It was a sad year for the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), and the rest of the sports world, as COVID-19 forced the association to cancel the season.
But the ALPB announced yesterday its teams may begin offering 2021 Championship Season contracts to new and returning players on Monday, February 1, and may begin announcing player signings at any point that day or after.
The news is an encouraging sign, as Atlantic League officials said the league is confident it will play a Championship Season as it begins to put together the 2021 schedule.
“With the return of Atlantic League baseball getting closer, it is time to enable team managers and coaches to build their rosters to again ensure the highly competitive level of play that fans have come to expect in the Atlantic League for more than two decades,” Atlantic League President Rick White said in a press release.
White added that the newly designated MLB Professional Partner Atlantic League continues to draft its 2021 season and will release more information on it and the league’s COVID-19 safety protocols shortly.
The ALPB currently has six teams in the association, including the Long Island Ducks (NY), Lancaster Barnstormers (PA), York Revolution (PA), High Point Rockers (NC), Gastonia Honey Hunters (NC), and Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
— Jerry Del Priore
