To celebrate its upcoming 20th season, the West Coast League is proud to launch Season 2 of its LEGENDS OF THE WCL series, a weekly celebration throughout May and June of the league’s most iconic alumni and their journeys from summer ball to the big leagues. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural season, …
Category Archives: News
WCL Origins: 20 Years Ago
It’s probably not fair to the West Coast League’s founding members to call the league’s beginnings humble … but, in retrospect? Yes, it would have been difficult, 20 years ago, to imagine what the West Coast League has become since four men met in an ancient Columbia River Gorge hotel to sketch the beginnings of …
WCL Alumni Impact MLB Opening Day
This year, a record 42 West Coast League alumni were listed on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day rosters. The total includes 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal (Kitsap/Detroit Tigers), who made his second straight Opening Day start for Detroit. On Opening Day, Steven Kwan (Corvallis/Cleveland Guardians), a three-time Gold Glove winner and 2024 …
Dane Siegfried Receives Grass Roots Award
On January 24 and 25 in Portland, the West Coast League’s board of directors and general managers convened for the League’s annual winter meetings. Held in conjunction with the annual Northwest Baseball Coaches Association Convention, the League’s meetings celebrate and reinforce the deep, long-standing connection between the League and the region’s coaches from every level …
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WCL Announces 2024 Charitable Outreach
This week the West Coast League announced that in 2024 nearly $500,000 was generated via in-kind and monetary donations through its member clubs’ charitable outreach. In addition, 50/50 raffles produced more than $100,000 more for local charities in Victoria and Nanaimo, British Columbia. The WCL’s charity work impacts 17 teams’ communities in the U.S. states …
WCL Announces 2025 All-Star Game
After a highly successful event earlier this year, the West Coast League announced its All-Star Game will return to Bellingham, Washington on July 16, 2025. The Bellingham Bells will host the event at iconic Joe Martin Field. Featuring top players from each of the league’s 17 teams, the WCL’s marquee event will be livestreamed around …
WCL Alumni Trio Earns MLB Awards
Wednesday night, Tarik Skubal capped his stellar 2024 season by being named the American League’s Cy Young Award winner. Prior to his pro career, the Detroit Tigers left-hander pitched for the Kitsap BlueJackets in 2014, followed by four years at Seattle University before being drafted by Detroit in 2018. Skubal earned the American League’s “pitching …
West Coast League Announces 2025 Schedule
Thursday, the West Coast League (WCL) announced its official 2025 schedule. The WCL, which debuted in 2005, will celebrate its 20th season next summer with 17 teams located in Washington, Oregon, British Columbia, and Alberta. “Each season the league adds another chapter to its rich history,” Commissioner Rob Neyer said,” and with our All-Star Game, …
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West Coast League Alumni in MLB Playoffs
In 2024, West Coast League alumni (28 players) appeared in at least one game for 10 of the 12 MLB postseason clubs. Leading the way is Tarik Skubal (Kitsap BlueJackets, 2014) who is the leading candidate for the American League Cy Young Award after going 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 192 …
WCL Celebrates Historic 2024 Season with Record-Setting Milestones
The West Coast League (WCL), America’s premier collegiate summer baseball league, is celebrating an unforgettable 2024 season marked by record-breaking achievements both on and off the field. Including official League, nonleague, and postseason games, a grand total of 767,726 fans flocked to ballparks across the Pacific Northwest and Alberta, setting a League attendance record and …
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Takeuchi Named Top Prospect, Final WCL Spotlight Unveiled
Thursday, the West Coast League released the final 2024 WCL Spotlight, an expanded list of the League’s most exciting players during the recently concluded season. Topping the Spotlight: Corvallis Knights super-utility player Kevin Takeuchi, selected by WCL coaches as the League’s top prospect. Also on the list? A number of players who were drafted by …
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Executive, Broadcaster and Scorekeeper of the Year Honorees Announced
Tuesday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced three more annual awards: Executive of the Year, Mike Parker Broadcaster of the Year, and Scorekeeper of the Year. This year’s Executive of the Year is Stephanie Morrell, the general manager of the Bellingham Bells since 2016, has been instrumental in guiding her teams to the playoffs …
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Top Coach, Umpire and Team Sportsmanship Award Winners Named
Thursday morning, the winners of the West Coast League’s Coach of the Year, Umpire of the Year, and Jim Dietz Team Sportsmanship Award were announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer. Portland’s Mark Magdaleno and Wenatchee’s Mitch Darlington have been honored as 2024 co-Coaches of the Year for their impressive leadership throughout the season. This marks the third …
