Frontier League

[EricG]

Could the Frontier League be considered a minor league? It's an independent league mostly located in the midwest. They have a couple teams in the Chicago area (Rockford and Crestwood). I was in Southern Illinois last week and we went to the game. The field is entirely astro turf including the infield "dirt" (just a different color). The game was entertaining. The winning run came from a bases loaded HBP. I am just wondering how good is the talent level. Has anyone made it to the majors yet from this league? How about signed with a minor league affilated team?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Josh Kinney of the Cardinals is a former Frontier league player.

 

There's a team about 15 minutes from where I live. It's at least as low a level as Short Season A, probably worse. Most of the players are too old for them to make it to prospectdom, with the exception of guys like Kinney who can become passable relievers(and also for whom age is a lesser concern).

[jjgman21]

I think they are all college players.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

I think they are all college players.

 

No, because a girl I work with has a boyfriend who was picked up by the Windy City Thunderbolds. He was out of college and was recently released by the Astros' farm system.

 

They might have some college players, but not all.

[jjgman21]

I think they are all college players.

 

No, because a girl I work with has a boyfriend who was picked up by the Windy City Thunderbolds. He was out of college and was recently released by the Astros' farm system.

 

They might have some college players, but not all.

 

I was thinking of the Northwoods league.

[fromthestretch]

Could the Frontier League be considered a minor league? It's an independent league mostly located in the midwest. They have a couple teams in the Chicago area (Rockford and Crestwood). I was in Southern Illinois last week and we went to the game. The field is entirely astro turf including the infield "dirt" (just a different color). The game was entertaining. The winning run came from a bases loaded HBP. I am just wondering how good is the talent level. Has anyone made it to the majors yet from this league? How about signed with a minor league affilated team?

 

I believe it's pretty much the same level of play that the Heartland League was. I doubt too many people are familiar with the now-defunct Heartland League, but judging by your Purdue avatar, you might remember it. It was based out of Lafayette, and the Lafayette Leopards played in that league.

 

It was a short season league, with a lot of players that were in their mid-20s or older. There were also quite a few players just out of college that didn't get drafted.

[noisesquared]

The Frontier League actually has an age limit - 25 or 26, if I remember correctly. I have a cousin who pitched for Windy City after being released from the Cubs organization a few years ago, and went to several games myself. They've got a pretty nice stadium in Crestwood, and the team and league appeared to be pretty well run.

[wekse]

i used to go to evansville otters games all the time when i was living there...they play at Bosse Field (where A League Of Their Own was shot), it's a cool, old stadium...built in 1915.

[rawaction]

I'm in Frontier League country, and having seen the Washington Wild Things several times (I believe they've won 4 straight division titles), I would say the talent level is around Short-season A and low A-ball. There really are quite a few diamonds in the rough in this league that could be ML players some day if they got the chance. At least 5-10 players each year gets signed by a ML team (then into the minors) from this league.

[photoguy9883]

I'm in Frontier League country, and having seen the Washington Wild Things several times (I believe they've won 4 straight division titles), I would say the talent level is around Short-season A and low A-ball. There really are quite a few diamonds in the rough in this league that could be ML players some day if they got the chance. At least 5-10 players each year gets signed by a ML team (then into the minors) from this league.

 

Is Taggert still the manager of the Wild Things? I think that man has won more Frontier League division titles than anyone. I know he won almost ever year he was in Evansville. Why he's never gotten a chance to coach at a higher level I'll never know.

[imb]

Ironically, I spent all morning doing interviews at a tryout hosted by the Devil Rays area scout at a local high school. A lot of current/future independent leaguers in the group.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Here's an article from Baseball America that mentions the Frontier League among a few other leagues. I completely forgot that Danny Almonte was in the Frontier League.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/features/264405.html