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A16 SPORTS
Saturday 12 december 2020
From Cape Cod to Alaska, college leagues eye MLB changes

By JAKE SEINER do it well,” Beck said. “They tory, nothing has changed believe MLB’s incursion is team travel.
AP Sports Writer have the money to back in that respect,” Zmuda an existential threat on its There’s no indication at this
Years before he became it. The problem is it’s going said. own. point that MLB plans to pull
commissioner of the Alas- to put some of the smaller The squeeze is more likely For starters, the league’s that funding, but if it did
ka Baseball League, Chris leagues out of business, I to be felt further down the sustainability isn’t tied in the future, it could put
Beck pointed to the 6-foot- think.” ladder in leagues that were strictly to the talent. It helps NACSB members in a diffi-
7 slugger in the Anchorage cult position.
Glacier Pilots’ uniform and “Certainly it would have
told his son to say hello. an impact,” McGrath said.
Beck had a feeling about “It’s a lot of ticket sales or
the freshman from Fresno several sponsorships to off-
State — a towering outfield- set that loss.”
er named Aaron Judge. Summer league execu-
“I told my son to go get his tives say they are full-steam
autograph, because he just ahead on planning for the
was different,” Beck said. 2021 season after most lost
It was a quintessential col- 2020 to the pandemic —
lege summer league expe- the Northwoods League
rience, an up-close look at was among the excep-
a major league star long tions and even hosted sev-
before his big break. It’s eral hundred fans at many
one Beck hopes fans in games.
the 49th State will have for Even those that didn’t play
years — but he’s not entire- remain in decent finan-
ly confident they will. cial shape. The timing of
Already burdened by the March’s coronavirus surge
coronavirus pandemic and meant leagues avoided
changes in player devel- most of their biggest ex-
opment that have limited penses, like baseballs, bats,
their prospect pool, colle- In this June 20, 2006, file photo, teams line up along the baselines during the playing of the national umpire fees and travel.
giate summer leagues like anthem before the first game, in the inaugural season, of the State College Spike baseball team Uncertainty remains for
the ABL were hit by another in State College, Pa. next season, though, pend-
potential obstacle recently Associated Press ing the status of a virus
when Major League Base- vaccine. Franchises rely on
ball announced the forma- host families for players, a
tion of at least two amateur Wood-bat college summer already dealing with com- that the NWL’s alumni list potentially dangerous ar-
leagues for college players leagues have played a plications stemming from includes MLB stars like Max rangement amid a pan-
with professional aspira- crucial role in the develop- changes in player develop- Scherzer, Chris Sale and demic. They also depend
tions. ment of many major leagu- ment. In-game reps — al- Pete Alonso, but the busi- on sponsorships and dona-
The Appalachian League, ers. Most leagues start in though still important — are ness model for its franchises tions from community busi-
formerly a Rookie-level mi- May or June, after the com- less of a priority for modern is tied more closely to their nesses that have been hit
nor league, will convert into pletion of the spring col- players. Pitchers are limit- community value as an af- harder.
a 10-team wood bat sum- lege season, and they offer ing their workloads to try to fordable, family-friendly “If those two things go
mer league in 2021 for col- players high-end competi- stay healthy, and players gathering spot. away, we’re all in trouble,”
lege players entering their tion at parks filled with pro on both sides of the ball are “Fans are looking for good Beck said.
freshman and sophomore scouts and equipped with placing a premium on oth- baseball, but they’re look- The alumni list for Beck’s ABL
seasons. Meanwhile, the some of the same tech- er training, like weightlifting ing for great entertain- includes some of the best
six-team MLB Draft League nology they’ll find in MLB’s or lab work at facilities like ment,” Voz said. “And in baseball history — Tom
is launching for college and leagues. Driveline. that’s where the North- Seaver, Barry Bonds and
high school players during For decades, the leagues Sean McGrath, commis- woods League we feel is re- Randy Johnson. It’s already
their draft-eligible year. have run largely indepen- sioner of the New Eng- ally kind of a combination become less common for
Both leagues have dent of MLB, and they fig- land Collegiate Baseball of all of them.” players of that caliber to
spawned as MLB shrinks its ure to be affected differ- League, said recruiting has Of course, competition for pass through Alaska. Beck
affiliated minors from 160 ently. undoubtedly become a players isn’t the only con- is hoping the obstacles pre-
teams to 120, repurposing The Cape Cod League has greater challenge in recent cern for some leagues. sented by 2020 don’t make
franchises to serve amateur long been the top destina- years, and he acknowl- The Cape and NECBL are things worse.
talent. The new leagues tion for rising college juniors edged that is likely to be members of the National “When they can see the
will offer those players ac- and has produced over complicated further by the Alliance of College Sum- Aaron Judges,” he said,
cess to top-level coaching, 1,400 big leaguers. With the new Appalachian and MLB mer Baseball, a 12-league “the guys that go on to
guaranteed looks from pro Appalachian League tar- Draft Leagues. organization that receives play in the big leagues,
scouts, and ballparks outfit- geting incoming freshman Even so, he remains op- funding from MLB. Leagues and they can remember
ted with the latest cameras and sophomores and the timistic leagues like the can apply for grants worth that time they saw him in
and tracking systems that MLB Draft League likely to NECBL will still find future big thousands of dollars for Alaska, the average fan,
provide prized data to ma- draw players heading into leaguers. crucial expenses like base- that helps our attendance
jor league front offices. their senior seasons or later, “I truly don’t believe that balls, umpire fees and and helps everything.”q
It’s mostly good news for Cape Cod Commissioner every kid who will play pro-
players hoping to get no- Eric Zmuda expects his fessional baseball will ap-
ticed. Less ideal for the league to hold its ground as pear in one of (MLB’s new)
leagues that used to give the premier stop for players leagues,” he said.
them that chance. with two years of college Northwoods League Com-
“Any time MLB puts their experience. missioner Ryan Voz holds
name on something, they “When you look at our his- a similar view and doesn’t linda.reijnders@cspnv.com