Tag Archives: Pioneer League

FloSports to Broadcast Three MLB Partner Leagues in 2023

Last year, the Frontier League announced their partnership with the sports streaming service, FloSports. At that time, the Frontier League was the first and only professional baseball league to be featured on the streaming platform.

“The Frontier League is fully committed to offering our fans exceptional experiences in our ballparks, in their homes, and on their devices”, said Jon Danos, CEO and commissioner of the Frontier League.  With FloSports as a partner, our League content is even more accessible, and we take additional steps toward offering a go-to league preferred by players whose talents can be further enjoyed on a big stage along their journey to the big leagues”.  Last year alone, seventeen MLB teams purchased the contracts of 47 Frontier League players.

“The addition of the Frontier League games to FloSports represents our continued commitment to delivering the highest quality baseball competition to our subscribers,” said Chris Keldorf, Senior Director, Global Rights Acquisition, FloSports. “We’re excited to bring this programming to our platform to showcase the level of athletic talent that is part of the Frontier League.”

FRONTIER LEAGUE AND FLOSPORTS ANNOUNCE LANDMARK STREAMING RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This season, two more MLB partner leagues have joined the FloSports family: the Atlantic League and the Pioneer League.

This marks the first league-wide broadcasting agreement for the Atlantic League.

“This is a landmark opportunity for the Atlantic League to continue to grow our brand,” said ALPB President Rick White. “Our FloBaseball partnership will expand the reach of each club, serve existing and new markets, plus grow viewership and fan engagement. For the first time ever, fans can watch their favorite club’s home and road games, plus any other ALPB games they want to see.”

Beginning with Opening Day on Friday, April 28, all Atlantic League broadcasts will deliver high quality digital productions of home and road ALPB contests, along with FloBaseball new and original content. The partnership will maximize the exposure of every ALPB team and make all 630 league regular and post-season championship games available in home and away markets and anywhere there is an internet connection. The exclusive arrangement replaces past streaming efforts on a club-by-club basis. 

Atlantic League, FloSports Partner To Stream Games

Earlier this week, the Pioneer League became the third partner league to come to an agreement with FloSports.

The partnership will provide viewers with high-quality, comprehensive streaming coverage of each of the PBL’s 10 teams throughout their full regular season schedules, beginning on Tuesday, May 23rd, and continuing through postseason play.

“The Pioneer League is all about providing our baseball fans with entertaining, unique and quality experiences whether in person at our charming ballparks or, now, anywhere else on FloSports’ streaming platform,” said PBL President Mike Shapiro.  “This is a significant step forward for our fans, MLB scouts and the friends and families of our players who can now access our streamed games in one location.”

“Baseball is in the midst of a renaissance and FloSports is proud to support The Pioneer League and provide all PBL games and original content under our FloBaseball platform,” said Chris Keldorf, Senior Director of Rights Acquisition at FloSports. “PBL fans will have access to coverage of all games throughout the season, and we are excited to showcase the next wave of the sport’s talent.”

Pioneer League to Stream Games on FloSports

About FloSports:

Founded in 2006, FloSports is a venture-backed subscription video streaming service dedicated to sports, offering live and on-demand access to hundreds of thousands of competition events across 25+ vertical sport categories in the US and abroad. With a growing library of more than 300,000 hours of premium content including news, expert commentary, films, documentaries and more, FloSports has established itself as an innovator and leader in sports streaming. Finally, your sport has a home. 

Check out FloBaseball HERE for more information

2022 Season Wrap-Up and a Look Ahead

The 2022 MLB World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros kicks off tonight, officially starting the beginning to the end of the 2022 baseball season.

Additionally, the MLB partner leagues and other independent leagues have all wrapped up their seasons and are looking ahead to what the 2023 season will bring.

Here’s a look at your 2022 season champions and some news on what you can look forward to in 2023.

2022 Season Champions:

MLB Partner Leagues

Atlantic League – The Lancaster Barnstormers captured their third Atlantic League championship with a series sweep over the High Point Rockers.
Lancaster Barnstormers Official Press Release

American Association – The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks walked off on the Milwaukee Milkmen in the bottom of the 10th inning in game five of the Miles Wolff Cup Finals to win the 2022 American Association Championship.
American Association Official Press Release

Frontier League –  The Quebec Capitales became the first team to defeat the Schaumburg Boomers in a playoff series to capture the Frontier League Championship in four games. 
Frontier League Official Press Release

Pioneer League – The GJ Rockies win their first PBL Championship in 41 years with a two-game sweep over defending champions the Missoula Paddleheads.
Pioneer League Official Press Release

MLB Draft League – The WV Black Bears win the inaugural MLB Draft League Championship. (While the first half of the season featured draft eligible prospects, the second half belonged to professional players who have exhausted their amateur eligibility.)
MLB Draft League Official Press Release

Other Independent Leagues

United Shore Pro Baseball League – The Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers rallied from four runs down late to defeat the Utica Unicorns in the USPBL Championship Game.
United Shore Pro Baseball League Official Press Release

Pecos League – The Roswell Invaders won their fourth Pecos League championship, their first in seven years, after defeating the defending champions the Tucson Saguaros.

