The Arizona Instructional League (AIL), sometimes known informally as "instructs", is an American professional baseball league. Young major league prospects hone their skills in the AIL, while experienced players may go there to rehabilitate from an injury, to learn a new position or to refine a particular skill.
The Arizona Instructional League was established in 1960, with four teams (affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants) playing from October 15 to December 15. [1]
The league, which now plays its games during September and October, serves to develop players who have been drafted by teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). These players are often young prospects in their early careers in Minor League Baseball. An older player may go to "instructs" to hone a particular skill or to learn a new position.
The league is similar to the Florida Instructional League and was used as a more formal minor league during the 1960s and 1970s, prior to the formation of the Arizona League (now the Arizona Complex League).
The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wooden bats, its season runs from June through August. The league is part of Major League Baseball and USA Baseball's Prospect Development Pipeline.
Edward James Zosky is a former professional baseball shortstop. He played in brief parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1991 and 2000, for the Toronto Blue Jays, Florida Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros. He also played in the Baltimore Orioles, San Francisco Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates minor league systems.
Glenn Patrick Sherlock is an American professional baseball coach. He is currently a coach for the New York Mets. He previously was a coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and one of the original coaches for the Arizona Diamondbacks, serving for 19 consecutive seasons (1998–2016). He was the team's longtime bullpen coach, although he spent stints as bench coach (2003), first base coach (2004) and third base coach.
Garth Cale Iorg is a Canadian-born American former professional baseball player. He is the son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) player Garth Iorg and nephew of former MLB player Dane Iorg. Iorg played college baseball for the Alabama Crimson Tide. After his freshman season at Alabama, Iorg put his baseball career on hold to go on a Mormon mission to Lisbon, Portugal. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers shortly before he returned from the mission. Iorg was ranked as the third best prospect in the Tigers organization by Baseball America following the 2008 season.
Louis Glenn Marson is an American former professional baseball catcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians, from 2008 through 2013. Marson also played in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Below are select minor league players and the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles:
Below is a partial list of players in the Boston Red Sox minor league organization. Players individually listed here have not yet played in Major League Baseball (MLB), but have reached an advanced level of achievement or notoriety. Some notable players in the minor leagues may have their own profile pages, such as first-round draft picks. Note that anyone with a past MLB appearance has their own profile page, even if they are currently playing in the minor leagues.
Below are selected minor league players and the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Athletics Major League Baseball team:
Minor league players and teams affiliated with the Washington Nationals professional baseball organization include:
Below are select minor league players, and the rosters of the minor league affiliates, of the San Francisco Giants:
Dustin Michael Ackley is an American former professional baseball second baseman and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees.
Double-A is the second-highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States since 1946, below only Triple-A. There are currently 30 teams classified at the Double-A level, one for each team in Major League Baseball, organized into three leagues: the Eastern League, the Southern League, and the Texas League.
The Babe Ruth League is an international youth baseball and softball league based in Hamilton, New Jersey, US named after George Herman "Babe" Ruth (1895–1948), world famous American professional baseball player from 1914 to 1933. He played beginning at age 19 in his hometown of Baltimore in 1914 at the minor league level of the International League with the legendary Baltimore Orioles, then traded up to the major leagues as first a pitcher to the Boston Red Sox in the American League. Then he went on to his greatest career during the 1920s and 30s as an outfielder / slugger with the previously lack-luster New York Yankees becoming the nicknamed "Sultan of Swat" and transforming them with additional talented players into the feared "Bronx Bombers" for their first of several decades-long dynasties. In his later declining years, he served briefly as player / manager with the old Boston Braves of the competing National League.
The Florida Instructional League (FIL), sometimes known informally as "instructs", is an American professional baseball league. The league was founded in 1958. Young major league prospects hone their skills in the FIL, while experienced players may go there to rehabilitate from an injury, to learn a new position or to refine a particular skill. The league plays its games in September and October.
Cole Bryson Tucker is an American professional baseball shortstop and outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Angels.
Historic Dodgertown is a multi-sport facility in Vero Beach, Florida where athletes of all ages and skill levels have the opportunity to train, play, and stay together. The facility which includes the historic Holman Stadium was originally created as a Navy housing base, and was transformed into the home of spring training for Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, as well as the Vero Beach Dodgers from 1980 to 2006, and the Vero Beach Devil Rays from 2007 to 2008. It has since evolved into a multi-sport destination that includes an option of room and board via their on-site villas.
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5th, 1901 in response to the growing dominance of the National League and American League as the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, shortened to the NAPBL or NA.
Mauricio Andre Dubón is a Honduran professional baseball utility player for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Selected during the 26th round of the 2013 MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox, Dubón made his MLB debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019, and has also played for the San Francisco Giants.
Hunter David Bishop is an American professional baseball center fielder in the San Francisco Giants organization. He played college baseball at Arizona State University. He was selected by the Giants with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.
Nicholas Anthony Yorke is an American professional baseball infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was selected 17th overall by the Boston Red Sox in the 2020 MLB draft and was traded to the Pirates in 2024, making his debut the same year.