NABL: Arizona Winter League

2012 Arizona Winter League

2012 AWL Information

ARIZONAWINTER LEAGUE
PLAYER INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION FORM

January 30 – March 1, 2012

AWL Purpose:

  • To provide professional baseball players, especially overlooked recent college grads and just released pro players, a winter instructional league to be able to compete for pro jobs during spring training, or for those currently under contract to sharpen their skills and be a step ahead of other wintering players.
  • To assess and select players for the 2012 North American Baseball League Championship season and to provide players to other independent leagues, foreign leagues,  and major league organizations for the 2011 season.
  • To bring professional baseball for fans in the southwestern United States to enjoy during the beautiful winter weather.

Easily the premier and most effective winter pro baseball development league, the AWL has had over 250 Players from the first five seasons sign Professional Contracts with the North American League, the Golden Baseball League, the Frontier League, the Northern League, the American Association, the United League, the Continental League, the New York State League, the Mexican minor league, the Dutch League in Europe, the San Francisco Giants, the Baltimore Orioles, the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox, the San Diego Padres, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Toronto Blue Jays. Two AWL players, Sergio Romo (2007) and Scott Richmond (2007) are now in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays respectively.

 

In 2011, over 70 AWL players left with professional contracts, including three who were signed out of the AWL by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, and Boston Red Sox.  In addition, 22 independent league teams and four foreign leagues signed players out of the 2011 AWL.  The AWL has been so successful in showcasing and attracting pro contracts for our players that a number of similarly named leagues have tried to copy this success in California and Florida.  Don’t be fooled by the imitators as the AWL is the only instructional winter league affiliated with a major independent pro minor league that is stocked with managers that draft and sign players in addition to the scouts that come in to sign players.

The Most Successful development league in getting players signed to pro contracts, including players signed during the AWL season, by major league organizations and independent leagues. Contracts offered during and at the end of the AWL.

 

General Information:

  • 20 -man Rosters: First 160 players to register are guaranteed a roster spot.  Only one - two extra position players per team so everyone gets lots of playing action every game
  • 8 - 10 Team League: Yuma Scorpions, Western Canada Miners, San Diego Surf Dawgs, Blythe Heat, El Centro Imperials, Saskatchewan Silver Sox, Team Canada, San Luis Atleticos, Arizona Roadrunners, and Sonora Pilots
  • 3 Day "Spring Training" starting  January 31, 2012
  • Teams selected with Opening Night on Feb. 4, 2012
  • Season includes 4-5 game-days per week with instruction on off-days, Playoffs and Championship Game, with a departure date of March 1st
  • At conclusion of the Arizona Winter League, at least 20 Players guaranteed to be signed to North American League teams and other professional league contracts. Last year 52 players were signed to professional contracts during the AWL and 73 left with pro contracts at the conclusion of the league.
  • Scouts representing major league organizations, the Can-Am League, the Frontier League, the American Association, the Mexican Summer League, the Liga Norte Sonora, the Korean and Taiwan professional league, Japan Independent Leagues, the Colombian Winter League, and European professional leagues . Last year major league scouts from the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets, Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Devil Rays all attended AWL games.
  • Games will be played at the Ray Kroc Complex, former home of the San Diego Padres and Yakult Swallows spring training, in Yuma, Arizona. The complex has four fields, including the 7,500 seat Desert Sun Stadium, plus a major league clubhouse with locker rooms for all teams, and a fully stocked training room
  • Championship Rings will be presented at the end of the season at the Awards Banquet honoring the AWL Champions.
  • Game/Player statistics will be reported to the Associated Press and ESPN and displayed on the Pointstreak.com statistics website, and will be emailed weekly to all major league Minor League Operations Directors. All major league scouting Directors have been invited to attend.
  • Full game coverage in the Yuma Sun newspaper each day. Games are complete minor league experience including fans (4000 turned out for AWL Championship Games), mid-inning promotions, sponsor endorsement opportunities for players, additional press (GQ Magazine did a photo shoot of the Canada Miners one season) exposure including Yuma radio and television stations.

Rules:

  • Player must be 18 years or older at the start of the league (Jan. 31, 2012; Must be born before 1/31/1994)
  • Players must have minor league, collegiate, or high school experience

Fees:

  • $3,600 for Season ($1,000 minimum due with registration, balance of $2,600 on Dec. 1st). Receive a $700 discount for a total payment in full of $2900 with registration before December 1st!
  • Deposit option and payment in full discount are no longer valid after December 1st!
    • Includes hotel, meals, gym membership, and local transportation to training facilities for entire length of league
    • Includes all instructor fees
    • Uniforms, workout gear, bats, helmets, catcher's gear all provided.
    • Players are responsible for their own transportation to and from Yuma, Arizona.
    • Your registration is a firm commitment to participate in the Arizona Winter League. Cancellations will not result in a refund.

 

AWL Players Signed by Major League Organizations:                       AWL Players Who Have Played in the Major Leagues:

-       Sergio Romo, Giants                                                                 - Sergio Romo, Giants

-       Scott Richmond, Blue Jays                                                       - Scott Richmond, Blue Jays

-       Brandon Fowler, Padres                                                           - Garrett Stephenson, Cardinals

-       Rylan Sandoval, Mets                                                               - Jeff Tam, Athletics

-       Jay Broughton, Red Sox                                                           - Lou Pote, Angels

-       Brandon Taylor, Dodgers                                                          - Les Lancaster, Cubs

-       Andrew Romo, Giants                                                               - Ozzie Virgil, Jr., Phllies

-       Darrick Hale, Reds

-       Mike Thompson, Royals

-       Jordan Kendall, Diamondbacks

-       Kennard Jones, Orioles