THE PBL PROSPECTS PIPELINE

The Pioneer Baseball League, an MLB Professional Partner League, has entered into a partnership with D-BAT, the foremost baseball and softball training facilities, and Rapsodo, a leading data and analytics capture system, to launch an innovative and unique analytics-driven assessment program for players at D-BAT locations across the United States.

The PBL is a player development league, focusing on providing high-level professional baseball opportunities to previously undrafted or drafted and released players with less than 3 years of professional experience.  The PBL conducts pre-season and mid-season in-person tryout camps, as well as intensive scouting by each of its 12 member teams, to sign qualified players. 

THE PBL PROSPECTS PIPELINE is the first-ever remote tryout camp providing potential players with state-of-the-art pitching and hitting skills assessments through the Rapsodo data capture system located at D-BAT locations throughout the country.  Prospective players can now tryout for the PBL at any time of the year at any of our D-BAT partners.  Once a player goes through the skills assessment his data and video are provided to all of the PBL clubs for their review of the data, allowing for a much broader opportunity for young players to demonstrate their abilities to play in the PBL.

WHO:

Players must be at least 18 years old to attend. Players with college eligibility remaining should check with their school before registering. Players should also check the PBL eligibility requirements below (see: Additional Information and Frequently Asked Questions).

WHY:

Utilizing D-BAT partners and Rapsodo technologies, in addition to the PBL’s annual on-site tryout camps, the “PBL PROSPECTS PIPELINE” will redefine the player scouting process across professional baseball. After registering at a local D-BAT, potential players will run through a pitching or hitting tryout, with their data and video then sent directly to the General Managers and Managers of each of the 12 PBL Clubs, who will have the opportunity to choose players for their individual rosters. As a Major League Baseball Professional Partner League with service time restrictions to assure the focus on players with limited pro experience, the Pioneer Baseball League is the principal developmental league feeding young players into higher levels of pro ball.  

Frequently Asked Questions: 

What is the process?

All athletes should get loose with an active warmup.  Hitters will take 3-4 rounds of BP as Rapsodo captures your metrics and video.  Pitchers will throw a bullpen of 20-25 pitches with at least 5 fastballs, as Rapsodo captures your metrics and video as well. 

When is the tryout?

A major focus of the PBL PROSPECTS PIPELINE is to provide an opportunity for players to tryout for the Pioneer League when they’re at their best.  There is not a set date and time to tryout.  Coordinate with one of the participating D-BAT Academies listed above to schedule your tryout. 

How much does it cost?

The tryout costs $150 for both hitters and pitchers.  If you’d like to submit as a two-way player, you must pay for the hitter and pitcher tryout individually.  Payment will be received at the D-BAT Academy. 

Will I get my data and video?

Yes, Rapsodo will send an email to you with your metrics and video. 

Is there an age limit for the Prospects Pipeline?

Players must be at least 18 years old to attend. Players with college eligibility remaining should check with their school before registering. Players should also check the PBL eligibility requirements below. 

PBL Eligibility Rules:

The players on a PBL club’s Active Roster shall have completed no more than two (2) prior years of professional baseball experience (as defined below) as of January 1st in a season's calendar year. For purposes of calculating prior years of professional baseball experience, a year of professional experience is defined as follows:

• POSITION PLAYERS - 30 games played

• STARTING PITCHERS - 7 games started

• PITCHERS - 18 games played

Professional experience includes previous play in all professional leagues, domestic or international, including Complex Leagues, but does not include the MLB Draft League, the United Shore Professional Baseball League, the Mavericks Independent Baseball League, nor leagues in the Caribbean Federation (including the Dominican Summer League and Venezuelan Summer League), the Australian Baseball League or any other leagues that might become “winter ball” leagues. 

Are international players allowed to try out?

Amateur and professional athletes who wish to participate from non-US countries must meet US Immigration requirements on their own. Once players are signed to a contract with a Pioneer Baseball League club, they will be required to possess a P1 visa in order to play professional baseball as a paid player in the United States. 

Who will be evaluating the players?

General Managers and Managers from every Club within the Pioneer League will have access to all player information. 

***PLEASE NOTE***ALL REGISTRATIONS AND PAYMENTS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE. ONCE A PLAYER IS REGISTERED AND PAYMENT IS COMPLETE THERE WILL BE NO REFUNDS OR CREDITS ISSUED FOR ANY FURTHER PBL EVENTS.  UPON COMPLETION OF THE REGISTRATION PROCESS, PARTICIPATING PLAYERS AGREE TO ALL TERMS ABOVE.