ATLANTIC LEAGUE PRODUCES MOST TALENT FOR MLB ORGANIZATIONS, BUT NORTHERN TOPS IN BIGS

Ever wonder about the lead sources for the talent that is going into major league organizations from Independent leagues? We decided to check it out from the master roster we try to maintain for the Independent Baseball Insider.

The answers were pretty predictable with the league that caters to more veteran professionals than any other, the Atlantic League, at the top and the circuit that concentrates almost exclusively on the younger guys, the Frontier, as No. 2. It should be known if someone has played in multiple Independent leagues he is counted multiple times, which swells the actual tally of about 200 players. We also decided to throw out players who signed with—or trained with—Indy teams, but did not actually play any games.

While fearing the telephone will start ringing with minor adjustments because of some late signing or release, these are the counts the Insider has:

League No.
Atlantic 65
Frontier 40
American Association 34
Northern 28
Golden 25
Can-Am 15
United 5
Continental 3

Several leagues no longer active also showed up: South Coast 3, Central 2, Western 2, Northeast 1, Heartland 1. The Northern League edges the Atlantic, five players to four, with the most active major leaguers.

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