Lake County, Bowling Green shifting to MWL
The two Class A circuits, along with the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, announced on Tuesday that the South Atlantic League is going to transfer two of its franchises -- Bowling Green and Lake County -- to the Midwest League prior to the 2010 season. The Bowling Green club, formerly known as the Columbus Catfish, will be moving from Georgia to Kentucky and will play its final SAL season there in 2009.
The transfer of the two clubs addresses concerns both leagues had about travel while providing better geographical alignments. The SAL currently has franchises in Ohio, New Jersey, Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky, North and South Carolina and West Virginia. The Midwest League is more concentrated with teams in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.
Click to view new MWL clubs' travel distances >
| Midwest League mileage | ||||
Bowling Green |
Lake County |
|||
Bowling Green | X | 475 | ||
Lake County | 475 | X | ||
Beloit | 504 | 458 | ||
Burlington | 532 | 575 | ||
Cedar Rapids | 572 | 593 | ||
Clinton | 550 | 502 | ||
Dayton | 263 | 230 | ||
Ft. Wayne | 347 | 254 | ||
Great Lakes | 556 | 298 | ||
Kane County | 443 | 401 | ||
Lansing | 475 | 251 | ||
Peoria | 437 | 501 | ||
Quad Cities | 534 | 514 | ||
South Bend | 366 | 274 | ||
Wisconsin | 602 | 556 | ||
West Michigan | 461 | 273 | ||
Average | 474 | 410 | ||
Spelius said the Midwest League, which had been a 12-team circuit before expanding to 14 teams in 1988, has not decided on how the new 16-team league will look, and likely won't any time soon. The same can be said for the league's convoluted playoff format. Currently there are two divisions -- one with eight teams and one with six -- and eight teams participate in three playoff rounds.
"We haven't even discussed it," Spelius said. "We said we would start mapping out divisions and playoffs and all that when they said it was finally a done deal. So there's been no talk at all. We want to take our time and do it right."
Spelius said that originally it was the Indians that approached the Midwest League and the NA about having Lake County join the league earlier this decade. But at the time a 16th team wasn't available so Lake County joined the South Atlantic League. Lake County had been the Columbus (Ga.) RedStixx from 1992-2002 before moving to Ohio prior to the 2003 season.
"They asked that somewhere along the line if a 16th team became available [could it be addressed]," Spelius said. "But we weren't the point guard early on, that was the Indians. We took our vote on Aug. 22 and had 14 yes and no negatives.
"We always said that if a 16-team league couldn't be had, we're very happy at 14. But if we can help out the NA and Major League Baseball, traveling will be less for both leagues. We want to do our part and be good Samaritans. This wasn't done for greed or anything like that."
The Bowling Green franchise will be playing in a new 4,000-seat state-of-the art stadium. The team has yet to be named with club officials planning on holding a contest to determine what it will be called.
"The amount of travel involved with the South Atlantic League is no secret and realignment is intended to address that issue," Krupa said. "The South Atlantic owners recognize the overall, industry-wide aspects of realignment even though the league itself will lose two solid clubs. Their willingness to cooperate with the desires of our partners at Major League Baseball in the realignment process is commendable.
"As we move forward it is likely that scheduling changes will require additional cooperation to maximize the intended impact of realignment."
Krupa said the SAL has yet to decide on how the loss of two teams will impact the divisional setup, the playoff structure and the format of the regular season. The circuit currently plays a split season but Krupa said there is always the possibility that they could switch to a full-season schedule.
"It's something that we have to decide," Krupa said. "There are so many issues involved. We're going to look at other 14-team leagues and see how they do it. No set guidelines have been determined, though. We're going to be working on it through the fall and spring.
"I think the worst aspect of all our travel that people don't realize is the life of the umpire. They have to drive everywhere on their own. They're not hopping on a bus with someone else driving. We have eight umpiring crews and they are traveling about 11,000 miles a season."
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com.
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.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring