2023 MWBL OPENING DAY
Welcome to the TWENTY-SEVENTH Annual Mid-West Baseball League Opening Day!
Opening Day is a big tradition in Baseball & that continues right here in the Mid-West Baseball League. We are now heading into the 27th MWBL Season. Many moons ago six (Franchises) came across on the maiden journey from the Iowa Baseball Confederacy & 18 new franchises were created. The League flourished & today is considered one of the top APBA Baseball for Windows Leagues around. As we kick off the season we’d like to thank everyone who has participated & helped the Mid-West Baseball League on its 26th-year journey. A tip of the hat to all involved including a fly-by from a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Bomber out of Selfridge Airbase in Harrison Township, MI Military Base.
The 2022 Mid-West Baseball League World Series Champions Fremont Cannons won their first (1) World Series Championship in 2022 in a 5-game victory over the Long Beach Dirt Bags of the National League. The Cannons will start at home this year, taking on the Virginia Sluggers and passing out their World Series Rings. Long Beach also starts at home facing the Triple Creek Patriots in National League Action.
This year the Mid-West Baseball League pays homage to the National Anthems in front of a sell-out crowd in many cities across the league & performing the National Anthem this year once again is Billy Reedy, who plays an instrumental version of the American & Canadian National Anthems.
The Mexican National Anthem is a version from the internet.
Please click on each flag to play them.
The 2023 Opening Day marks the Twenty-Seventh Year for the Mid-West Baseball League.
Good Luck to all teams in 2023 & let’s – PLAY BALL!
2023 FUTURES
This Year once again the Mid-West Baseball League will be supporting MLB Pipelines Top 100 Prospects.
Former MWBL owner of the Iron City Yinzers Jonathan Mayo, along with his colleague Jim Callis – will bring us the 2023 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”.
2023 PROSPECTS & POINTS / 2023 TOTAL TEAM POINTS / 2023 DRAFT POINTS
2023 PRE-DRAFT RANKINGS / 2023 YEARLY RANKING
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 teams into account.
The list only includes players with rookie status in 2023, meaning players who debuted in ’22 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 of the international pool money rules laid out in the Collective Bargaining Agreement — that is, 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 places like Japan, Korea, and Cuba.
JACKSON CHOURIO GOES #1 TO THE CHICAGO MOBSTERS
With the first pick in the 2023 Mid-West Baseball League Draft, the Chicago Mobsters select from the Milwaukee Brewers Organization – right-handed-hitting outfielder Jackson Chourio.
Chicago’s management feels there isn’t a prospect in the draft with more upside than Chourio. “He has sky-high potential, a special, special talent, and the Mobsters knew we needed to move up in the draft to get him”, said Mobsters General Manager Stray Corrado. “He’s not the biggest guy, but already has a sturdy frame and actualized some of the anticipated physical projections from last year. His plus game power is more real than a mirage, he has an explosive swing with plenty of torque, even as a teenager”.
Jackson Chourio set the prospect world into a frenzy when he flashed exciting tools and feel to hit to begin the season. He kept hitting, and despite only being 18 years old, he got a promotion to High-A in August, didn’t look lost, and even got a cup of coffee in Double-A in September. He’s athletic with excellent bat speed and currently is a well-above-average runner.
He’s quickly becoming one of the best prospects in the game and is already a Top 15 prospect.
An athletic specimen and five-tool player, advanced beyond his years, with a ceiling so high it lets your imagination run wild!
Once again the Chicago Mobsters Select Jackson Chourio with the #1 Pick in the 2023 Mid-West Baseball League Draft.
2023 DRAFT DAY
The 2023 Mid-West Baseball League Draft is Scheduled for Saturday, February 11th, 2023 at 10:30 AM ET.
The 2023 MWBL Draft Order has now been posted (Including the adjusted lottery Order), – 336 Picks are available in the 12 Rounds.
Again this year will be the start time of 10:45 AM ET to allow the West Coast Franchise Owners a few extra minutes of sleep.
Please be advised that with this start time, the 2023 MWBL Draft will conclude later in the day for the East Coast Contingent, so please adjust your plans accordingly.
2023 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE’S
The Mid-West Baseball League Commissioners Office & Hall of Fame Committee is proud to announce the following five Players & one General Manager has been inducted into the Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame.
Ichiro, _
Beltran, Carlos
Beltre, Adrian
Hernandez, Felix
Sabathia, C.C.
Bill Schindel – General Manager Columbus Explorers
Here is the 2023 Mid-West Baseball League Hall of Fame Voting Results.
These six inductees will make up the 2023 Hall of Fame Class for the Mid-West Baseball League.