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All-WCL Teams Announced
Wednesday afternoon, the 2024 All-West Coast League teams were unveiled by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. “I’ve now served as commissioner for six WCL seasons,” said Neyer, “and it’s pretty clear that we’re just getting more talented every summer. We saw that in the most recent MLB draft, and we saw it during our tremendous All-Star …
WCL MVP and Pitcher of the Year Unveiled
The West Coast League is proud to announce the recipients of its most prestigious 2024 season awards, selected by the WCL’s outstanding group of head coaches. This year, the title of Most Valuable Player has been awarded to Ridgefield Raptors outfielder Hunter Katschke, while Freddy Rodriguez of the Portland Pickles is 2024’s Pitcher of the Year. Hunter …
Portland Pickles Win 2024 WCL Championship
Friday night at Portland’s Walker Stadium, the Portland Pickles captured the 2024 West Coast League championship with a 6-5 walkoff win over the Wenatchee AppleSox. This marks the Pickles’ first title in the team’s seven-year WCL history. With perfect baseball weather and a sellout crowd of 4,387, both teams scored early despite a pair of …
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Pickles and AppleSox to Clash Friday in WCL Championship Game
The stage is set for an exhilarating showdown in the West Coast League championship game this Friday night, when the champions of the North and South Divisions face off. And for the first time since 2015, the eventual WCL champions will not be the dynastic Corvallis Knights. Wednesday night, the visiting Portland Pickles dashed Corvallis’s hopes for …
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WCL Playoffs in Full Swing
This weekend the West Coast League playoffs were in full swing, with all eight postseason teams engaged in best-of-three divisional playoff games. The South Division championship game is now set, with the Portland Pickles and Corvallis Knights both advancing in impressive fashion. On a perfect Sunday evening at Portland’s Walker Stadium, nearly 4,000 fans witnessed …
Griffith and Vassar Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Accolades
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Portland Pickles outfielder Tanner Griffith (Saint Mary’s) and Wenatchee AppleSox left-hander Quincy Vassar (Vanguard). In five games with the Pickles last week – three regular-season, two playoff – Griffith reached base 13 times …
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2024 WCL Playoffs Start Saturday Night
The 2024 West Coast League (WCL) playoffs open Saturday with intriguing matchups in both the South and North Divisions. In one South Division series, the defending WCL champion Corvallis Knights will face the Ridgefield Raptors. While the Knights are going after their eighth straight championship, the Raptors are on an impressive run of their own, …
Playoff Picture Comes Into Focus
With just three games left in the West Coast League season, there remains plenty of drama as South Division teams battle for their final positions and four North teams remain in a desperate battle for three remaining spots. In the South, the #1 seeded Corvallis Knights, having already clinched the first-half title, will face the …
Takata and Cormier Earn WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Ridgefield Raptors infielder Taylor Takata (Hawaii) and Victoria HarbourCats right-hander Carson Cormier (TCU). In six games with the Raptors last week, Takata reached base 21 times, drove in 14 runs, and stole three …
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North Edges South 3-2 at All-Star Game in Bellingham
With a dramatic flourish in the ninth inning, the North topped the South 3-2 in Wednesday night’s West Coast League All-Star Game. Gavyn Jones (Kelowna Falcons) was the North’s hero in the bottom of the ninth inning, rapping a two-out, two-strike, bases-loaded grounder that South shortstop Ty Yukumoto (Corvallis Knights) couldn’t quite corral in time …
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55 WCL Alumni Selected in 2024 MLB Draft
Earlier this week, 55 current and former West Coast League players were selected in 2024 Major League Baseball Draft. There were 22 alumni selected in the first 10 rounds of the Draft, and five of the 54 total selections are players that have been active in the WCL this summer. Sunday night, 2021 WCL MVP …
WCL All-Star Game Festivities Begin Tonight
The stage is now set for the West Coast League’s 2024 All-Star Game, with festivities beginning tonight in Bellingham, followed Wednesday evening by the League’s first All-Star Game since 2019. Thrilling news was announced last week, as the All-Star Game will be broadcast live on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB App beginning at …
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20 Former WCL Players Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft
With the selection of 20 players on Monday, 22 WCL alumni have now been taken in the first 10 rounds of this year’s MLB Draft. Five of the first 95 selections of this year’s MLB Draft were former WCL players, including the No. 1 overall pick Travis Bazzana. In seven of the last eight years, …
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Bazzana Selected First Overall in 2024 MLB Draft
Former West Coast League MVP Travis Bazzana of Oregon State was selected as the No. 1 overall pick of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Cleveland Guardians. The former Corvallis Knights slugger is the second WCL alumnus to be taken as the first overall pick in the MLB Draft, following in the footsteps of …
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MLB Network to Broadcast WCL All-Star Game
The West Coast League (WCL) is thrilled to announce that the 2024 All-Star Game will be broadcast live on MLB Network, MLB.TV, MLB.com, and the MLB App on Wednesday, July 17, beginning at 6:30 PM Pacific Time. Fans can look forward to an exciting evening of baseball, featuring the league’s top players and future stars. …
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WCL All-Star Game Rosters Announced
Tuesday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer revealed the all-star selections for the 2024 All-Star Game. Marking the return of the WCL’s mid-summer classic for the first time since 2019, the game is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17, with the first pitch at 6:35 p.m. Pacific Time at the legendary Joe Martin Field. “After …
Grady and Elder Earn WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Cowlitz Black Bears infielder Keaton Grady (Dallas Baptist) and Bend Elks right-hander Jackson Elder (Utah). In six games with the Black Bears last week, Grady drove in 11 runs and produced ten hits. …
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The Resurgence of Baseball in Edmonton: The Rise of the Riverhawks
Edmonton, Alberta, with a rich baseball history, had seen the sport’s popularity wane over the years. However, the arrival of the Edmonton Riverhawks in the West Coast League (WCL) has brought about a remarkable resurgence, reigniting the city’s longstanding passion for the game. The History of Baseball in Edmonton Baseball in Edmonton dates back to …
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Rico and Hangas Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Accolades
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Kamloops NorthPaws outfielder-pitcher Joey Rico (Westmont College) and Walla Walla Sweets right-hander Zachary Hangas (Ottawa University). In six games with the NorthPaws last week, Rico racked up 10 hits and ran his hitting …
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Second WCL Spotlight of 2024 Unveiled
Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released the second 2024 WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting and notable players, and highlighting just a few of the dynamic talents who make up the league. This latest WCL Spotlight includes one representative from all 16 WCL teams, showcasing a mix of compelling talents …
Raptors Throw Combined No-Hitter
History was made at the Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex on Tuesday night as three Ridgefield Raptors pitchers combined to throw the first no-hitter in team history. Starters Dylan Stewart (Pepperdine) earned the win after working five innings, while Curtis Herbert (Portland) and Mac Elske (Chaminade) each tossed two innings in relief. Ridgefield’s pitching staff had …
2024 WCL Season Starts Tonight
The West Coast League (WCL) is thrilled to announce the official opening of the 2024 season tonight, featuring all 16 teams in action. Each team will play 54 league games this summer, starting tonight and concluding on August 8. The season will culminate in the championship playoffs, which will feature eight teams, each hosting at …
First 2024 WCL Spotlight Released
Thursday, on the eve of the West Coast League’s 2024 season, WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer released the first WCL Spotlight of the year, featuring a representative collection of the league’s most exciting and notable players. This preseason 2024 WCL Spotlight includes one player from each of the 16 teams, showcasing a mix of compelling talents …
WCL Unveils “Legends of the WCL” Video Series
Today the West Coast League (WCL) proudly announces the launch of its captivating new video series, Legends of the West Coast League, showcasing WCL alumni who have ascended to Major League Baseball stardom. The inaugural episode highlights the inspiring journey of Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan, a notable WCL graduate currently making waves as a …
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Ed Knaggs’ 419-Mile Opening Day Run Begins May 1
Excitement is building as renowned West Coast League coach Ed Knaggs prepares to embark on his extraordinary Opening Day Run, 419 miles (give or take a mile) from Wenatchee, Washington to Corvallis, Oregon, beginning Wednesday, May 1. Knaggs is running for the love of the sport, yes – he’s been a dedicated runner for many …
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MLB Opening Day Rosters Feature 38 Alumni
This year, 38 players with West Coast League experience have earned spots on Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters. Former WCL players starting the season in the big leagues include 2023 Silver Slugger Award winner and American League All-Star Adley Rutschman, 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber, and two-time American League Gold …
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WCL and Bellingham Bells Announce Return of All-Star Game in Summer 2024
Today the West Coast League unveiled its plans for the highly anticipated return of the All-Star Game to the league’s lineup of summer events in 2024. The 2024 West Coast League All-Star Game will be hosted by the Bellingham Bells, scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday, July 17, at the iconic Joe …
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WCL Announces Expansion and Presents Grass Roots Award at Annual Winter Meetings
The West Coast League’s board of directors and general managers convened in Portland last weekend for the League’s highly anticipated annual winter meetings. The gathering, a blend of in-person and teleconference sessions, witnessed a significant announcement and recognition of local coaches. On Friday, the meetings kicked off with the exciting revelation that the West Coast …
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Salem Awarded WCL Expansion Team for 2025
Friday, the West Coast League happily announced the addition of its 17th member in Salem, Oregon, opening play in 2025. The Salem Baseball Club will join the Springfield Drifters, Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, and Portland Pickles as the league’s fifth Oregon-based team. “When you look at a map,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “adding another …
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WCL Set for Upcoming NWBCA Convention
This weekend in Portland, Oregon, baseball enthusiasts and industry leaders will converge for the annual Northwest Baseball Coaches Association Convention. With a robust West Coast League presence, the convention promises an engaging lineup of speakers, interactive demonstrations, and breakout sessions, making this a must-attend event for baseball coaches and enthusiasts alike. As usual, this year’s …
WCL Strengthens Commitment to NWBCA Convention
Monday, the West Coast League (WCL) proudly announced the continuation of its valued partnership with the Northwest Baseball Coaches Association (NWBCA) for its annual convention, a highly anticipated gathering of baseball coaches and vendors held each January in Portland, Oregon. The NWBCA convention stands as the premier baseball coaches conference in the Pacific Northwest, scheduled …
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WCL Releases 2024 Schedule
The West Coast League (WCL), now entering its 20th year, and third year with a roster of 16 teams ranging from Alberta to Oregon, has officially unveiled its much-anticipated schedule for the 2024 regular season and exciting postseason. All 16 teams will kick off their WCL campaigns on Friday, May 31, igniting another summer of …
289 WCL Alumni Active in Affiliated Baseball
In 2023, 289 alumni of West Coast League teams were active in affiliated professional baseball. A number of WCL alumni posted impressive MLB seasons, such as 2023 American League All-Star Adley Rutschman (Corvallis Knights, 2016). Other notable WCL alumni include recent Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber (Cowlitz Black Bears, 2014), Steven Kwan (Corvallis, 2016) …
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Ickes Named Top Prospect, Final WCL Spotlight Released
Thursday, the West Coast League released the final 2023 WCL Spotlight, an expanded list of the League’s most exciting players during the recently concluded season. Topping the Spotlight: Nanaimo NightOwls shortstop Elijah Ickes, selected by WCL coaches as the League’s top prospect. Also on the list? A number of players who were drafted by MLB …
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Executive, Broadcaster and Scorekeeper of the Year Winners Named
Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the winners of three more 2023 League awards: Executive of the Year, Official Scorer of the Year, and the inaugural Broadcaster of the Year Award. “I am incredibly pleased,” said Neyer, “to present our first Broadcaster of the Year Award to Mike Parker, one of the Pacific …
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Top Coach, Umpire and Team Sportsmanship Award Winners Unveiled
Friday morning, the winners of the West Coast League’s Coach of the Year, Umpire of the Year, and Team Sportsmanship Award were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. Victoria skipper Todd Haney is 2023’s Coach of the Year. Haney guided the HarbourCats to a 38-15 mark, which included a remarkable 27-2 home record …
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All-WCL Teams Released
Thursday morning, the 2023 All-West Coast League teams were unveiled by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. “With every passing year,” said Neyer, “I’m more impressed with how much talent and commitment we’re blessed with each summer in the West Coast League. We saw that in the draft earlier this summer, and now we’re seeing …
WCL MVP and Pitcher of the Year Selections Announced
Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the winners of the League’s top two individual awards. This year’s Most Valuable Player is Yakima Valley Pippins first baseman Jace Phelan. The rising junior from Gonzaga led the League with 50 RBI and 8 home runs. Phelan was also the distance king, hitting the two longest …
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Corvallis Wins Seventh Consecutive WCL Championship
The Corvallis Knights’ historic run became even more impressive Monday night when the Knights won their seventh straight West Coast League championship with a 5-0 victory over the visiting Victoria HarbourCats. The Knights’ championship is also their tenth overall, with 2023 joining 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 (the league’s 2020 …
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Knights and HarbourCats to Play Monday in WCL Championship Game
As usual, the road to the West Coast League championship runs through Corvallis, Oregon. Monday night, the Corvallis Knights, aiming for their seventh straight WCL crown, will host the Victoria HarbourCats in the League’s winner-take-all championship game. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. at Goss Stadium. The later start time is due to anticipated high …
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Four Teams Advance to Saturday’s Divisional Championship Games
The matchups are now locked in for the Divisional Championship showdowns, with the two games set for Saturday night. Now that the best-of-three divisional playoffs are wrapped up, both the division and league championships will consist of just one game. In the South, the Portland Pickles will clash with the Corvallis Knights, who finished the …
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WCL Playoffs Begin Tonight
Tuesday night – in four locations ranging from Oregon and Washington to British Columbia – the West Coast League’s playoffs open with four Divisional Series games, the first in what promise to be a quartet of exciting series featuring the eight best teams in one of North America’s premier collegiate summer baseball leagues. For the second …
Titialii and Lim Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Accolades
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Cowlitz Black Bears outfielder Marques Titialii (Arizona Christian) and Portland Pickles left-hander Christian Lim (Stanford). In six games with Cowlitz last week, Titialii hit three home runs and scored 12 runs. He also …
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Third WCL Spotlight Unveiled
Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer released the third 2023 WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting and notable players. This week’s WCL Spotlight includes only West Coast Leaguers currently playing, with the rankings reflecting not just their professional potential, but also various other compelling reasons for tracking their performance as …
Second WCL Spotlight Released
Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer unveiled the second 2023 WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting players. This Spotlight includes only West Coast Leaguers currently playing, with the rankings reflecting not just their professional potential, but also the various other compelling reasons for tracking their progress this summer. The first …
40 WCL Alumni Selected in 2023 MLB Draft
Earlier this week, 40 current and former West Coast League players were selected in Major League Baseball’s annual Rule 4 Amateur Draft. There were 18 alumni selected in the first 10 rounds of the Draft, and 10 of the 40 total selections are current WCL players. Sunday night, UCLA right-hander Alonzo Tredwell became the first …
17 Former WCL Players Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft
With the selection of 17 players on Monday, 18 WCL alumni have now been taken in the first 10 rounds of this year’s MLB Draft. Two players currently active in the WCL, right-hander Morris Austin of the Portland Pickles and outfielder Quincy Scott of the Ridgefield Raptors, were selected on Monday. UCLA right-hander Alonzo Tredwell …
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Tredwell Becomes MLB Draft Day 1 Selection
Sunday, UCLA right-hander Alonzo Tredwell became the first former WCL player selected in the 2023 MLB Draft when he was chosen in the second round by the Houston Astros with the 61st overall pick. Tredwell pitched for the Portland Pickles in 2021 before an impressive two-year career with the Bruins. The 6’8″ hurler went 8-3 …
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Bells Secure Postseason Bid, Second-Half Race Starts
Thursday night, the Bellingham Bells clinched the West Coast League’s second 2023 playoff spot by securing the first-half title in the North Division. The Bells join the Ridgefield Raptors as the two teams that have already secured their spot in the WCL postseason starting in August. There are still six more playoff spots up for …
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Raptors Clinch Playoff Spot, North Decided Thursday
Wednesday night in Ridgefield, the host Raptors clinched the West Coast League’s first 2023 playoff spot, beating the Portland Pickles 10-3 to eliminate the Pickles from contention. The Raptors had already finished their first half with a 17-9 record, with the Pickles passing the Raptors if they’d pulled off the road sweep this week. But …
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First-Half Race Enters Final Stretch
This week, and perhaps as soon as Tuesday night, the West Coast League’s first two postseason berths will be clinched by the first-half winners in each division. Given the nature of West Coast League scheduling, it’s practically impossible for every WCL team to finish their “first half” on the same date. As a result, each …
McCollum and Heppner Earn WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Cowlitz Black Bears outfielder LeTrey McCollum (UC Santa Barbara) and Victoria HarbourCats right-hander Sean Heppner (University of British Columbia). Last week, McCollum went 11 for 19 in five games while scoring nine runs and stealing …
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First WCL Spotlight Unveiled
Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the first-ever WCL Spotlight, featuring a collection of the League’s most exciting players. “We’ve long been considered the West’s top collegiate summer league,” Neyer said, “but the WCL’s talent and stories just get more impressive every year. So now feels like the right time to give our fans …
Kyle Manzardo Picked to Play in MLB Futures Game
Former Portland Pickle Kyle Manzardo has been selected to play in the 2023 Futures Game in Seattle during this year’s MLB All Star Weekend. The Tampa Bay Rays minor league standout will be headed back to the Pacific Northwest to showcase his talents in this year’s Futures Game. The current Durham Bulls (AAA) superstar is …
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Amundson and Erdman Earn WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Wenatchee AppleSox infielder Easton Amundson (uncommitted) and Bellingham Bells right-hander Jack Erdman (Tennessee Tech). Last week, Amundson knocked out six extra-base hits, including three home runs, while both driving in and scoring 10 …
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2023 WCL Season Begins Tonight
It’s Opening Night in the West Coast League, with all 16 teams in action this evening across Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. “It’s both exciting and humbling to be entering my fifth season with this tremendous league,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “When I think about how hard everyone’s worked to build the West Coast League, …
McLain Set for MLB Debut
The first winner of the West Coast League’s Top Prospect Award has arrived in the big leagues. Matt McLain, tabbed in 2018 as the inaugural Top Prospect after his month-long stint with the Bellingham Bells, is set to make his Major League debut Monday night with the Cincinnati Reds, playing shortstop and batting second against …
Ramirez Primed to Lead the Lefties
If you believe in destiny, or something like it – that everything happens for a reason – you might guess that Carlos Ramirez was destined to coach Matt Acker’s Port Angeles Lefties. Or if not the Lefties, another team associated with Acker. “We met in Hawai’i,” Acker said, “when I started working baseball camps. One …
New Pace of Play Rules and Umpiring Staff Announced
Tuesday, the West Coast League and Supervisor of Umpires John White announced the League’s U.S.-based umpiring crews, and also instituted new NCAA-inspired rules designed to enhance the WCL’s pace of play. “As we embrace the baseball-wide movement to create a faster-paced, more entertaining game for our fans,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer, “we’re blessed with a …
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MLB Opening Day Rosters Feature 41 Alumni
This year, a record 41 players with West Coast League experience have earned spots on Major League Baseball Opening Day rosters. This marks the third consecutive season with the WCL setting a new record for alumni on Opening Day rosters. Former WCL players gearing up to start the season in the big leagues include 2020 …
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20 WCL Alumni Named to WBC Rosters
The 2023 World Baseball Classic will feature 20 former West Coast League players, representing eight of the 20 teams participating in the tournament that begins on March 7. “As an international league from our very beginning,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “we’re particularly passionate about baseball’s ability to transcend borders, and we’re thrilled to see …
Executives Gather for Annual Winter Meetings
Last weekend in Portland, the West Coast League’s board of directors and general managers gathered, both in person and via teleconference, for the League’s annual winter meetings. The event kicked off Friday night, when Commissioner Rob Neyer presented Nova Newcomer with the West Coast League’s annual Grass Roots Award, just before Seattle Mariners pitching coach …
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WCL Unveils 2023 Schedule
Last week in Southern California, the West Coast League’s board of directors met to review a tremendously successful 2022 season, approve the League’s 2023 schedule, and reach consensus on a number of other matters. “No doubt, these last few seasons have been challenging,” said WCL Commissioner Rob Neyer, “with the pandemic wiping out our 2020 …
298 WCL Alumni Active in Affiliated Baseball
In 2022, 299 alumni of West Coast League teams were active in affiliated professional baseball. A number of WCL alumni had impressive MLB seasons, such as 2022 National League All-Star Tyler Anderson (Corvallis Knights, 2009). Other notable WCL alumni include former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber (Cowlitz, 2014), along with rookie stars Adley Rutschman …
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Umpiring Prospect of the Year and Official Scorer of the Year Honored
Thursday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the inaugural winners of two league awards: Umpiring Prospect of the Year, and Official Scorer of the Year. The WCL’s 2022 Umpiring Prospect of the Year is Nick Hudlow. A Portland native, Hudlow graduated from the famous Wendelstedt Umpire School last winter, then opened the West Coast …
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WCL and MLB Announce Partnership
This week the West Coast League and Major League Baseball announced an agreement to jointly pursue initiatives of mutual interest, including player and coach development, technology innovation related to scouting and fan experience, and community engagement. “We continue to be impressed by Major League Baseball’s enthusiastic support of amateur baseball,” said West Coast League Commissioner …
WCL Unveils Additional Postseason Award Honorees
Friday morning, the winners of the West Coast League’s Top Prospect, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year, and Team Sportsmanship Award were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. The Bend Elks’ (and incoming Oklahoma State freshman) Beau Sylvester earned the league’s Top Prospect Award. This summer the catcher and Hawaii native …
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All-WCL Teams Announced
Thursday morning, the 2022 All-West Coast League teams were announced by West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer. “It’s a true pleasure to watch the West Coast League’s tremendous players all summer,” Neyer said, “and I certainly don’t envy our coaches who somehow winnowed down all that talent to just the players on these all-league teams.” …
WCL Co-MVPs and Pitcher of the Year Unveiled
Wednesday, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced the winners of the League’s top two individual awards: Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year. This year Wenatchee AppleSox second baseman Joichiro Oyama (UC Irvine) and Ridgefield Raptors outfielder/catcher Jacob Sharp (UNLV) were selected by WCL coaches and executives as co-MVPs. Oyama played in all …
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Corvallis Captures Sixth Straight WCL Title
The Corvallis Knights’ historic run – already among the most impressive in modern amateur sports – became even more impressive Monday night when the Knights, with more than 2,000 fans on hand, captured their sixth straight West Coast League championship with a 5-0 victory over the visiting Bellingham Bells. The Knights’ championship is also their …
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Bells and Knights to Meet Monday in WCL Championship Game
Monday night, the Corvallis Knights will host the Bellingham Bells in the West Coast League’s first-ever Championship Game. The Knights, winners of the last five WCL championships, reached the title game by taking two of three games from Yakima Valley in their divisional series, then topping the Ridgefield Raptors in the South Division championship game. …
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Four Teams Advance to Saturday’s Divisional Championship Clashes
The pairings are now set for the Divisional Championship matchups, with the two showdowns set to take place on Saturday. Now that the best-of-three divisional playoffs are wrapped up, both the division and league championships will consist of just one game. In the South, the Ridgefield Raptors are on a collision course with the Corvallis …
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Playoff Pairings Set, Postseason Begins Tuesday
Tuesday night in four locations ranging from British Columbia’s Vancouver Island to Central Washington to the Greater Portland area, the West Coast League’s playoffs are set to kick off in unprecedented fashion. For the first time in League history, eight teams qualified for the postseason, following a regular season in which the last two playoff …
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Walker and Taylor Receive WCL’s Moss Adams Weekly Honors
The West Coast League’s Moss Adams Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week, as announced by Commissioner Rob Neyer, are Victoria HarbourCats standouts Josh Walker (Sacramento State) and Nick Taylor (Edmonds CC). Both Walker and Taylor played crucial roles in the HarbourCats’ playoffs push, which culminated with a victory in a winner-take-all showdown …
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Playoff Chase Enters Final Weekend
