prospect League revamps divisions:

The Prospect League has added franchises in Lisle, Ill., and Lafayette, Ind., for the 2016 baseball season and will have two six-team divisions.

The Butler BlueSox will play in the East Division with Champion City, Chillicothe, Kokomo, Lafayette and West Virginia.

The West Division is comprised of Danville, Hannibal, Lisle, Terre Haute, Quincy and Springfield.

Teams will play a 60-game schedule with Opening Day set for May 26. Lafayette will replace the Jamestown Jammers, who left for the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League. Lisle will replace the Richmond River Rats in the West Division. Richmond’s ownership sold the team due to declining attendance. The River Rats averaged 573 fans per game last year, falling from 989 in their first year."

Northwoods League making a few changes as well.  Team added in Rockford, IL.  LeCrosse moves to North Division.

http://northwoodsleague.com/la...elcomes-rockford-il/

Mine has played for 2 years in the Coastal Plain League. Great mix of ACC/SEC and other D1 and D2 schools.  It is a full summer of 55-60 in a little over 2 months.  It created a lot of confidence going into the fall.

My son just got his contract to play in this league.  We are looking forward to it!

That's great. What team will he play for? What college is he coming from? My son plays for the Holly Springs Salamanders and attends Campbell University.