Top Collegiate Summer Baseball Leagues

It’s summer time and that means it’s time for college baseball! Here is a list of the top collegiate summer baseball leagues

Top Collegiate summer baseball Leagues: An Overview

In the United States collegiate summer baseball refers to wooden bat baseball leagues featuring college players that compete during the June-July period when most college baseball programs are inactive. These leagues primarily operate in northern states where college programs typically do not compete due to the cooler weather.

The most notable collegiate summer baseball league is the Cape Cod baseball league which is considered the premier summer collegiate Baseball League in the country. Other notable leagues include the Valley Baseball League, the Futures Collegiate baseball league and the New England Collegiate Baseball League

While many collegiate summer baseball leagues are affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the Cape Cod baseball League is not affiliated with any MLB team. This allows players in the league to be evaluated for selection in MLB’s annual June amateur draft on a more equal basis with players from other summer leagues and from college programs not affiliated with MLB teams.

The Top 5 Collegiate Summer Baseball Leagues

Summer Collegiate Baseball is a Baseball League featuring college players who have not yet signed professional contracts. These leagues are operated similarly to minor League Baseball with the difference being that the vast majority of collegiate summer ball players use Wooden bats

Collegiate summer baseball has become increasingly popular in recent years with more and more top college players choosing to play in these leagues rather than on their college team’s summer break. The following are five of the most popular and competitive collegiate summer Baseball Leagues

1) Cape Cod baseball League
2) Coastal Plain League
3) Futures Collegiate Baseball League
4) Northwoods League
5) West Coast League

The Cape Cod baseball League

The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer Baseball League located on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The league was founded in 1885, making it the oldest collegiate summer baseball league in the United States It is also considered to be one of the premier summer Collegiate Baseball leagues in the country. Each summer, the league’s 10 teams play a 44-game schedule. The season culminates with a best-of-three playoff series to determine the league champion.

The Cape Cod Baseball League has produced major leaguers such as Jeff Bagwell Nomar Garciaparra, Frank Thomas and Curt Schilling In recent years the league has seen an increase in the Number of players drafted directly out of High School The 2016 MLB Draft saw 31 Cape Cod baseball league alumni taken in the first two rounds, including first overall pick Mickey Moniak.

If you’re looking for top-level collegiate summer baseball, the Cape Cod Baseball League is definitely worth checking out.

The Coastal Plain League

The Coastal Plain League is a collegiate summer Baseball League From its founding in 1997, the league has consisted of teams from North Carolina South Carolina Virginia, and Georgia. The Coastal Plain League is considered one of the top summer collegiate baseball leagues in the nation and serves as a valuable training ground for aspiring professional ballplayers.

The Futures Collegiate Baseball League

The Futures Collegiate Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league founded in 2009. The league consists of seven teams from the northeast United States The FCBL is affiliated with Major League Baseball and the Elimination Round of the College World Series

The league’s mission is to provide affordable family entertainment and to promote the Game of Baseball throughout New England. The FCBL strives to provide its players with the opportunity to develop their skills and talents in order to prepare them for professional baseball careers.

Top prospects who have played in the FCBL include:
--Chris Sale (Red Sox)
--Mookie Betts (Dodgers)
-Xander Bogaerts (Yankees)
-Jackie Bradley Jr. ( Mariners)

The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League

The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League is a collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1934. It is affiliated with major league baseball and the NCAA. The league comprises teams from Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia

The Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League began in 1974 as the Buckeye Summer League It was renamed the Midwest Collegiate League in 1984 and the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League in 1989. The league was affiliated with the National Baseball Congress from 2001 to 2008.

The league is divided into two divisions, the North and South. Each team plays a 48-game schedule that runs from early June to mid-August. All games are seven innings long, except for doubleheaders which are two seven-inning games played back-to-back.

Top players in the league are eligible to play in the All-Star game which is held annually at a neutral site within the league’s territory.

The Northwoods League

The Northwoods League is one of the top collegiate summer Baseball Leagues in the country. The league is made up of top college players from across the country and features some of the best young talent in the game. The league plays its games in small towns across the Midwest, and each team is affiliated with a Major League team. The Northwoods League is a Great Place to see the future stars of baseball.

The Valley baseball League

The Valley Baseball League is a collegiate summer Baseball League founded in 1974. The league is made up of teams from Virginia, West Virginia Maryland, and Pennsylvania. The league plays a 44-game regular season schedule from mid-June to early August. All games are played on weekdays, with no games scheduled on Sundays. The top four teams in the standings advance to the playoffs, which are held at the end of August.

The Valley Baseball League has a long history of producing Major League baseball players including Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and current stars such as Justin Verlander and Buster Posey

The West Coast League

The West Coast League (WCL) is a collegiate summer baseball league founded in 2005. The league is made up of teams from Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Idaho. The WCL is affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) and is considered a premier summer Collegiate Baseball League Each year, the WCL sends numerous players to MLB.

The WCL season runs from June to August, with each team playing 56 games. All games are seven innings, with the exception of Day Games which are nine innings. The WCL playoffs are held in August, with the top four teams advancing to the postseason.

The WCL has been home to many future MLB stars, including Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs), Matt Chapman (Oakland Athletics), Andrew McCutchen (Philadelphia Phillies), and Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants).

Honorable Mentions

While the Cape Cod Baseball League the Northwoods League and the Coastal Plain League garner the most attention among collegiate summer Baseball Leagues there are plenty of other respectable options for aspiring pro ballplayers.

The Valley Baseball League based in Virginia, is one such league. The VBL has existed since 1923 and has sent over 1,100 players to Major League Baseball The league’s most notable alums include José Bautista, Justin Verlander, Mark Teixeira Curt Schilling and Barry Zito.

Another solid choice is the Florida Collegiate Summer League The FCSL was founded in 2006 and has eight teams located throughout central Florida. MLB players who got their start in the FCSL include Christian Yelich Joc Pederson, Aaron Nola, and Sean Manaea.

The New England Collegiate Baseball League is yet another fine option for collegiate ballplayers looking to spend their summers honing their skills. The NECBL has been around since 1993 and is comprised of teams located throughout New England. Some notable major leaguers who began their careers in the NECBL include Buster Posey, Anthony Rizzo Chris Sale, and Matt Harvey