With each day this week, we gained another shred of clarity in the West Coast League postseason picture. But with only three days left, there’s still a great deal in question. For the first time in West Coast League history, this summer eight teams will qualify for the postseason. By virtue of their first-half titles, …
Postseason Race Sprints Towards Final Stretch
*Note the playoff bracket included with the story is if the season ended before the games on 8/2 are played. Monday night, the West Coast League’s playoff picture became a bit more clear when the visiting Kamloops NorthPaws topped the Kelowna Falcons in a makeup game. For the first time in West Coast League history, …
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WCL Playoff Picture Comes Into Focus
Last winter, the West Coast League’s board of directors approved a new postseason format designed to do two things: (1) increase the number of postseason teams, in part to reflect the jump in league members from 12 to 16, and (2) inject even more excitement into the second half of the season, not to mention …
30 WCL Alumni Selected in 2022 MLB Draft
Earlier this week, 30 current and former West Coast League players were selected in Major League Baseball’s annual amateur Draft. With both Brooks Lee (Corvallis Knights, No. 8) and Gabriel Hughes (Bellingham Bells, No. 10) among the first 10 overall picks, 2022 marks the sixth straight year with at least one former WCL standout drafted …
11 Former WCL Players Selected on Day Two of MLB Draft
With the selection of 11 players on Monday, 14 WCL alumni have now been taken in the first 10 rounds of this year’s MLB Draft. Three former WCL players were picked on the Draft’s first day, with both Brooks Lee (Corvallis Knights, No. 8) and Gabriel Hughes (Bellingham Bells, No. 10) among the first 10 …
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Lee and Hughes Selected as Top 10 Picks in 2022 MLB Draft
Sunday, former West Coast League standouts Brooks Lee (Cal Poly) and Gabriel Hughes (Gonzaga) both were among the first 10 picks in the 2022 MLB Draft. The Minnesota Twins selected Lee eighth overall, and just moments later the Colorado Rockies chose Hughes 10th. This marks the sixth straight year featuring at least one former WCL …
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Heimueller Brings Lifetime of Baseball Experience to Nanaimo
By Rob Neyer How often do we reduce, in our minds, a baseball life to a line or two in Baseball-Reference.com or one of those old doorstop encyclopedias? In 1983, Gorman Heimueller started 14 games for the Oakland Athletics, all in the second half of the season. He won three of those, and lost five. …
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Golden Tate Impresses in WCL Debut
Golden Tate hit the ground running Tuesday night in his first game playing in the West Coast League for the Port Angeles Lefties, as the former Pro Bowl wide receiver went 2-for-4 in his debut. Tate had a double, single, stolen base, drove in a run, and scored a run in the Lefties’ 5-2 win …
WCL’s Lefties Sign Ex-NFL Wide Receiver Golden Tate
Today the West Coast League’s Port Angeles Lefties announced that ex-NFL wide receiver Golden Tate has signed as a Lefties player for the remainder of the 2022 season. While Jake Locker and Jordan Poyer both played for WCL teams before their NFL careers, Tate will become the first former NFL player in the league. “I …
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Official League Offering Limited Edition WCL Hat Collection
Official League, a new lifestyle apparel brand exclusively for passionate fans, yesterday announced a new limited-edition hat collection celebrating Opening Day for the West Coast League, the West’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Official League has created brand-new, exclusive hat designs for the Bend Elks, Corvallis Knights, Portland Pickles, and Wenatchee AppleSox, with all four …
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2022 WCL Season Opens Tonight
It’s Opening Night in the West Coast League, with four games slated for this evening in Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. And in just three days, 16 WCL teams are set for an action-packed weekend. “I’ve got exactly zero doubt,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer, “that this season will be our League’s best yet. We’ll have …
West Coast League Goes Even Bigger With Tech
In recent seasons, the West Coast League has become the tech-friendliest and -savviest summer collegiate league, establishing partnerships with high-profile, industry-leading companies like TrackMan, Synergy Sports, and Driveline Baseball. As notable and productive as those partnerships have been, though, in 2022 the WCL’s technology partnerships have shifted into hyperdrive, with unprecedented coverage that will include …
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#1 MLB Prospect Adley Rutschman Joins Orioles
The West Coast League’s highest-ranked prospect has been called up to the big leagues. Adley Rutschman, the sport’s top prospect according to MLB.com, has been promoted by the Baltimore Orioles and is set to make his MLB debut (Friday night, the Orioles posted video of Rutschman getting the good news). In 2019, Rutschman became the …
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