PLATTSBURGH, NY – The Empire League  announced its newest franchise in the city of Plattsburgh, New York.

The team will be called the Plattsburgh Red Birds. A field manager has not been assigned. The League is excited to join forces with  all the members of the  State University of New York at Plattsburgh.

The Plattsburgh Red Birds  will play out of the  State University of New York at Plattsburgh baseball facility.

The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, also known as SUNY Plattsburgh or Plattsburgh State College is a four-year, public liberal arts college in Plattsburgh, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1889 and opened in 1890. The college is part of the State University of New York system and is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.  The school is also a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.  SUNY Plattsburgh has 6,350 students, of whom 5,822 are undergraduates.

“We couldn’t have found a better place than Plattsburgh for an Empire League Franchise. The school has  worked with the league  in a professional manner that no other city has been able to do and we are happy and proud to bring a new franchise to Plattsburgh. Keeping professional baseball of this level in the North Country is very special to us” – Eddie Gonzalez (CEO/President)

 

Chip Cummings field will be the new home to the Plattsburgh Red Birds and  is looking to host 35 of its 70 games at  this facility.

The Empire League will begin play June 24th, 2017 following the Spring Training Camp and Post Draft Camps.

To be considered or scouted, visit empireproleague.com and fill out Player Acceptance Form.

“Expansion and growth are the key words being used in the Empire League. We want to continue improving as a league, and as the top opportunity provider for players entering the Professional baseball ranks at the independent level” –  CEO Eddie Gonzalez.

The Empire League would like to recognize and congratulate the Award Winners for this years Empire League Season!  Players were strictly chosen by leaders in statistics per eligible games played.

OFFENSIVE MVP AWARD WINNER

Javier Marticorena

.425 AVG (71 for 167), 6HR, 51 RBI’s, 29SB,  17 (2B), 3 (3B)

matt joyce slugger AWARD WINNER

joshua wong

LEAGUE LEADING   9 HR,  17 (2B), 46 RBI’s

defensive gold glove AWARD WINNER

chris allen

54 GP , 348 Put Outs, 48 Assists, 3 Errors

pitcher of the year AWARD WINNER

harrison lee

(6-1) Record,  9 GS,  1 Shutout, 54IP, 51 SO,  3.50 ERA

Matt Joyce becomes new Owner in the Empire League.
MLB Star Matt Joyce who has been a mentor, and supporting ambassador of the Empire Professional Baseball League has decided to join ownership group. After seeing how special and rewarding it is to actually give back to the great game we love, Matt Joyce decided he wants in. Understanding that Rookie to A level independent professional baseball leagues do NOT make money, Mr Joyce simply wants to add to the great service that CEO Eddie Gonzalez provides.

“Investing in the league and helping it become better, grow stronger and be able to provide a dream opportunity to many players its truly what its all about.” said Joyce.

“Just because im involved doesnt mean players make more money or the league has high funding. We still rely on sponsors and advertising to fund our operations, but I bring a new level of networks at the Major League level to help bring in better sponsors and advertising partners to help execute a good league. I also bring my direct scouting and MLB recruiting networks to make the Empire league an elite developmental program that will also have players ready to play affiliated ball.” said Matt Joyce.
“The Empire League may always be a low budget league” said Eddie Gonzalez, “but with extremely high value. Players on this league should be nothing but grateful and appreciate the opportunity we provide to play ball at a pro considered level. If not they would be back at home doing nothing. Our League is not a League to make a living, its simply that last resort chance to show MLB that they truly belong.”
MLB and High level leagues are where playes go to make a living, not the Empire league. We give a player everything they need from housing, nightly meals, a monthly stipend for extra meals and living, but most importantly a place to play. If a player wants to make money they need to do good in our league or they should have been good enough to be drafted by a MLB team.
We are excited to have Matt Joyce’s professionalism and expertise in the Empire League Organization.

The Empire Professional Baseball League took a 3 week trip to Italy to compete against Italian Baseball with the mission of promoting baseball in Italy.

Italian Baseball welcomed the Empire League All Star Selected players  in Rome, Italy to start off the trip where the team visited the beautiful historical sites of Rome before taking a flight to Catania, Sicily to begin the competition.

The American team visited Bronte, Sicily where they began the day giving a clinic with local Italian young ball players teaching what Italian players want to learn in what they refer to as  “American Baseball”.  The team spent 3 days in Catania visiting its beautiful beaches and doing what they love which is playing baseball.

The team then took a overnight boat to the northern Italian island of Sardegna, Italy where the team enjoyed 4 days in the beautiful Alghero beaches while getting to compete in 4 games versus the Italian Baseball teams of Sardegna. The team also spent several hours teaching and mentoring and promoting the game with young children who have been waiting for the day they got to step foot on a baseball field.

During this adventure, Mark McCouch and Steven Rodriguez led the way offensively helping the team to its 5th and  6th victories. The team was able to visit the Italian -American base while being there as they were able to bring the troops  an Italian versus American exhibition game for next year.

The team headed back to Rome after its days of baseball, beautiful beaches, historic sights and adventures around the islands of Italy as they closed the trip  back in south of Rome in a small city of Nettuno where The Nettuno  Italian Baseball Club started back in 1945 currently plays. Nettuno is home to one of the 4 Italian Top level baseball teams  and home to the Sicilian-American Cemetery  in which explains how American Troops started baseball in Italy back in 1944.

The team finished its trip winning two games against the local team and were able to experience two nights in the sights of Rome before  returning home to the United States not only as better baseball players and mentors but also as people and students of the game.

The League would like to thank all of those who participated in the promotion of this great American game we love in the international country of Italy as well as all of those Italian Baseball fanatics who participated in all of the Empire League events.