MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Black Bears announced Monday they are one of the five teams selected by Major League Baseball to be a founding member of the new “Major League Baseball Draft League.”
The league will be sanctioned by MLB and operated by Prep Baseball Report (PBR), one of the country’s biggest amateur scouting services. Each season, the Black Bears’ roster will be filled from draft-eligible collegiate players projected as premium selections in that year’s MLB Draft
The MLB Draft League is scheduled to have a 68-game schedule with an annual All-Star Break centered around the MLB Draft, which is now scheduled for July. Joining West Virginia as founding members in the league are the Williamsport Crosscutters, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Trenton Thunder and the State College Spikes. MLB has plans to add a sixth team to the league before play in 2021.
MLB Draft League participants will receive visibility to MLB Club scouts through both in-person observation and scouting technology and educational programming designed to prepare them for careers as professional athletes. PBR will provide support for the league’s staffing, player and coach recruitment, on-field operations, and administrative functions. PBR will also use their media and technology platforms to promote the league and its players throughout the season.
The Black Bears will continue to compete at Monongalia County Ballpark.
“On behalf of the Monongalia County Commission, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with the West Virginia Black Bears and MLB,” said Tom Bloom, Mon County Commissioner. “The Black Bears have become an integral part of our community. We pride ourselves with a stadium that is considered first class and that is how we feel about the Black Bears organization. This agreement clearly shows your support for our team, our community and minor league baseball. We appreciate your support of the future of minor league baseball and we are excited to be part of your vision.”
The Black Bears share Mon County Ballpark with WVU since the stadium opened in 2015.
“The construction of Monongalia County Ballpark has to be one of the most successful projects for the Morgantown community in the last 10 years,” WVU athletic director Shane Lyons said. “The ballpark continues to provide dividends to our local economy as it was one of the driving forces in the decision to bring a Major League Baseball Draft League team to Morgantown. The future stars of baseball and even potential Hall-of-Famers will get their start in Morgantown, and how great that will be for our community. It will be special for fans one day to see baseball professionals shine in the major leagues and be able to say they saw him play in Morgantown. The Mountaineers have a great relationship with the West Virginia Black Bears and Rich Baseball, and we look forward to continue working with them as they become one of the prestigious inaugural teams of this great new venture.”
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