If you are a college baseball player looking for a place to showcase your skills and improve your game during the summer, you might want to consider joining one of the many summer collegiate baseball leagues across the country. These leagues offer competitive and professional-level baseball experience, as well as exposure to scouts and coaches from various levels of baseball. Some of these leagues have been around for decades, while others are relatively new and emerging.
Top 10 Collegiate Summer Baseball Leagues in 2023
In this article, we will rank the top 10 collegiate summer baseball leagues in 2023 based on their history, reputation, quality of play, alumni, and facilities.
10. Valley Baseball League
The Valley Baseball League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in Virginia. It was founded in 1923 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 1961. The league consists of 11 teams that play a 42-game regular season schedule from June to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its scenic locations and community support. Some of the notable alumni of the Valley Baseball League include Aubrey Huff, Mo Vaughn, Jon Rauch, Chris Devenski, and Daniel Murphy.
9. MLB Draft League
The MLB Draft League is a summer collegiate baseball league that was launched in 2021 by Major League Baseball and Prep Baseball Report. The league is designed to showcase the top draft-eligible prospects in the country and provide them with exposure and development opportunities before the MLB Draft. The league consists of six teams that play a 68-game regular season schedule from late May to mid-August. The league uses wooden bats and follows MLB rules. The league is also supported by state-of-the-art technology and analytics tools to enhance player performance and evaluation. Some of the notable players who participated in the MLB Draft League in its inaugural season include Jackson Jobe, Henry Davis, Colton Cowser, and Kumar Rocker.
8. Texas Collegiate League
The Texas Collegiate League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in Texas. It was founded in 2004 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 2007. The league consists of 10 teams that play a 48-game regular season schedule from June to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its high level of competition and talent, as well as its affiliation with professional minor league teams. Some of the notable alumni of the Texas Collegiate League include Hunter Pence, Clay Buchholz, Paul Goldschmidt, Matt Carpenter, and Corey Kluber.
7. Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League
The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in New York. It was founded in 2011 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 2012. The league consists of 13 teams that play a 48-game regular season schedule from June to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its partnership with Perfect Game USA, the world’s largest baseball scouting service, which provides players with exposure and recognition. Some of the notable alumni of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League include Jeff McNeil, Pete Alonso, Ian Anderson, Zac Gallen, and Shane Bieber.
6. Alaska Baseball League
The Alaska Baseball League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in Alaska. It was founded in 1974 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 1976. The league consists of five teams that play a 40-game regular season schedule from June to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its unique environment and challenges, such as playing under the midnight sun, traveling long distances, and facing tough competition. Some of the notable alumni of the Alaska Baseball League include Tom Seaver, Dave Winfield, Mark McGwire, Randy Johnson, Barry Bonds, and Jacob deGrom.
5. Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia. It was founded in 1997 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 1998. The league consists of 15 teams that play a 52-game regular season schedule from May to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its fan-friendly atmosphere and entertainment value, as well as its innovative features such as instant replay, pitch clock, designated hitter rule, extra-inning tiebreaker rule, and All-Star Home Run Derby. Some of the notable alumni of the Coastal Plain League include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Kevin Youkilis, Mark Reynolds, Chris Taylor, and Whit Merrifield.
4. West Coast League
The West Coast League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, Alberta, Idaho, and California. It was founded in 2005 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 2006. The league consists of 15 teams that play a 54-game regular season schedule from June to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its high-quality baseball and facilities, as well as its geographic diversity and cultural exchange. Some of the notable alumni of the West Coast League include Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Boyd, James Paxton, Marco Gonzales, Nick Madrigal, and Adley Rutschman.
3. New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in New England. It was founded in 1993 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 1994. The league consists of 13 teams that play a 44-game regular season schedule from June to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its historic and picturesque locations and traditions, as well as its academic excellence and community involvement. Some of the notable alumni of the New England Collegiate Baseball League include Joe Nathan, Chris Iannetta, Stephen Strasburg, George Springer, Matt Barnes, and Kyle Schwarber.
2. Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Ontario, and Manitoba. It was founded in 1994 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 1995. The league consists of 22 teams that play a 72-game regular season schedule from May to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its professional-level baseball experience and exposure, as well as its state-of-the-art technology and analytics tools. Some of the notable alumni of the Northwoods League include Max Scherzer, Curtis Granderson, Chris Sale, Pete Alonso, Keston Hiura, and Corbin Burnes.
1. Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a summer collegiate baseball league based in Massachusetts. It was founded in 1885 and has been sanctioned by the NCAA since 1963. The league consists of 10 teams that play a 44-game regular season schedule from June to August. The league uses wooden bats and follows NCAA rules. The league is known for its prestige and tradition, as well as its elite level of competition and talent. The league is widely regarded as the best summer collegiate baseball league in the country and the closest to the major leagues. Some of the notable alumni of the Cape Cod Baseball League include Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas, Jason Varitek, Buster Posey, Kris Bryant, Aaron Judge, and Shane McClanahan.
Conclusion
Summer collegiate baseball leagues are a great way for college baseball players to improve their skills, gain exposure, and have fun during the summer. There are many leagues to choose from across the country, each with its own features and benefits. However, some leagues stand out more than others in terms of their history, reputation, quality of play, alumni, and facilities. Based on our research and analysis, we have ranked the top 10 collegiate summer baseball leagues in 2023 as follows:
- Cape Cod Baseball League
- Northwoods League
- New England Collegiate Baseball League
- West Coast League
- Coastal Plain League
- Alaska Baseball League
- Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League
- Texas Collegiate League
- MLB Draft League
- Valley Baseball League
We hope this article has helped you learn more about these leagues and decide which one might be the best fit for you.
Most Asked Questions and Answers
Q: How do I join a summer collegiate baseball league? A: There are different ways to join a summer collegiate baseball league depending on the league you are interested in. Some leagues have open tryouts or online applications where you can showcase your skills and stats. Other leagues require an invitation or recommendation from your college coach or a scout who has seen you play. You can also contact the teams or coaches directly to express your interest and availability.
Q: How much does it cost to play in a summer collegiate baseball league? A: The cost to play in a summer collegiate baseball league varies depending on the league you are playing in and the team you are playing for. Some leagues charge a registration fee or a membership fee to cover expenses such as equipment, uniforms, travel, insurance, etc. Other leagues do not charge any fees but rely on donations or sponsorships to fund their operations. You may also have to pay for your own housing or food depending on the arrangements made by your team or host family.
Q: What are the benefits of playing in a summer collegiate baseball league? A: Playing in a summer collegiate baseball league can provide you with many benefits such as:
- Improving your skills and performance by playing against high-level competition
- Gaining exposure and recognition by scouts and coaches from various levels of baseball
- Developing your character and leadership by working