The Pioneer League Partnering with Pecos League for Pre-Season Tryout Camp

A Conversation with Pioneer League President and Pecos League Commissioner

In the mercurial world of independent professional baseball, the one constant has been that things always change. Teams and leagues have come and gone over the years; some players climb the ladder to higher levels, but most don’t. However, the enduring legacy of indy ball are the stories of great players who were once overlooked, found their way onto an indy ball roster, and were suddenly “rediscovered”.

Witness veteran pitcher Rich Hill, World Series champion Kevin Millar, Diamondbacks David Peralta and the feel-good story of the 2021 World Series, reliever Tyler Matzek.

In fact, in 2021 alone the four independent MLB Partner Leagues, the Atlantic League, the American Association, the Frontier League, and the Pioneer League sent over 200 players to MLB rosters.

Indy ball is about young players with pro-level talent looking for a second chance because they either got overlooked in the draft or got bounced out at some point. They can play, they just need a chance to show what they got.

We recently had a conversation with two independent league executives, Pioneer League President Mike Shapiro and Pecos League Commissioner Andrew Dunn, about their new partnership to provide those “second chance” players a showcase at the Pioneer League’s upcoming tryout camp at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson AZ on April 1-4, 2022.

Mike, you’ve been an executive with several MLB clubs in the past, have owned and operated your own indy ball club and now you’re President of the Pioneer League. Can you tell us why this tryout camp is so important?

This camp we’re doing in partnership with the Pecos League is unique in that it offers quality players a real shot at a pro job because there will be so many jobs available. The Pioneer League will be signing at least 20 players to spring training invites and of those who don’t go with us, the Pecos League will be signing quite a few players as well. If you can play pro ball, this camp will offer the greatest opportunity for a pro contract compared to any other pre-season camp.

Andrew, why a partnership with the Pioneer League?

I’ve known Mike Shapiro for a long time, and we’ve always worked well together. He used to sign a lot of my Pecos League players and we developed a great working relationship and friendship. The Pioneer League is one of the best developmental leagues around; a place where players are treated right and given every opportunity to realize their dreams to be a pro ballplayer. I think what we do in the Pecos League by offering a lot of guys a shot to play and maybe put up some numbers, will fit in perfectly with the Pioneer League’s goal to focus on developing young players.

What do you guys hope will come out of this tryout camp?

Andrew: First of all, I’d like it to produce some real talented players who somehow didn’t get a look in the draft or somehow didn’t get the chance to show what they had even after they were drafted. Like Mike said, this camp will give quite a few players a real chance to realize their dreams of being a pro ballplayer. That’s what the Pecos League is all about and I couldn’t be happier that we can now expand those opportunities with a quality league like the Pioneer League.

Mike: More than anything, I’m hoping we find some good, projectable talent. Kids who deserve their shot. But, as well, I’m looking for this partnership with Andrew to be a long-term relationship whereby both our leagues can create an ongoing venue to recruit deserving players throughout the year.

Who will be at the camp to scout and sign players?

Mike: In addition to a Pioneer League scout, each of the ten Pioneer League clubs will send a scout or coach to evaluate players and then at the end of the 4-day camp we’ll hold a draft for each team to sign players to spring training invites. Those not signed will also get a shot at a pro contract with the Pecos League.

Andrew: The Pecos League will sign players after the Pioneer League gets the first shot in the draft. Depending on the level of talent, I expect we’ll sign quite a few guys. Remember, the Pecos League has 16 teams all over the Southwest and California. We’ve got teams up around the San Francisco Bay Area; teams in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico; we even have a team in Kansas. That’s a lot of opportunities to make one of our rosters.

Andrew, what’s the format of the camp?

Andrew: There’s going to be a couple of days of pro-style skills drills for position players, bullpen sessions for pitchers and catchers, and then an extended intra-squad game with live pitching to evaluate players in-game conditions.

Mike: I think it’s important to note that in a lot of these tryout camps I’ve seen before there just aren’t enough reps for hitters or, for that matter, enough innings for pitchers. By having a 4-day camp we’ll be able to take a good look at everyone and give them all a chance to show what they’ve got.

The Pioneer League Arizona Pro Showcase will be held from April 1-4, 2022, at the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, AZ. For more information and to register for the camp please go to arizonaproshowcase.com