Missing baseball? Are you still aggravated with the negotiation drama between Major League Baseball and the union? Looking to find your favorite Minor League players on the field this summer? Look no further, Independent Baseball is here and ready to give you all the baseball you crave.
Dugout Dish will be here to serve you all summer long with information on Independent Leagues, who are playing and where you can watch them.
**This post will be continuously updated throughout the season.
American Association
The American Association kicked off Opening Day last night on July 3, 2020. The league consists of six teams based in Milwaukee, Fargo-Moorhead, Sioux Falls, and Chicago.
The AAIPB Commissioner Joshua Schaub stated: “I just want the world to know we are doing this for the love of the game. This is done in a manner to provide baseball to the world.”
There will be a 60-game schedule that will run until September. Fans will be able to attend the games. For the fans who are unable to make it to one of the designated locations, they will be able to check out https://www.aabaseball.tv/ for a price of $19.99.
Teams involved: Chicago Dogs, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Milwaukee Milkmen, Sioux Fall Canaries, St. Paul Saints, and Winnipeg Goldeyes.
Atlantic League
Despite many teams being unable to go through with a season, the Sugar Land Skeeters are hosting a four-team league at their home ballpark beginning on July 10 and running through August 23. Each team will play 28 games for a total of 56 games during the season.
The teams will consist of players with Major League Baseball and other professional service time and will be managed by well-known players such as Rogers Clemens, Greg Swindell, and Pete Incaviglia.
The league has been named The Constellation Energy League. The player pool currently features 96 players and the league is still adding players to the pool. The current pool features 19 former Major Leaguers, 13 former first-round picks from the MLB Draft, seven former Top 100 prospects, and 56 players who have reached at least Triple-A level professional baseball.
Teams involved: Sugar Land Skeeters (managed by Pete Incaviglia), Team Texas (managed by Roger and Koby Clemens), Sugar Land Lightning Sloths (managed Greg Swindell) and Eastern Reyes del Tigre (managed by Dave Eiland).
Frontier League
Although the Frontier League season was canceled for 2020, you will still be able to see some of your favorite Frontier League showstoppers. While many teams have decided to wait until 2021, the Florence Y’alls, Joliet Slammers, and Washington Wild Things are going ahead with seasons.
The Florence Y’alls will be playing against MiLB team Lexington Legends in The Battle of the Bourbon Trail. Both cities will be forming two teams that will play in front of fans every Wednesday through Sunday starting in Florence, Kentucky on July 31st. The season will run for seven weeks. The beloved Florence Freedom returns this summer as well as the Legends’ second identity, Las Leyendas. The four teams will consist of former Major League players, former and current Minor League players, and Independent League players.
The Joliet Slammers will have a City of Champions Cup at DuPage Medical Group Field starting on July 16 through September 6. Four teams will compete for the Cup, all playing a 27-game schedule each. Teams will be made up of players drafted through the ranks of Frontier League players unable to play for their current teams and free agents from MiLB. Each team will play 3-4 home games per week in a schedule that will include night games on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Washington Wild Things have announced they will host a four-team season with a weekly schedule available. The Baseball Brilliance Sox, Road Warriors, Steel City Slammin’ Sammies and Washington Wild Things will be the four teams playing at Wild Things Park in Washington, PA. The first game will be played on July 9 and will be available via live stream.
PECOS
PECOS began playing games as well in Houston, Texas on July 2. Four teams will play a 36-game regular season and the games are available to watch via live stream on Meridix.
Teams involved: Houston Apollos, Roswell Invaders, Salina Stockcade, Tucson Saguaros.
United Shores Professional Baseball
The soft opening for the league began on July 3 featuring all four teams, the Utica Unicorns, Westside Woolly Mammoths, Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers, and Eastside Diamond Hoppers.
Games are limited to full season ticket holders attending by invitation only. Individual game tickets are not available for sale at this time. Games will be available on their YouTube channel.
For more information on Independent Baseball follow @chelseabrooke and @dugoutdish on Twitter.
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