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Black Bears part of new MLB league

GRANVILLE — The West Virginia Black Bears announced Monday that they are one of the five teams selected by Major League Baseball to be a founding member of the new “Major League Baseball Draft League.”

This new league will be sanctioned by MLB and operated by Prep Baseball Report (PBR), one of the country’s biggest and most respected amateur scouting services. Each season, the Black Bears’ roster will be filled from draft-eligible collegiate players projected as premium selections in that year’s MLB Draft, ensuring Black Bears fans will continue to enjoy high-quality baseball action to go along with the team’s popular fan-friendly, fun ballpark experience.

The MLB Draft League is scheduled to have a 68-game schedule with an annual All-Star Break centered around the MLB Draft, which is now scheduled for July. Joining West Virginia as founding members in the league are the Williamsport Crosscutters, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, the Trenton Thunder and the State College Spikes. MLB has plans to add a sixth team to the league before play in 2021.

MLB Draft League participants will receive unprecedented visibility to MLB Club scouts through both in-person observation and state-of-the-art scouting technology, and educational programming designed to prepare them for careers as professional athletes. PBR will provide support for the league’s staffing, player and coach recruitment, on-field operations, and administrative functions. PBR will also use their media and technology platforms to promote the league and its players throughout the season.

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