Author Archives: Chris King

It’s Opening Night in the West Coast League, with five games slated for the circuit this evening in Washington and Oregon. All ten U.S.-based teams will be in action for Opening Night, with the Bellingham Bells hosting the Port Angeles Lefties, the Ridgefield Raptors hosting the Bend Elks, the Yakima Valley Pippins hosting the Corvallis …

Continue reading “WCL Opens 2021 Campaign”

Entering the 2021 season, the West Coast League continues to enhance technology and data Initiatives with the help of new and expanded partnerships. Among our growing partnerships is with TrackMan, which serves as an additional tool to aid player development and performance evaluation. TrackMan Baseball is used by all 30 Major League Baseball teams and …

Continue reading “WCL Increases Tech and Data Initiatives for 2021”

Today the West Coast League, one of North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball leagues, announced the formation of a COVID-19 Health & Safety Group, effective immediately. Meeting weekly from this week through the end of the postseason in August, the Health & Safety Group consists of representatives from five teams based in both Washington and …

Continue reading “West Coast League Creates Health & Safety Group”

Thursday, the West Coast League announced the addition of the expansion Springfield Drifters as the league’s 16th member team. The Drifters will join the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, and Portland Pickles as the league’s fourth Oregon-based team. “When you look at a map,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “adding another team in the Willamette Valley …

Continue reading “WCL Adds Springfield Drifters as Newest Member Team”

Wednesday, the West Coast League announced that all five of the league’s Canadian members have withdrawn from the 2021 season, due to continuing, pandemic-related border and gathering limitations. In addition to the Kelowna Falcons, who previously canceled their season, the Victoria HarbourCats, Edmonton Riverhawks, Kamloops NorthPaws, and Nanaimo NightOwls have also made the difficult decision …

Continue reading “WCL’s Canadian Members Withdraw From 2021 Season”

This year, a record 31 players with West Coast League experience have earned spots on Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters. What’s more, three of those players—reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, of the Cleveland Indians; the Seattle Mariners’ Marco Gonzales; and the Detroit Tigers’ Matt Boyd—will serve as their teams’ Opening …

Continue reading “MLB Opening Day Rosters Feature WCL-Record 31 Alumni”

Wednesday, the West Coast League announced that Driveline Baseball is now an Official Development Partner, with a wide range of elements that will provide unprecedented opportunities for WCL teams and Driveline athletes. “I’ve been admiring Driveline for years,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer, “and I’m thrilled that now we’ll be working so closely with them. Our …

Continue reading “WCL Announces Driveline Partnership”

Tuesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released a revised 2021 schedule for the League’s 10 U.S.-based teams. The League and four Canadian teams—the Victoria HarbourCats, along with the expansion Edmonton Riverhawks, Kamloops NorthPaws, and Nanaimo NightOwls—continue to work toward a Canadian-only schedule, while closely monitoring the pandemic responses by border officials and provincial health …

Continue reading “WCL Unveils Adjusted 2021 Schedule for U.S. Teams”

Today the West Coast League announced the adoption of a revised 2021 schedule that eliminates all regular-season international travel. The new schedule will consist of the league’s U.S.-based members playing each other, and the league’s Canada-based members doing the same. This revised structure leaves open the possibility of a full league playoff format. “After the …

Continue reading “WCL Announces 2021 Schedule Changes”

The Kelowna Falcons have featured a long list of big leaguers over the years, including slugger Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles and the newest Seattle Mariner – The Big Maple, James Paxton. Paxton is back in the Pacific Northwest and joins former WCLers Mitch Haniger of the Knights and Marco Gonzales of Wenatchee to …

Continue reading “Kelowna Alumni James Paxton Returns to the Pacific Northwest”

It’s often been said by those inside the game that the baseball world is very small. As widespread as the game is across the country on Little League fields, high school and college fields, and in professional stadiums, baseball has maintained a decidedly intimate feel with myriad small-town connections. The sport reaches deep into communities, …

Continue reading “A Team Reborn, a Birthday Anniversary, and Ties Between Two Baseball Cities”

The Corvallis Knights and Wenatchee AppleSox are a tradition celebrated each summer, one inning at a time. The two baseball clubs partnered from the very beginning as founding West Coast League members in 2005. From that inaugural summer collegiate season forward they have enjoyed extraordinary success on the field and in their respective communities.  In …

Continue reading “WCL Alumni Mitch Haniger & Marco Gonzales Embody Winning Ways”

By Rob Neyer Tenacious. When asked for a scouting report on Tommy Richards—on Tommy Richards as a player; as a coach; as a person, just living in the world—Scott Anderson kept coming back to the same word: tenacious. If anyone knows, Anderson would. In 2009 and ’10, Anderson was Richards’s head coach with the West …

Continue reading “Richards Ready to Lead Revived Bushnell Program”

There are MLB team coaching staffs that don’t have this much big-league playing experience. Count ’em up, 31 years. Greg Swindell, a 17-year MLB pitcher, has been added by Head Coach Todd Haney for the 2021 Victoria HarbourCats season, as Bench Coach. Add that to Haney’s five seasons and the nine seasons of Pitching Coach …

Continue reading “MLB Vet Greg Swindell Added to HarbourCats Coaching Staff”

Former Bellingham Bells infielder Matt McLain is one of four West Coast League alumni ranked among the Top 100 MLB Draft Prospects for 2021, according to MLB.com. McLain, a UCLA standout, is listed as the Draft’s No. 3 overall prospect. Other WCL alumni featured on the list include catcher Noah Cardenas (No. 62), right-handed pitcher …

Continue reading “For 2021 Draft, McLain Ranked as No. 3 Prospect”

Today the West Coast League released its official 2021 schedule, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer. “Every year,” said Neyer, “getting the new West Coast League schedule is like getting an early Christmas present. The best early Christmas present.” Opening Day 2021 is set for Tuesday, June 1. All fifteen WCL teams will have started …

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Wednesday, former Cowlitz Black Bears pitcher Shane Bieber was named the winner of the 2020 American League Cy Young Award after a dominating season for the Cleveland Indians. Bieber is the first WCL alumni to win a Cy Young Award. “We couldn’t be more thrilled for Shane Bieber, the Cowlitz Black Bears, and the entire …

Continue reading “WCL Alumni Shane Bieber Wins AL Cy Young Award”

Former Wenatchee AppleSox pitcher Griffin Canning (2014) became the team’s first alum to win a Gold Glove Award by claiming the top defensive honor for a player. Canning earned the American League Gold Glove honor at pitcher after his second MLB season. The right-hander led all American League pitchers with 3 Defensive Runs Saved and …

Continue reading “Canning Earns Gold Glove Award”

During the pandemic-shortened 2020 Major League Baseball season, 42 alumni of West Coast League teams played in the major leagues. A number of alumni posted outstanding seasons, such as Cleveland’s Cy Young Award candidate Shane Bieber (Cowlitz, 2014) and Seattle Mariners ace Marco Gonzales (Wenatchee, 2010). Other notable WCL alumni include pitchers Detroit’s Matt Boyd …

Continue reading “42 WCL Alumni Appeared in MLB During 2020 Season”

The Kamloops NorthPaws have hired Cole Armstrong as the first head coach in franchise history. The 37-year-old from Surrey, B.C. becomes the only current Canadian serving as head coach in the West Coast League. “It’s a dream come true to return to British Columbia to do what I love,”says Armstrong. “I’d like to thank the …

Continue reading “NorthPaws Name Armstrong Head Coach”

Western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league continues to grow with Tuesday’s announcement from Baseball Edmonton introducing the Edmonton Riverhawks as the West Coast League’s 15th member team. The Riverhawks now join the Nanaimo NightOwls and Kamloops NorthPaws among three WCL expansion teams, all in Canada, set to begin play next June. The newest …

Continue reading “West Coast League Expands to Edmonton”

Wednesday, the West Coast League welcomed the Kamloops NorthPaws to western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. “As Canada’s ‘Tournament Capital,’ Kamloops is obviously a hotbed for amateur sports in British Columbia, so collegiate summer ball is a perfect fit,” said WCL commissioner Rob Neyer. “As a new team, the NorthPaws face a stiff …

Continue reading “Kamloops NorthPaws Newest WCL Expansion Team”

The first Head Coach of the Nanaimo NightOwls brings a wealth of experience, networking, and community service to the role, to lead the team in its West Coast League debut in 2021. The ownership group of the NightOwls is proud to introduce Greg Frady in the top baseball role — which means the completion of …

Continue reading “Veteran Coach to Lead NightOwls in 2021”

A pair of West Coast League alumni got their first taste of the big leagues during the opening weekend of the 2020 Major League Baseball season. Brandon Bailey and Taylor Jones each made their MLB debut for the Astros in Houston’s series against the Seattle Mariners. Bailey tossed a scoreless inning in relief on Sunday …

Continue reading “Former WCL Players Make MLB Debut”

Opening Day 2020 has finally arrived for Major League Baseball and four former West Coast League hurlers will toe the rubber in their teams’ first game of the season, as Marco Gonzales, Shane Bieber, Matt Boyd and Tommy Milone have all been tabbed as Opening Day starters. It will be the second season Gonzales has …

Continue reading “Four WCL Alums Named MLB Opening Day Starters”

The lights, the history, the proud First Nations lore. And the world-famous dessert that helped make the City of Nanaimo a household name, all combined. The ownership group of the expansion team for the 2021 season, set to call historic Serauxmen Stadium home in the West Coast League, along with the team’s Founding Sponsor, Island …

Continue reading “Nanaimo NightOwls to Take Flight in 2021”

Today the West Coast League, one of North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball leagues, announced a new partnership with Teambrown Apparel to produce WCL-branded merchandise for the league’s fans around the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the baseball world, with items available immediately. “We initially became aware of the WCL because of their unique …

Continue reading “WCL Announces New Merchandise Partnership with Teambrown Apparel”

Updated July 27, 2020 To date, 50 players with West Coast League experience have been named to Major League Baseball 60-man rosters for the 2020 season. These unprecedented 60-man rosters provide an expanded player pool from which each MLB team may draw, during the shortened season. In 2019, 45 West Coast League alumni appeared in …

Continue reading “MLB 60-Man Rosters Feature 50 WCL Alums”

All 83 former West Coast League that have gone on to play in the Major Leagues are featured on the WCL’s brand new alumni page. WCL alums reaching “The Show” include 2019 MLB All-Star Game MVP Shane Bieber (pictured) and emerging slugger Rhys Hoskins, along with standout hurlers such as James Paxton, Marco Gonzales, and …

Continue reading “Updated MLB Alumni Page Unveiled”

*Updated as of August 16, 2020 More West Coast League alums are gearing up to start their professional careers, signing as free agents with Major League organizations since the conclusion of MLB’s 2020 amateur draft. In addition to the five WCLers selected in this year’s five-round draft, 16 more players have now agreed to terms …

Continue reading “Former WCL Players Sign as Non-Drafted Free Agents”

Five alums of West Coast League teams were taken in MLB’s 2020 amateur draft, conducted June 10 and 11. With the Milwaukee Brewers’ selection of Garrett Mitchell with the 20th overall pick, 2020 marks the fourth straight year with a WCL standout drafted in the first round. Mitchell, a UCLA outfielder, played for the WCL’s …

Continue reading “Five WCL Alums Selected in 2020 MLB Draft”

West Coast League alum Garrett Mitchell of UCLA was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft today, as the Milwaukee Brewers picked Mitchell 20th overall. It is the fourth straight season that a former WCL player has been taken in the first round of the MLB Draft. Mitchell, a UCLA outfielder, played for …

Continue reading “Mitchell Taken in First Round of MLB Draft”

With MLB’s annual Rule 4 amateur draft set for this Wednesday and Thursday, West Coast League alumni Garrett Mitchell, Jeremy Wu-Yelland, and Holden Powell all have their sights set on being tabbed in the draft’s five rounds. Mitchell, a UCLA outfielder, played for the West Coast League’s Walla Walla Sweets in 2017. In his first …

Continue reading “2020 MLB Draft WCL Names to Know”

This week the West Coast League’s board of directors voted to cancel its 2020 summer collegiate season, due to pandemic-related safety guidelines and travel restrictions across Washington and Oregon. Concurrently, league members Cowlitz, Port Angeles, Ridgefield, Walla Walla, and Yakima Valley are cancelling their respective seasons. Also this week, the League set June 4 as …

Continue reading “WCL Cancels 2020 Season”

Seven West Coast League alums were named to Collegiate Baseball’s All-America teams released yesterday including first-team All-Americans Zach Pettway of UCLA, A.J. Lewis of Eastern Kentucky and Kenyon Yovan of Oregon. The teams were selected based on games played prior to the stoppage of the college baseball season due to Covid-19. Pettway shined during his summer …

Continue reading “WCL Alums Named 2020 Collegiate Baseball All-Americans”

On Friday, May 8, the West Coast League and its member teams released the following statement regarding their 2020 season… The West Coast League is closely monitoring the Covid-19 policies and announcements issued by federal, state, provincial, and local authorities in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. Considering the latest information at hand, the WCL has …

Continue reading “An Update Regarding COVID-19 and the WCL”

By Rob Neyer It definitely felt like the end of the road. This January, Perth Heat manager Brooke Knight and his Australian Baseball League team were many thousands of feet in the air, nearly home after a tough series in Adelaide: three one-run losses in four games to the first-place Bite. But now, with Virgin …

Continue reading “Knight Cherishes His Baseball Adventures”

Wednesday morning, all twelve West Coast League teams launched the #StayHome4Baseball campaign, encouraging fans to stay home and flatten the coronavirus curve. The #StayHome4Baseball campaign challenges not only fans, but also baseball teams everywhere, at all levels, to help limit and ultimately stop the spread of COVID-19. “It’s not often,” WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer said, …

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About the West Coast League: The West Coast League (WCL) is the premier summer collegiate baseball league west of the Mississippi. Situated in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, the fifteen-year-old, twelve-team, professionally operated wood-bat league showcases pro prospects from major conferences around the nation. Every summer, the league features unparalleled fan and player experiences, with the best …

Continue reading “An Update Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the WCL”

West Coast League baseball is landing in Nanaimo. The WCL, which is currently made up of 12 teams including Canadian entries in Victoria and Kelowna, is expanding to 13 teams with the addition of Nanaimo. The to-be-named club’s inaugural season is set for 2021. Nanaimo will play its home games at Serauxmen Stadium. The team …

Continue reading “Nanaimo Awarded WCL Expansion Team”

By Rob Neyer Sure, you already know Jeff Cirillo as an outstanding Major League Baseball player: fourteen seasons in the majors, twice an All-Star, .296 career batting average, Gold Glove-quality defense (even if the voters somehow never quite noticed). You might not know what Cirillo’s been doing since 2007, because he’s kept a relatively low …

Continue reading “Cirillo Ready to Lead Sweets”

A new pact further solidifies the West Coast League’s commitment to safe pitching practices. The WCL has been approved at full compliance level by Pitch Smart for the 2020 season. The Pitch Smart program is a joint initiative between Major League Baseball and USA Baseball that provides guidelines and best pitching practices to help reduce …

Continue reading “WCL Announces Pitch Smart Implementation”

By Rob Neyer Todd Haney, the ex-major leaguer who just signed a multi-year extension as the Victoria HabourCats’ Head Coach, wasn’t really supposed to play on baseball’s biggest stage. Coming out of high school in Waco, Texas, he was barely recruited and wound up at tiny Panola College. While Haney did finish his college career …

Continue reading “Victoria Skipper Reflects on Baseball Journey”

By Rob Neyer In part one of this two-part series, we looked at the rich baseball history of the West Coast League’s six North Division cities. Here in part two, we’ll look at the South’s similarly fascinating baseball legacy… Obviously, the history of summer baseball in Portland, Oregon—now home to the internationally famous Pickles—is far …

Continue reading “Exploring Baseball History of WCL South Cities”

By Rob Neyer Baseball abhors a vacuum. Or perhaps it’s baseball fans who abhor a vacuum. Because I’ve noticed over the years that even when “baseball” leaves a town or city, for whatever reasons, “baseball” usually returns before long. And there is perhaps no better example than today’s West Coast League, now playing in a …

Continue reading “Exploring Baseball History of WCL North Cities”

Two-time Major League All-Star Jeff Cirillo has been announced as the new manager for the Walla Walla Sweets. Cirillo, currently a scout for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, had a 14-year playing career in the Major Leagues that included the Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners. …

Continue reading “Former MLB All-Star Jeff Cirillo to Manage the Sweets”

For the second time in franchise history, the Wenatchee AppleSox will host the West Coast League All-Star Game. The AppleSox hosted the inaugural WCL All-Star Game in 2006 and will become the league’s second team to host multiple All-Star Games when they welcome the 13th mid-summer classic in WCL history to Wenatchee. “I am very …

Continue reading “AppleSox to Host 2020 WCL All-Star Game”

The West Coast League released its official 2020 schedule today, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer. “Because of the tremendous geographical scope of our league,” Neyer said, “putting together a schedule is more art than science, and there will always be travel challenges. But we’re confident that our 2020 schedule will showcase our league’s great …

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317 alums of West Coast League teams have appeared in or are active in affiliated professional baseball in 2019. The WCL’s list of 2019 pros features 45 players that have appeared in major league games or have been on a big league roster. A number of alums have had outstanding seasons such as 2019 MLB …

Continue reading “317 Alums of WCL Teams Appear in Affiliated Baseball”

Perfect Game announced on Tuesday their list of the top prospects in the WCL this summer. The list, which was compiled by former Wenatchee AppleSox player Connor Spencer, named Brooks Lee of the Corvallis Knights as the top prospect. Lee was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 37 overall prospect going into this year’s MLB …

Continue reading “Perfect Game Unveils WCL Top 25 Prospects List”

The 2019 All-West Coast League teams and annual awards were unveiled this morning, as announced by WCL commissioner Rob Neyer. University of Utah slugger Briley Knight of the Corvallis Knights was selected as the WCL’s MVP. The sophomore-to-be for the Utes led the league in a number of offensive categories. He had the top on-base …

Continue reading “All-WCL Teams and Honors Announced”

It was announced this morning that the West Coast League champion Corvallis Knights were selected by Perfect Game USA as the Summer Collegiate Team of the Year. The Knights are the first team in WCL history to be honored by Perfect Game as their Summer College Baseball Team of the Year. Perfect Game is the …

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The Corvallis Knights are once again the champions of the West Coast League. The Knights beat the Victoria HarbourCats 11-1 on Sunday evening at Goss Stadium to clinch the team’s fourth consecutive title. Corvallis is the first team in WCL history to achieve a four-peat. The title is the seventh for the Knights, as Corvallis …

Continue reading “Knights Win Fourth Straight WCL Title”

The Corvallis Knights and Victoria HarbourCats are set to clash in the 2019 West Coast League Championship Series. Game 1 is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Friday at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria. Game 2 will be at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at Goss Stadium; Game 3 (if necessary) would be at 5:05 p.m. Sunday, also at …

Continue reading “Victoria and Corvallis Advance to WCLCS”

The final two spots in the 2019 West Coast League playoffs have been secured by the Walla Walla Sweets and Wenatchee AppleSox. Both teams are making their first trip to the postseason since 2013. The Sweets will battle the three-time defending WCL champs Corvallis Knights in the postseason beginning next week. Walla Walla is set …

Continue reading “WCL Playoff Pairings Set”

One big inning helped to lift the North to the 14-1 win over the South at the 2019 West Coast League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in front of 2,284 fans at Vince Genna Stadium in Bend. The North’s early lead expanded with a nine-run top of the second inning to give the squad a …

Continue reading “North Tops South 14-1 at All-Star Game in Bend”

West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the league’s all-star selections for its 2019 All-Star Game this morning. This year’s mid-summer classic is being held Tuesday, July 23 in Bend at Vince Genna Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 pm. “Overseeing the West Coast League’s All-Star selection process is both a blessing and a …

Continue reading “WCL All-Star Game Rosters Announced”

The participants are set for this year’s West Coast League All-Star Game Home Run Derby. The night before the All-Star Game, on Monday, July 22, the annual slugfest will take place at Vince Genna Stadium in Bend. The derby will begin at 7:05 pm and admission is free. There is also a fireworks show scheduled …

Continue reading “WCL Announces Home Run Derby Lineup”

Former Cowlitz Black Bears pitcher Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first West Coast League alum to be selected as the MVP of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Bieber, playing at his home ballpark of Progressive Field in Cleveland, earned the honor after striking out the side …

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