The State College Spikes are back. 5 things to know about the 2nd MLB Draft League season
The MLB Draft League will begin its second season of play on Thursday.
Each team will host a number of players that are eligible to be selected in the 2022 MLB First-Year Player Draft — including high school graduates, college players, residents of, or players that have attended school in the United States, Canada, or a U.S. territory, junior college players, players at four-year schools that are 21 years old or after their third season at the program and those who haven’t signed an MLB or minor league contract.
Last season, the State College Spikes hosted former State College Area High School standouts Kevin Karstetter (Houston) and Mason Mellott (Penn State). Former Pirates player Delwyn Young was the manager during the 2021 season. The Spikes had a great deal of diversity on the team and were just a portion of the league effort to diversify baseball. Pitchers Chase Watkins and Andrew Moore, along with infielder Damiano Palmegiani and catcher Kenny Piper, were the Spikes’ four draftees in 2021.
The Trenton Thunder won the inaugural championship last year.
The Spikes will begin their home schedule at 6:35 p.m. Friday at Medler Field at Lubrano Park in a matchup with the Williamsport Crosscutters. Penn State football quarterback Sean Clifford will be part of the festivities for opening night, with more information available at statecollegespikes.com.
Here are five things to know about the second year of the MLB Draft League:
Big League experience makes its way to MLB Draft League
Homer Bush (Mahoning Valley Scrappers), Jedd Gyorko (West Virginia Black Bears), Jesse Litsch (Williamsport Crosscutters), Jeff Manto (Trenton Thunder), Joe Oliver (Frederick Keys) and Dave Trembley (State College Spikes) will all be manning the dugout for their respective teams this season. Each has Major League experience, either as a player or as a manager.
Trembley managed the Orioles from 2007-2010 and coached in the MLB until 2014.
Extra-inning games will be ‘sudden death’
The home team manager will choose to play offense or defense prior to the game if there is an extra-inning game. If the game is tied after nine innings, the teams will play an extra half-inning to determine a winner. The offensive team wins if they score a run and the defense wins if they stop the offense from scoring.
First-ever championship game
The first (June 2-July 16) and second half (July 22-Sept. 6) champions will meet in the MLB Draft League Championship Game on Sept. 6 and will be hosted by the winner of the first half of the season. If the same club wins both halves of the season, the second-place finisher of the second half of the season will play in the championship game.
Seven-inning games
Tuesday games from June 2-July 16 will be seven-inning matchups, except for home openers. From July 22-Sept. 6, Tuesday games will be nine innings.
Teams can now substitute at will
Professional baseball only allows teams to substitute players, but they are not allowed to return to the field of play. This season, the MLB Draft League will allow teams to have “free substitutions,” allowing a player to return to the field after being subbed out.
