The Empire League has announced the 2016-2017 Camps in which all roster spots will be made. With how the Empire League works, all players that are looking for an opportunity to play at the professional level must attend one of the Empire Camps for a chance at a contract. But thats not all, The Empire League Camps also bring scouts from higher independent and affiliated  teams. This is your chance at a fair Tryout for a chance to be contracted to professional baseball.

To Register, simply go to the Tryouts link, select your tryout and register. Once registration is complete. You will be contacted by an Empire League representative to confirm.

Reminder: All Empire League contracts will come from one of the camps listed. There will be no contracts signed without attending a Tryout camp.

When the Empire League announces their award winners for 2016, you will hear about a guy named Javier Marticorena. Javy, led the Empire Professional Baseball League in hitting this season being the only player over .400 and almost 30 stolen bases and was selected to participate in the 2016 Empire League All Star Game and Home Run Derby.

Well today, Javy will be headed to Florence, Kentucky to join the Florence Freedom of the Frontier League. A much expected moved as Javy has been a consistent hitter all season long.

“It was just a matter of time for Javy, he’s been a great player and a great kid. He deserves it and it was just one of those times where it took some time for a team to need a guy like Javy. We are happy for him and we expect Javy to continue forward with his career.” – Eddie Gonzalez

Thats correct. The Empire League has teamed up with Italian Baseball and will be having exhibition games in which the Empire League Selected players will take on Italian Professional Baseball teams during a 14 day tour of Italy.

The Team will be coached by Empire Leagues New Hampshire Wild Manager Jerry Gonzalez and Empire League’s Director of Baseball and player personnel Eddie Gonzalez.

With the Empire Season coming to an end, The 2016 Empire League Champions Sullivan Explorers will have several players participating. Hayato Shigeta, Kevin Putkonen, Brian Brademan, Evander Ledward, Steven Rodriguez, Jameson McGrane, Harrison Lee and Taylor Nichols will travel with new teammates Ken Matsuzaka, Gregory Jasek, Ryan Oglesby and Mark McCouch of the New Hampshire Wild as well as Johnny Cole of the Watertown Bucks.

The Empire American team will travel to Italy on September 1 and will have 5-7 exhibition games scheduled all around Italy including Rome.

“Im super excited.  This is a one in a lifetime opportunity for these guys and will be my first time traveling to Italia and what better way to go then to play professional baseball. This is a dream come true and with what the league has in works in Italy, things are going to get exciting in the next year or so. We have a great group of guys going and this will be something we will never forget”  New Hampshire Wild Manager Jerry Gonzalez

The team is to be finalized by August 15th. With most players committed, there are only a few more spots that will be filled before departing to make history in Italy.

Shortly after winning the 2016 Empire League Championship, Gevon Jackson is on his way to the highest level of independent professional baseball.

Jackson will be contracted by the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League. Last year, Ricky Claudio, who also played with the Explorers, moved on to play with Somerset and won an Atlantic League Championship.

Jackson finished his second season with the Empire League and will continue his career at the highest level of baseball. The Empire League made a comment and hopes that Gevon remains at that level or higher affiliated as he deserves it and should be playing at that level.

“I’m so happy for him, he truly deserves it. The guys works his tail off and his talents should be used at the highest level of baseball. Congrats to Gevon and i hope to see him in the show someday” – Kevin Putkonen

Jackson is to report immediately to try and make an impact with the Patriots.

The Empire League 2016 season came to an end when Sullivan Explorers defeated the Watertown Bucks 8-6 in the game 2 of the series. But thats not the only noise the Explorers are making as they are sending Relief Pitcher Paul Perez to the Gary Southshore Railcats of the American Association.

Perez, who pitched very well for the Explorers all season long will replace a player in the team in which the Empire League director Eddie Gonzalez sent to the Railcats early this year. That Pitcher, Cuban star and closer of the WBC Cuban team Diosdany Castillo.

“Pauly was a go to guy for us. He competed day in and day out and there was never a doubt in my mind he would get his job done. He’s one of those guys that a manager dreams of having because he was a competitor on the field and he was constantly trying to get better off the field. His work ethic was contagious and I can’t wait to see where his dedication will take him.” – Kevin Putkonen

Although the Empire League season is over, the league still works hard on continuing to promote players. The league is also putting together an all star team which will be traveling to Italy to face Italian Professional Ball Clubs for 10 days. The League is in works with many partners to make many opportunities for Empire League Players to begin and continue their professional Careers.