The Arizona League is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona, United States, run by Major League Baseball since 1988. Along with the Gulf Coast League, it forms the lowest rung of the North American minor league system. Games are not marketed to the general public, and spectators may attend for free.
The Gulf Coast League is a rookie-level Minor League Baseball league that operates in Florida, United States. Together with the Arizona League, it forms the lowest rung on the North American minor-league ladder.
The Gulf Coast League Braves are the rookie-level minor league baseball affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The team plays at CoolToday Park in North Port. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and other countries.
The Arizona League Indians, formerly the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Indians, are a minor league baseball team in Goodyear, Arizona. They are a Rookie-level team in the Arizona League that began play as a Cleveland Indians affiliate in the summer of 2009. The AZL Indians play home games at Goodyear Ballpark.
The Arizona League Dodgers are the rookie level minor league baseball affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were formerly known as the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Dodgers and played in Vero Beach, Florida, at Dodgertown. Dodgertown includes Holman Stadium, which is also the former spring training home to the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. The team was composed mainly of players who were in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents.
The Gulf Coast League Tigers or GCL Tigers are a minor league baseball club located in Lakeland, Florida, at Joker Marchant Stadium. A member of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League, the Tigers are an affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and various other countries.
The Arizona League Reds, formerly the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Reds, are a minor league baseball team in Goodyear, Arizona. They are a Rookie-level team in the Arizona League that begin play as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate in the summer of 2010. The AZL Reds play home games at the Goodyear Ballpark. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and other countries.
Robert Randolph Ellis is a former starting pitcher who played in Major League Baseball between 1996 and 2003. He batted and threw right-handed.
The Gulf Coast League Red Sox are the rookie level Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The team is located in Fort Myers, Florida, and plays its home games at the jetBlue Park in the Fenway South complex. The team played its first four seasons (1989–1992) in Winter Haven, Florida, moved to City of Palms Park in Fort Myers in 1993, and moved to its current facility in 2012.
Vladimir Núñez Zarabaza is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He is currently the pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League Braves of the Gulf Coast League. He played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, and Atlanta Braves.
Johnny Renando Ruffin is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played six seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins. He also played one season in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Kintetsu Buffaloes and one season in the KBO League for the SK Wyverns.
As with nearly all North American professional team sports, the size of Minor League Baseball teams is limited by rosters. These size limits vary by each classification. All Major League Baseball-affiliated Triple-A and Double-A teams are limited to 25-man active rosters. Unaffiliated Mexican League teams have 35-man rosters, but are limited to 30 active players per game. Class A-Advanced and Class A teams are limited to 25 active players with a total of 35 players under control with additional limitations in regard to prior minor league experience. Teams at lower levels have 35-man active rosters with limitations on minor league service time. A team's reserve roster consists of players on the injured list, those who are restricted or suspended, or who are otherwise temporarily inactive. Major league players on rehabilitation assignments do not count against active roster limits.
In Major League Baseball (MLB), spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives established players practice time prior to competitive play. Spring training has always attracted fan attention, drawing crowds who travel to the warm climates of Arizona and Florida to enjoy the weather and watch their favorite teams play, and spring training usually coincides with spring break for many US students.
Ryan Alan Christenson is an American professional baseball former outfielder, minor league manager, and current bench coach for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB).
The Gulf Coast Rays are a minor league baseball team in Port Charlotte, Florida managed by Paul Hoover. They are a Rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League and an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays. The team plays most of their home games on field five of the Charlotte Sports Park complex, and will also play select games in the main stadium.
Jonathan Kent Johnson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six seasons. He played for the Texas Rangers from 1998 to 2001, the San Diego Padres in 2002, and the Houston Astros in 2003.
The Gulf Coast League (GCL) Royals were a minor league baseball franchise in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League from 1971–1978, 1982-1983 and 1985–2002. The club was owned and operated by the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball. The GCL Royals played games at Florida-based minor league and spring training facilities located in Sarasota, Baseball City Stadium in Davenport and Fort Myers (1993–1998).
The Arizona League (AZL) White Sox is a member franchise of the Rookie-level Arizona League in American minor league baseball. The AZL White Sox re-entered the league in 2014 after an 11-year hiatus. They previously played from 1998 through 2002.
Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball (MLB) and provide opportunities for player development and a way to prepare for the major leagues. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses. Most are members of the umbrella organization formally known as National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL), which operates under the Commissioner of Baseball within the scope of organized baseball. Several leagues, known as independent baseball leagues, do not have any official links to Major League Baseball.
Lewis Lamont Brinson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers.