By Aaron Rosenberg
With MLB spring training a month away and snow covering much of the country, baseball is not yet on the minds of many fans, but for over 200 players in the California Winter League (CWL), there is no offseason. Arriving in Palm Springs Monday from all over the globe, every player came to the CWL, the premier showcase for professional free agents, with the common goal of earning a professional baseball contract. In 2013 nearly half of CWL participants walked away with an invitation to preseason workouts with a professional team including Bobby Martin and Justin Vasquez who were members of the Frontier League champion Schaumburg Boomers.
Scouts and coaches will spend Tuesday and Wednesday putting the players through drills to form an initial evaluation. Following Wednesday’s session, the coaches of ten CWL teams will conduct a player draft with opening day set for Thursday at Palm Springs Stadium and Palm Springs High School. Play will run through February, culminating with the CWL Championship on the 16th. Two games will be broadcast daily, streamed live on californiawinterleague.com. Select games will be broadcast on Team 1010 KXPS.
While a few players will be offered a contract with an MLB-affiliated team, the majority of players will have their sights set on Independent baseball. Coaches and scouts from the Atlantic League, American Association and the Frontier League, along with MLB scouts will be searching the CWL for talent. Scouts participating include Barry Moss of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chris Carminucci of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Most CWL players have collegiate experience and some have played professionally previously, but each has a unique story. Michael Londino was the ace of the University of Delaware pitching staff until being sidelined by arm trouble. Thinking his future in baseball was over, he completed his degree and was ready to pursue full-time work before deciding to take one more shot at pitching. His hard work was rewarded and he spent last summer playing Independent ball in Texas. Wilfredo Pujols, cousin of Angels superstar Albert Pujols, is hoping to break back into professional baseball after a stint in the Cardinals farm system.
All games are open to the public and adult tickets are priced at $8 with discounts for seniors and students. Fans can visit californiawinterleague.com for daily promotions and a full list of games.
