Simon Walter, Manager of the Watertown Bucks has started inviting prospects to training camp.

The former assistant coach and 3rd Base coach of the Gary South Shore Rail Cats in the American Association, who had the same position for the Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League brings a tremendous amount of professional experience and knowledge.   Simon looks to put together a Championship roster for the Watertown Bucks.

“I am very excited for the opportunity to manage in Watertown, specially after seeing what the Empire league is truly about.  My direct and personal connections with networks in both the Frontier and American Association which are Elite Pro Leagues will allow me to be another strong benefit to the league. I want to contribute to Baseball Director Eddie Gonzalez and the league in our great mission of keeping players ready to be promoted to the higher level leagues.  We want to continue being the best promoting league that truly gives players the chance to be scouted.” – Simon Walters

Article by Empire League Media

The New Hampshire  Wild professional baseball club of the Empire League have come to terms with Jerry Gonzalez as field manager for the 2016 season.

The Wild  came  to terms with Gonzalez today who brings tremendous knowledge attained from experience as well as the capability to  teach the skills of the game to players in the Empire League.

Gonzalez signed back in 2007 with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in which he hit .325 with 4 Home Runs. He was also a member of the 2007 Pioneer League Champions. He also played in the Puerto Rico Winter Leagues as well as many independent leagues and succeeded. He currently trains and mentors many current Major League players. He is no stranger to professional baseball and looks to continue his passion of teaching the game as it is taught at the highest levels today.

” I am honored that the Empire League could see my vision and passion of teaching the skills of the game. I’ve experienced so much as a player, trainer, mentor, and coach at the professional level that I can honestly say I fit right in with what the Empire League is all about. I’m excited to get on the ball field and look forward to the 2016 New Hampshire Wild Season.” – Jerry Gonzalez

Gonzalez will be attending all tryouts for the Empire League as he looks for coach-able players with potential to succeed not only in the Empire League but in higher levels.

Article by Empire League Media

Alex Markakis, (General Manager of the Old Orchard Beach Surge), agrees to return as General Manager of the Surge for the 2016 season. Re-joining the club as Field Manager is 2015 Manager of the Surge, Skip Nathanson.

Markakis, who is highly recognize for his name and cousin to Major Leaguer Nick Markakis, will enter his second year as GM of the Surge, where he looks to continue his career advancement at the professional baseball front office level.

“I’ve devoted a lot of time to the Old Orchard Beach Surge organization and I am very excited to return to help no only the Empire League with business administration in Old Orchard but also with providing the resources for these players in accordance to the Empire League.” – Alex Markakis

Scott “Skip” Nathanson agreed to a 1-year deal as on field manager of the Old Orchard Beach Surge for the 2016 season. Nate brings a wealth of Baseball knowledge and experience to the Old Orchard Beach Surge of the Empire League.  He has coached at the High School and College levels as well as coached and managed at the Professional level.  Nate has served as Director of Player Personnel with the New York State League and served as an instructor at multiple camps across the country sharing his knowledge with players of all ages.

“I am very excited and thrilled for the opportunity to return for another season as manager of the Surge, I look forward to complying with the new mission and goals of the empire league and player development requirements. I look forward to putting a team together that will compete to win in Old Orchard and to help promote players to higher leagues.” -Skip Nathanson

The Surge look to make their roster during spring training camp which will take place from May 22 – 28, 2016 in Delaware. The season is to begin on June 1, 2016.

Article by Empire League Media

Matthew Snyder joins the Empire Professional Baseball League for his first season as League Director of Business Administration.  Most recently, Snyder served as a Corporate Partnerships Account Executive with the Camden Riversharks of the Atlantic League.  He also served as the Director of Business Operations with the Austin Bruins of the NAHL.  A graduate of Stetson University College of Law, Snyder worked as the Contract Administration Manager with the SEIU-FPSU, where he was responsible for contract negotiations, administration as well as grievance and arbitration representation.  Snyder brings with him extensive experience with the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies of the ECHL, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Lightning and San Antonio Rampage (An affiliate of the Florida Panthers) organizations.  Snyder began his career with the Atlantic City Surf, also of the Atlantic League.

“I am extremely excited to join the Empire Professional Baseball League. The opportunity to help players develop and grow is very rewarding. In addition, bringing family friendly entertainment to the guests in each of our markets is an exciting proposition.

I am honored to be working along side The Empire League officials including Director of Baseball and Business Operations Eddie Gonzalez and I look forward to developing the league’s success.”

The Empire professional baseball League established after the conclusion of the North Country Baseball League, has announced that Eddie Gonzalez will operate as the League’s Director of Baseball and Business Operations. It is a similar role that he had with the North Country Baseball League in which he focused primarily in the signings and promotions of players to and from the league. This role allows him to have rights over all personnel in signing of managers, coaches, players, player promotions and general managers. With almost 40 percent of players promoted out of the North Country Baseball league in 2015 to higher level leagues, The Empire League hopes to continue to be among the best in the country by having a director like Gonzalez helping players achieve their dreams in professional baseball.

“I am blessed to have the opportunity to do something I truly enjoy. Not only in the sport of baseball, but in the independent professional baseball industry. I understand that leagues like this do not profit, but being a part of it is great and very rewarding because no one does this for the money.” – Eddie Gonzalez

Independent professional baseball consists of various levels no different then any affiliated organization. When you have leagues like the Atlantic League or the American Association where stadiums sell out generating millions of dollars annually in revenue, then ownership groups profit. But when you have a lower level league like the Empire League which compares to rookie level affiliated baseball where there is not a lot of money generated, lower attendance at games if any at all, then you’re talking about a league that primarily focuses on really giving players an opportunity to prove themselves at a professional level which opens the door for higher opportunities with higher pay.

“The Empire League will be a very low salary league. Probably just a step above the Pecos League and the Pacific Association when it comes to salaries. But the networks and connections with scouting and higher level leagues will continue to be the same. Our mission is to make this league successful by continuing to help these players because we know that there’s an incredibly high demand for these high level leagues to seek players ready to fill in rosters.” – Eddie Gonzalez

The League originally planned on operating in 2017. But with the high demand by players to play in 2016, league officials are making great efforts on putting together a 2016 campaign to get players playing and ready for higher leagues.

To have a successful 2016 campaign, the league is making tremendous efforts at seeking advertisement and generating revenue through ticket sales and Empire League camps. This is being done for the players who really want to play professional baseball in 2016.

Tryout information will be posted on the Tryouts Link of the Empire League website. In order to be considered for the Empire League, all players must attend a Empire League tryout to be eligible for the Empire Camp in May where the league will make their 4 team (20-man) rosters. For more information on the Empire Camp visit the Empire League Camp information link located on the home page of the Empireproleague.com

Article by Advanced Media of the EL