2025 MWBL OPENING DAY
WELCOME TO THE TWENTY-NINTH ANNUAL
MID-WEST BASEBALL LEAGUE OPENING DAY!
2025 MWBL Season Opens: A New Chapter Begins!
The Mid-West Baseball League (MWBL) proudly launches its 29th season, a testament to the enduring passion for simulated baseball excellence. Opening Day marks the continuation of a cherished tradition, as the league embarks on another year of thrilling competition.
From its humble beginnings with six founding franchises from the Iowa Baseball Confederacy, the MWBL has flourished, now boasting a robust 28 teams. This growth solidifies its reputation as a premier APBA Baseball for Windows league. As we enter the 2025 season, we acknowledge and appreciate the countless individuals who have contributed to the MWBL’s rich history.
The defending 2024 World Series Champions, the Chicago Mobsters, will begin their title defense on the road. Fans eager to celebrate their championship will have to wait until Week 2, when the Mobsters host the Dallas Cougars, for the highly anticipated World Series ring ceremony. Meanwhile, the National League’s Tempe Tempers, runners-up in last year’s series, also start their season away, facing the Columbus Explorers.
This season, the MWBL continues its commitment to honoring national pride. Pre-game ceremonies across the league will feature renditions of the American and Canadian National Anthems, performed instrumentally by the talented Billy Reedy. The Mexican National Anthem will be sourced digitally. We encourage fans to engage with the pre-game experience by clicking on the respective flag icons to listen to the anthems.
As we celebrate the 29th year of the MWBL, we extend our best wishes to all teams. May this season be filled with exciting matchups, strategic brilliance, and unforgettable moments.
Let the 2025 MWBL season begin! Play Ball!
2025 DRAFT – FIRST ROUND – DEEP DIVE – TAKE A LISTEN
The 2025 MWBL Draft was a thrilling showcase of emerging talent, with each team strategically selecting players to bolster their future rosters. The first round, featuring picks #1-28, was particularly noteworthy for its depth and potential impact on the Mid-West Baseball League.
Leading the draft, the top pick was a versatile infielder with a keen eye for the ball, projected to make an immediate impact with his defensive prowess and consistent batting. Following closely, the second pick was a standout pitcher known for his blazing fastball and sharp curve, expected to become a cornerstone for his team’s rotation.
As the draft progressed, teams focused on filling specific needs. Several clubs opted for power hitters, aiming to boost their offensive capabilities, while others prioritized speed and agility, selecting players who could excel on the bases and in the outfield.
Scouting reports highlighted the exceptional athleticism and potential of these young athletes. Analysts predict that many of these first-round picks will quickly ascend to key roles within their teams, shaping the competitive landscape of the MWBL for years to come. With a mix of raw talent and strategic foresight, the 2025 draft promises to be a pivotal moment in the league’s history, setting the stage for an exciting future.
2025 MWBL TOP 100 RIGHT NOW
For the second year, the Mid-West Baseball League has put together our “MWBL TOP 100 RIGHT NOW” list.
Who are the 100 best players in MWBL right now? The MLB Network revealed its list through this year’s MLB’s Top 100 Players Right Now series and thus the Mid-West Baseball League Picked up on this & decided to make it “Futures Like”.
The formula used for the “MWBL TOP 100 RIGHT NOW” list is based on a 100-point system. The Top Rated Player, according to mlb.com receives 100 points, the second-rated player receives 99 points, and this continues until the #100th Rated Player, who receives 1 point.
Each MWBL franchise will then have the points totaled for their prospects, which gives us an overall number and produces our “MWBL TOP 100 RIGHT NOW” list. Here is the much-anticipated list for “MWBL TOP 100 RIGHT NOW”.
2025 TOP 100 PLAYERS & POINTS RIGHT NOW
2025 TOP 100 PLAYERS & TOTAL TEAM POINTS RIGHT NOW
2025 TOP 100 TEAM & DIVISION YEARLY RANKING RIGHT NOW
2025 FUTURES
Again this year the Mid-West Baseball League is supporting MLB Pipelines Top 100 Prospects. Former MWBL owner of the Iron City Yinzers Jonathan Mayo, along with his colleague Jim Callis – bring us the 2025 MWBL FUTURES.
Thanks, Jonathan & Jim, you guys do a great job at mlb.com & the Mid-West Baseball League is once again proud to have called one of you our own.
The MWBL always has an eye toward the future, & looks at which MWBL Franchises may have the brightest future ahead of them. The formula used for the “MWBL FUTURES” list is based on a 100-point system. The Top Prospect, according to Jonathan Mayo & Jim Callis of mlb.com receives 100 points, the second-rated prospect receives 99 points, and this continues until the #100th prospect, who receives 1 point.
Each MWBL franchise will then have the points totaled for their prospects, which gives us an overall number and produces our “MWBL FUTURES” list. Here is the much-anticipated list for “MWBL FUTURE”.
MLB Pipeline team compiles the rankings using input from industry sources, including scouts, scouting directors, and other evaluators. The rankings are an aggregate analysis, taking the players’ skill set, upside, proximity to the Majors, and potential immediate impact on their team’s impact.
The list only includes players with rookie status in 2025, meaning players who debuted in ’24 (or earlier) but did not accumulate the service time (45 days on the active roster), at-bats (130), or innings pitched (50) to graduate are eligible again this year. First-year players who fall outside the international pool money rules laid out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement — those who are at least 23 years old and played in international leagues deemed professional — are not eligible. That excludes some older rookies debuting after careers in Japan, Korea, and Cuba.
SETH HERNANDEZ DECLARED FREE AGENT AFTER 2025 MWBL DRAFT
From the MWBL Commissioner’s Office:
The following player has been declared a MWBL Free Agent and will be eligible to be RE-DRAFTED in the 2026 MWBL Draft.
Seth Hernandez,- High School Right Hand Pitcher – Chosen by Titusville Super Sonics with Pick #94 as an Un-Carded Prospect. This put Titusville at 13 Un-Carded, which put them one (1) over the limit.
Titusville Owner Jacob Hornstein (new to the league this year) had 4 open prospect slots and made a last-minute trade moments before the draft, which netted him Stewart, Sal. This only left him with 3 prospect slots which caused the over-draft.
The Penalty for this is not only the loss of Hernandez but will also only be able to carry 11 carded players into the 2026 MWBL Season.
This player was taken off the 2025 MWBL Data Disk, and once again will be eligible to be RE-DRAFTED in the 2026 MWBL Draft.