Appalachian League

Reorganized in 2021 as a collegiate summer wood-bat league (with roots dating back to 1911 as a minor league), the Appalachian League is a partnership between MLB and USA Baseball as part of the Prospect Development Pipeline. It features 10 teams across Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky, divided into East and West divisions. The season runs 48 games from early June to early August, followed by playoffs culminating in a championship (Bluefield Ridge Runners won in 2025). The league emphasizes amateur player development for high school graduates and college freshmen/sophomores, MLB scouting, and community engagement, with dozens drafted annually (e.g., 28 in 2025). It operates as a non-profit with MLB funding, focusing on underserved Appalachian regions.