Arizona Summer League
Encyclopedia
The Arizona Summer League is a short-season instructional summer professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League
. Announced on April 3, 2009, and originally headquartered in Yuma, Arizona
(now headquartered in San Ramon, California
), by the now-defunct Golden Baseball League
(now a part of the NAL), it is an independent
baseball league which consists of four teams based out of different cities. All Summer League games are played at Desert Sun Stadium
in Yuma, Arizona
. The 2011 season will run from July 13th to August 8th.
The Arizona Summer League provides collegiate or free agent pros the opportunity to showcase their abilities and be signed by a pro team as needs arise during the summer. In 2009, 18 ASL players were plucked out of the league by independent and foreign pro leagues. In 2010 57 ASL players (over 90%) were signed to pro contracts by independent and foreign pro leagues.
, the GBL-owned Arizona Summer League debuted with three charter teams: the Canada Miners, San Diego Surf Dawgs
, and El Centro Imperials
, under GBL team management. The Yuma Scorpions
, who play in both the GBL and AWL, and San Luis Atleticos
of the AWL were originally named as a charter team in the ASL, but were replaced at the last minute by the Surf Dawgs as the inaugural season began on July 2, 2009. In 2010, the Surf Dawgs were joined by the Bisbee Miners
and Long Beach Armada
. In 2011, the teams were joined by Team Canada
while Bisbee was reidentified as former GBL franchise the Mesa Miners
.
The inaugural season consists of a 20-game regular season, with the first and second place teams facing off in a one game playoff for the championship. All teams are based in the Yuma, Arizona, area playing all games at Desert Sun Stadium (home of the Scorpions
) and utilizing the Ray Kroc Complex which used to house the San Diego Padres
and Yakult Swallows spring training
operations. The league is for players out of college or university who were overlooked by professional teams and other players who were released by pro teams and are looking for professional contracts either from the Golden Baseball League or Major League Baseball
. It is an instructional summer league that includes a number of ex-major league stars as managers and instructors such as Mike Marshall, Rusty Meacham
, Nick Belmonte, Warren Cromartie
, Benny Castillo
, Alex Arias
and Shannon Hunt. The ASL will also help players who were injured during the season to rehab and work on returning to their GBL team.
* Awarded championship
* Awarded championship
* Awarded championship after single elimination playoff
During the 2011 Summer season: 10 Players signed Professional contracts, Shortstop Kirby Young who played in 14 Games Hit. 400 and signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
becoming the first player to sign with a major league team in 2011.
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
. Announced on April 3, 2009, and originally headquartered in Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
(now headquartered in San Ramon, California
San Ramon, California
-2010 census:The 2010 United States Census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile...
), by the now-defunct Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
(now a part of the NAL), it is an independent
Independent baseball
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...
baseball league which consists of four teams based out of different cities. All Summer League games are played at Desert Sun Stadium
Desert Sun Stadium
Desert Sun Stadium is a stadium in Yuma, Arizona. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team and plays host to the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League. The stadium, which originally opened in 1969,...
in Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
. The 2011 season will run from July 13th to August 8th.
The Arizona Summer League provides collegiate or free agent pros the opportunity to showcase their abilities and be signed by a pro team as needs arise during the summer. In 2009, 18 ASL players were plucked out of the league by independent and foreign pro leagues. In 2010 57 ASL players (over 90%) were signed to pro contracts by independent and foreign pro leagues.
League Format
Patterned after the Arizona Winter LeagueArizona Winter League
The Arizona Winter League is the short-season instructional independent winter professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
, the GBL-owned Arizona Summer League debuted with three charter teams: the Canada Miners, San Diego Surf Dawgs
San Diego Surf Dawgs
The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,...
, and El Centro Imperials
El Centro Imperials
The El Centro Imperials are an inactive independent professional baseball team based out of El Centro, California. Founded in 1947 and revived on April 3, 2009, the Imperials were introduced as one of the four charter members of the new Arizona Summer League, an instructional summer professional...
, under GBL team management. The Yuma Scorpions
Yuma Scorpions
The Yuma Scorpions are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. The Scorpions are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League. From the 2005 season to the present, the Scorpions have played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the...
, who play in both the GBL and AWL, and San Luis Atleticos
San Luis Atleticos
The San Luis Atleticos are a professional independent baseball team based in San Luis, Arizona, representing that city and Mexico. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league affiliated with the Golden Baseball League and play in the...
of the AWL were originally named as a charter team in the ASL, but were replaced at the last minute by the Surf Dawgs as the inaugural season began on July 2, 2009. In 2010, the Surf Dawgs were joined by the Bisbee Miners
Bisbee Miners
The Bisbee Miners were a season-season independent professional baseball team that played in the Arizona Summer League representing Bisbee, Arizona. They play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona, home of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions. They were one of two teams...
and Long Beach Armada
Long Beach Armada
The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
. In 2011, the teams were joined by Team Canada
Team Canada (baseball)
Team Canada is a professional independent baseball team representing Canada. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, short-season instructional leagues affiliated with the North American League. The team is owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment and have...
while Bisbee was reidentified as former GBL franchise the Mesa Miners
Mesa Miners
The Mesa Miners are an independent professional baseball team that is based in Mesa, Arizona. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League in 2005...
.
The inaugural season consists of a 20-game regular season, with the first and second place teams facing off in a one game playoff for the championship. All teams are based in the Yuma, Arizona, area playing all games at Desert Sun Stadium (home of the Scorpions
Yuma Scorpions
The Yuma Scorpions are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. The Scorpions are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League. From the 2005 season to the present, the Scorpions have played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the...
