Short season
Encyclopedia
Short season refers to a form of class A minor league baseball
in which only about 75 games are played each season, as opposed to the typical 140 games for an affiliated minor league team at a higher level. Currently, there are only two affiliated minor leagues that fit the definition of "short season" leagues: the New York-Penn League and the Northwest League
.
The seasons start in June and end in early September (thus, there are only a few off-days during the season). Teams in Short-Season A leagues are generally in small-to-medium-sized cities (Aberdeen, Maryland
; Eugene, Oregon
; Burlington, Vermont
; State College, Pennsylvania
; Lowell, Massachusetts
; Spokane, Washington
), although exceptions exist—one team is in Vancouver
(the only Canadian team currently in the affiliated minor leagues), another is in the Seattle suburb of Everett, Washington
, and two are in New York City
, each affiliated with one of that city's MLB teams.
Short-season ball is the highest level short-season affiliate for 22 MLB
organizations. The remaining eight clubs have their highest level short-season affiliate in either the Appalachian
or Pioneer Leagues. In many instances players drafted out of college will begin their careers at this level, while high-school draftees will more often begin their careers with a Rookie League team.
The late start to the season is designed to allow college players
to complete the College World Series
, which runs through late-June, before turning professional, give major league teams time to sign their newest draftees, and immediately place them in a competitive league. Players in these leagues are a mixture of newly-signed draftees and second-year pros who weren't ready to move on, or for whom there was not space at a higher level to move up. Second-year pros tend to be assigned to extended spring training until the short-season leagues begin.
For many players, this is the first time they have ever used wooden baseball bat
s, because aluminum bats are most common in the amateur game, as well as the first time they have played every day for a prolonged basis, as amateur competitions typically regulate the number of games played in a week. Players are permitted to use certain approved composite bats at this classification, to help them make the transition from aluminum to wood bats.
Short-Season A is not a subclassification of Class A. It is a distinct classification.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in which only about 75 games are played each season, as opposed to the typical 140 games for an affiliated minor league team at a higher level. Currently, there are only two affiliated minor leagues that fit the definition of "short season" leagues: the New York-Penn League and the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
.
The seasons start in June and end in early September (thus, there are only a few off-days during the season). Teams in Short-Season A leagues are generally in small-to-medium-sized cities (Aberdeen, Maryland
Aberdeen, Maryland
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,842 people, 5,475 households, and 3,712 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,166.2 people per square mile . There were 5,894 housing units at an average density of 922.4 per square mile...
; Eugene, Oregon
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
; Burlington, Vermont
Burlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
; State College, Pennsylvania
State College, Pennsylvania
State College is the largest borough in Centre County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is the principal city of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Centre County. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034, and roughly double...
; Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
; Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
), although exceptions exist—one team is in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
(the only Canadian team currently in the affiliated minor leagues), another is in the Seattle suburb of Everett, Washington
Everett, Washington
Everett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
, and two are in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, each affiliated with one of that city's MLB teams.
Short-season ball is the highest level short-season affiliate for 22 MLB
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
organizations. The remaining eight clubs have their highest level short-season affiliate in either the Appalachian
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
or Pioneer Leagues. In many instances players drafted out of college will begin their careers at this level, while high-school draftees will more often begin their careers with a Rookie League team.
The late start to the season is designed to allow college players
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
to complete the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, which runs through late-June, before turning professional, give major league teams time to sign their newest draftees, and immediately place them in a competitive league. Players in these leagues are a mixture of newly-signed draftees and second-year pros who weren't ready to move on, or for whom there was not space at a higher level to move up. Second-year pros tend to be assigned to extended spring training until the short-season leagues begin.
For many players, this is the first time they have ever used wooden baseball bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
s, because aluminum bats are most common in the amateur game, as well as the first time they have played every day for a prolonged basis, as amateur competitions typically regulate the number of games played in a week. Players are permitted to use certain approved composite bats at this classification, to help them make the transition from aluminum to wood bats.
Short-Season A is not a subclassification of Class A. It is a distinct classification.