Five-round MLB Draft set for June 10-11
In another sign we won’t see a 2020 MiLB season, MLB released details on a five-round amateur draft set for June 10-11, with the signing deadline moved from July 10 to August 1. (more…)
Sinkholes a long-term problem for Dickey-Stephens Park
That lovely riverside location for Dickey-Stephens Park (Class AA; Texas League), home of the Arkansas Travelers, is turning out to be a mixed blessing: it’s unlikely sinkholes affecting the playing field will ever be totally eradicated. (more…)
Kalamazoo Mac Daddies on tap for Father’s Day
The Kalamazoo Growlers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) are moving forward with a Father’s Day promo that calls for a one-day rebranding as the Kalamazoo Mac Daddies. (more…)
Best of the Ballparks 2020 High-A Voting Begins
Our Best of the Ballparks 2020 fan vote continues today with the launch of the High-A competition, as we ask for your favorites in the California, Carolina and Florida State League facilities. (more…)
Prospect League cancels 2020 season
Another league calls off play for 2020, as the summer-collegiate Prospect League will not play this summer, in a decision dictated by varying guidelines for safety, protection and limits on public gatherings in the five states in the league footprint. (more…)
Players reject MLB financial plan for 2020 season resumption
Well, that didn’t take long: after MLB presented a financial plan for the 2020 season that called for a truncated schedule and deep cuts in star player salaries, the MLBPA rejected it and will reportedly call for more games and no more additional cuts in player salaries. (more…)
2020 MINK League season canceled
Another casualty for 2020 summer-collegiate play: the nine-team MINK League has canceled its 2020 season, but league officials vow to be back in 2021. (more…)
A’s may delay, alter future Oakland ballpark plan
A planned new Oakland ballpark plan for Howard Terminal may end up being delayed or even scrapped, as the COVID-19 pandemic and underlying economic uncertainty will certainly impact facility planning for the Athletics. (more…)
MLB, MLBPA disagree on 2020 pay plan
The fate of the 2020 MLB season is still up in the air, as MLB officials sent the players association a financial plan for launching play that calls for deep pay cuts for the sport’s highest-paid players. (more…)
$1 billion loan program proposed for events businesses, including MiLB
A proposed $1 billion loan program administered through the Federal Reserve would target small event-driven businesses, including MiLB teams unable to make payments like rent and utilities on publicly owned sports facilities. (more…)
Northwoods League to launch regional play, conforming with local guidelines
The 2020 Northwoods League season won’t begin on a league-wide basis, with three Bismarck teams launching play on June 15 at Bismarck Municipal Stadium, as the summer-collegiate league adjusts to a patchwork of local COVID-19 restrictions across its footprint. (more…)
Voting begins in Best of the Ballparks 2020, Low-A ballparks
This isn’t a normal MiLB season, to be sure. Before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down baseball, we began our Best of the Ballparks 2020 fan vote with spring-training facilities. Today we resume our popular fan vote with Low-A ballparks on the agenda. (more…)
Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat for May 26, 2020
Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, Mick Gillispie and Kevin Reichard discuss the news of the day, preview the 2020 Best of the Ballparks fan vote, future MLB markets, the worst ballparks encountered in their careers, and why Memorial Day was sad without baseball in this week’s Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat. (more…)