) and utilizing the Ray Kroc Complex which used to house the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and Yakult Swallows spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
operations. The league is for players out of college or university who were overlooked by professional teams and other players who were released by pro teams and are looking for professional contracts either from the Golden Baseball League or Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. It is an instructional summer league that includes a number of ex-major league stars as managers and instructors such as Mike Marshall, Rusty Meacham
Rusty Meacham
Russell Loren Meacham , is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball between 1991 and 2001.- Early career :...
, Nick Belmonte, Warren Cromartie
Warren Cromartie
Warren Livingston Cromartie is a retired American baseball player.-Baseball career:Warren Cromartie debuted with the Montreal Expos of the Major Leagues on September 6, 1974 after being picked 6th in the 1973 amateur draft...
, Benny Castillo
Benny Castillo
Benigno Enrique "Benny" Castillo is a former professional baseball player and manager.- Early life :...
, Alex Arias
Alex Arias
Alejandro Arias is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1992–2002....
and Shannon Hunt. The ASL will also help players who were injured during the season to rehab and work on returning to their GBL team.
Summer League teams
| Arizona Summer League | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Founded | City | Stadium | ||
| Long Beach Armada Long Beach Armada The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball... |
2005 (with the Golden Baseball League Golden Baseball League The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico.... ) |
Long Beach, California Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257... |
Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium is a stadium in Yuma, Arizona. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team and plays host to the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League. The stadium, which originally opened in 1969,... (Yuma) |
||
| Mesa Miners Mesa Miners The Mesa Miners are an independent professional baseball team that is based in Mesa, Arizona. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League in 2005... |
2005 (with the Golden Baseball League Golden Baseball League The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico.... ) |
Mesa, Arizona Mesa, Arizona According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%... |
Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium is a stadium in Yuma, Arizona. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team and plays host to the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League. The stadium, which originally opened in 1969,... (Yuma) |
||
| San Diego Surf Dawgs San Diego Surf Dawgs The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,... |
2005 (with the Golden Baseball League Golden Baseball League The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico.... ) |
San Diego, California San Diego, California San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round... |
Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium is a stadium in Yuma, Arizona. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team and plays host to the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League. The stadium, which originally opened in 1969,... (Yuma) |
||
| Team Canada Team Canada (baseball) Team Canada is a professional independent baseball team representing Canada. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, short-season instructional leagues affiliated with the North American League. The team is owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment and have... |
2009 (with the Arizona Winter League Arizona Winter League The Arizona Winter League is the short-season instructional independent winter professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League... ) |
Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium Desert Sun Stadium is a stadium in Yuma, Arizona. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team and plays host to the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League. The stadium, which originally opened in 1969,... (Yuma) |
||
2009
Final Standings| Summer League | Team | W | L | Win % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Canada Miners | 9 | 5 | .633 | --- | |
| El Centro Imperials El Centro Imperials The El Centro Imperials are an inactive independent professional baseball team based out of El Centro, California. Founded in 1947 and revived on April 3, 2009, the Imperials were introduced as one of the four charter members of the new Arizona Summer League, an instructional summer professional... |
7 | 7 | .500 | 2 | |
| San Diego Surf Dawgs San Diego Surf Dawgs The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,... |
5 | 9 | .357 | 4 |
* Awarded championship
2010
Final Standings| Summer League | Team | W | L | Win % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| *San Diego Surf Dawgs San Diego Surf Dawgs The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,... |
6 | 3 | .650 | --- | |
| Bisbee Miners Bisbee Miners The Bisbee Miners were a season-season independent professional baseball team that played in the Arizona Summer League representing Bisbee, Arizona. They play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona, home of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions. They were one of two teams... |
5 | 4 | .550 | 1 | |
| Long Beach Armada Long Beach Armada The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball... |
4 | 8 | .333 | 3.5 |
* Awarded championship
2011
Final Standings| Summer League | Team | W | L | Win % | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Miners Mesa Miners The Mesa Miners are an independent professional baseball team that is based in Mesa, Arizona. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League in 2005... |
8 | 6 | .571 | --- | |
| Team Canada Team Canada (baseball) Team Canada is a professional independent baseball team representing Canada. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, short-season instructional leagues affiliated with the North American League. The team is owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment and have... |
8 | 7 | .533 | .5 | |
| *San Diego Surf Dawgs San Diego Surf Dawgs The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,... |
7 | 8 | .467 | 1.5 | |
| Long Beach Armada Long Beach Armada The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball... |
6 | 8 | .429 | 2 | |
* Awarded championship after single elimination playoff
Past Teams
- Bisbee MinersBisbee MinersThe Bisbee Miners were a season-season independent professional baseball team that played in the Arizona Summer League representing Bisbee, Arizona. They play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona, home of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions. They were one of two teams...
(2010) - Canada Miners (2009)
- El Centro ImperialsEl Centro ImperialsThe El Centro Imperials are an inactive independent professional baseball team based out of El Centro, California. Founded in 1947 and revived on April 3, 2009, the Imperials were introduced as one of the four charter members of the new Arizona Summer League, an instructional summer professional...
(2009)
During the 2011 Summer season: 10 Players signed Professional contracts, Shortstop Kirby Young who played in 14 Games Hit. 400 and signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
becoming the first player to sign with a major league team in 2011.