Report: Appalachian League to become USA Baseball feeder system using college players

Major League Baseball has a future plan for the rookie Appalachian League but they include changes in playing personnel.

MLB and USA Baseball will announce their plans for the Appalachian League. College wood bat league here we come: pic.twitter.com/lzgtx7PFkq

— Carlos Collazo (@CarlosACollazo) September 25, 2020

According to a report issued Friday by Baseball America, the plan to be announced next week by leaders in both USA Baseball and MLB is a wood-bat play format that would feature the top college freshmen and sophomores from NCAA member schools playing each summer based on eligibility requirements.

It would change the decades-old farm system aspect of the league where major league franchises send some of their top rookie draft picks for their first taste of semi-pro baseball.

The announcement says the format would provide new opportunities for teams, fans, and communities.

A report in the New York Times that surfaced in early 2020 said a number of minor league operations were being dissolved in a cost-cutting measure by MLB.

The formal plans are scheduled to be announced on Tuesday.

(IMAGE: SuperTalk Archives)