Tabbed as one of the top summer collegiate baseball leagues in the country the South Florida Collegiate Baseball League will begin its 12th season of play Friday, June 3 with most games beginning between 6-7 p.m. Locations of games vary from Palm Beach Gardens down to Fort Lauderdale with most sites being in Palm Beach County with the central hub being Delray Beach. This wood bat summer league serves as an opportunity for the best amateur college baseball players to develop in a competitive environment while getting exposure from Major League Baseball scouts. In the last seven seasons alone, the league has produced 203 MLB draft picks, 25 of which have been called up to the major league.
“It’s truly an honor to be hosting some of the best amateur baseball players in the country here in the SFCBL. The league and Palm Beach County have become one of the most nationally recognized destinations for collegiate players during the summertime,” said SFCBL Commissioner Vince Farfaglia. “Major universities such as Florida State University, the University of Florida, Louisiana State University, and the University of Arkansas annually send their players to the SFCBL to compete in the summertime.”
Besides the benefits that the players receive by playing in the league, local cities and Palm Beach County are reaping the tourism benefits that the league provides during the summer months. Last year, the SFCBL generated over 4,000 room nights and over $3,000,000 in direct visitor spending for the county.
In 2021, the SFCBL hosted over 400 players from 33 different states and six countries making it the largest summer collegiate league in the Southeast.
“The South Florida Collegiate Baseball League creates a valuable tourism impact to The Palm Beaches”, said George Linley, Executive Director of the Palm Beach County Sports Commission. “These collegiate athletes travel from across North America to compete in this league and occupy our hotels for months at a time.”
Many players currently in the professional ranks credit their time in the SFCBL as a pivotal point in their careers including Baltimore Orioles starting center-fielder Cedric Mullins, World Series Champion Josh James, a right-handed pitcher with the Houston Astros, and left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Opening night for the SFCBL will be held on Friday, June 3 at Little Fenway at 6 p.m. in Delray Beach. All games are free of charge with opportunities to win prizes on the field and fans can enjoy the excellent competition in the shaded bleachers.