Empire League – The Tupper Lake Riverpigs win their first Empire League Championship.
Empire League Official Press Release

Mavericks League – The Salem Senators defeated the Portland Mavericks to win the Mavericks League Championship.
Mavericks League Official Website

Yinzer Baseball Confederacy – In its third season of play, the Yinzer League (ran by Black Sox Pro Baseball) continued to be a feeder league for many players. Throughout the summer, players from the Yinzer League were able to sign contracts and play in various MLB Partner Leagues.

2023 News

Atlantic League

Nashville Developer Acquires Lexington Legends and Wild Health Field
Nathan and Keri Lyons have acquired the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) along with Wild Health Field and its real estate.
Read more HERE (Atlantic League).

York Revolution Announce Rick Forney as New Manager
Forney, a native of Frederick, Maryland, spent the last 17 seasons managing the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association, compiling a record of 887-753 with 13 winning seasons, 10 playoff appearances and three league championships in 2012, 2016 and 2017. He was also named American Association Manager of the Year in 2011 and 2020.
Read more HERE (York Dispatch).

Atlantic League Breaks Ground in Hagerstown
A ground breaking ceremony was held in Hagerstown which is set to host a new Atlantic League team in 2024.
Read more HERE (Herald-Mail Media).

Frontier League

Crushers Name Jared Lemieux Manager
Lemieux spent the past 2 seasons coaching with the New Jersey Jackals, and has been involved in professional baseball, either playing or coaching since 2006.
Read more HERE (Frontier League).

Florence Names Chad Rhodes Manager
This marks Rhoades’ third stint with Florence, having spent his two previous stops with Florence as the team’s pitching coach.
Read more HERE (Frontier League).

Windy City Names MLB All-Star Richie Sexson Manager
This will be the first professional managerial position for Sexson, who has spent much of the last decade as director of baseball at Summit High School in Bend, Oregon. He played for 12 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1997-2008.  
Read more HERE (Frontier League).

2023 Schedule Announced
The Frontier League, a MLB Professional Partner League, unveiled the schedule for its 30th season of play.  The 2023 regular season will begin on Thursday, May 11 and run through Sunday, September 3.
Read more HERE (Frontier League).

Pioneer League

Stu Pederson Named Second Ever Manager of Range Riders
Pederson served as an assistant coach for the Range Riders this past season, helping guide the team to a successful second half, including a 17-12 record at home and a five-game home win streak to finish off the season.
Read more HERE (Our Sports Central).

2023 Missoula PaddleHeads Coaching Staff Announced
 Manager, Michael Schlact is returning to the Garden City after having the highest winning percentage in all of professional baseball each of the past two seasons. The PaddleHeads have re-signed 2022 hitting coach, Jeff Lyle who played an integral role in the team’s success in 2022. New to the coaching staff, but not to the PaddleHeads is the new 2023 assistant coach Brandon Riley. Riley has been a leader in the clubhouse each of his past two playing seasons in Missoula.
Read more HERE (Our Sports Central).

MLB Draft League

2023 Format Announced
First half (June 1-July 4): For Amateur/Draft-eligible players from the Divisions I-III, NAIA, junior college and high school (graduating seniors) levels. 30 games per team.
Second half (July 7-Sept. 2): For professional players who have exhausted their amateur eligibility. Players receive housing, meal money, travel and weekly compensation. 50 games per team.

See the MLB Draft League Official Site HERE.

2023 Schedule Announced
The halves will be uneven with 30 scheduled games per team in the first half and 50 scheduled games per team in the second half.
See the Draft League schedule HERE (MLB Draft League).

United Shore Pro Baseball League

2023 Schedule Announced
The 70-game schedule will run from May 19 through September 9 at Jimmy John’s Field in historic downtown Utica, Mich.
See the USPBL schedule HERE (USPBL).

Pecos League

The Pecos League Announced two new teams for the 2023 season
The Marysville Drakes in California (more info HERE) and the Blackwell FlyCatchers in Oklahoma (more info HERE).

Empire League

The Empire League Reveals New Team
 The Empire Baseball League has revealed the team name for the new Malone, New York team to be the Border Hounds.
More info HERE (Empire League).

Black Sox Pro Baseball

The Black Sox Pro Baseball League will be again hosting off-season workouts, a competition camp in Florida, and continuing with their spring training barnstorming tour against the MLB Partner Leagues.
More info HERE (Black Sox Pro Baseball).