USA – The Arizona Summer League (ASL), a new league for professional or aspiring professional players is now set to play in Yuma, Arizona for a month this summer starting on June 28th.

The four team instructional league will be administered by the independent Golden Baseball League (GBL) and will be staffed with instructors and managers with major league and professional experience who will place their top players with pro teams.

Similar to the very successful free agent Arizona Winter League which has had over 200 players leave with pro contracts during the last three years, the ASL will be a key source for free agent players for independent pro teams, major league organizations, and foreign professional teams that need to re-stock their rosters during the season.

“The Arizona Winter League has been the most successful showcase league to land players pro jobs in the off-season and I expect that the Arizona Summer League will do the same druing the season,” said Arizona Summer League Commissioner Kevin Outcalt.

Arizona Summer League games will be held at the Ray Kroc Complex and Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma where a 20-game season with a Championship Game will be played during the month.

The four teams of 25-man rosters will be made up of professional free-agents and collegiate graduates overlooked in the June draft using this as a development/instructional opportunity to be signed and play professional baseball immediately. At the conclusion of the league, at least the top 10 players that will be signed to Golden Baseball League contracts and report to their teams, in addition players may be signed at anytime during the league by GBL, other independent, foreign, or major league organizations.

The four teams will be managed by Major League star and Japan League MVP Warren Cromartie, two-time Major League All-Star and independent manager Ozzie Virgil, Major Leaguer and Washinton Nationals minor league pitching coach Rusty Meacham, and minor league all-star and Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers minor league manager Benny Castillo.

In addition, other instructors will include Major League All-Star and 2-time World Series champ Mike Marshall, Boston Red Sox scout and baserunning guru Nick Belmonte, and legendary college and minor league coach Shannon Hunt.

“This is a great opportunity for players to improve and demonstrate their skills and receive pro contracts for the 2009 season and beyond,” said AWL Commissioner Kevin Outcalt.”

“In addition to playing for these managers with a chance to be signed, we have already been contacted by major league organizations and foreign pro leagues that plan to scout the league as well. Like the AWL, the Arizona Summer League will actively market our top players to MLB, independent, and foreign teams and we plan to duplicate the success of player placement we have had in the winter.”

Players will report on June 28th with two days of training before the teams are drafted and the opening night game kicks off the season on July 1st. Five games a week will be run for each team playing at the stadium facilities with all weekend games run with full minor league activities including game day promotions, fan giveaways, entertainment acts, mascots, full concessions, etc. All statistics will be reported to the league’s official statistician, ESPN Sportsticker, and displayed on their site.

More information for interested players, sponsors, and fans can be found at www.arizonasummerleague.com.

Courtesy of the Golden Baseball League

Photo courtesy of www.cgcottonkings.com

Tags: Independent League