The staff at Beimel Elite Athletics have been through the grind of enduring long bus trips, getaway days in economy hotels, and the soreness that comes with playing every day. Such is the life of a professional baseball player. And the years of experience through the independent and affiliated ranks connects Beimel Elite Athletics to the vast network of professional baseball teams, managers, coaches, talent evaluators and scouts.
Some relationships are so strong that players enrolled at Beimel Elite Athletics have signed pro contracts sight unseen without ever having tried out for the organization. The metrics gathered inside the facility coupled with a strong recommendation seal the deal. And you could be the next success story.
Who is this Service For?
Young players who are done playing college but were overlooked by professional baseball.Â
Players who feel stuck with their current professional team and want to take the next step towards the MLB.
Players who want to get back to the Major Leagues after being sidelined by injury or missing time for any reason.
How Does It Work?
Every player’s situation is different, so the service you need will be unique to you and your particular needs. If you’re a young player that has exhausted college eligibility, then your best bet is to enroll at Beimel Elite Athletics to grind for gains through the off-season while collecting data. Your work ethic will speak for itself as your numbers increase, and the data doesn’t lie. You’ll be able to compare your metrics to the pros to prove that you belong.
Or you could be a former Major Leaguer looking to break back into the spotlight. Perhaps you’re looking to use our technology for a few days in order to relay the readings to Major League teams via your agent, or you might need an elite training facility to get back in shape.
No matter your needs, we’re here to assist you. Simply call or email to get started.Â
Pro Baseball Explained
Major League Baseball is relinquishing control of the minor league system. In 2020, the MLB dropped affiliation with over 40 minor league teams, and many of those minor league teams became independent.Â
So, there are two types of professional minor league systems — Independent and Affiliated — but both can get you to the Major Leagues.Â
Independent leagues consist of teams that stand as individual businesses. These teams are not funded by a Major League Organization, so the team is responsible for signing its own players. An Indy Ball team does not enjoy an affiliation with an MLB organization, but that can be advantageous to the player. Any MLB Team can purchase your contract from the Indy Ball team. They’ll place you in their system and suddenly you have a straight shot to the Major Leagues.Â
Affiliated minor league teams enjoy direct affiliations with Major League Organizations. This means they have money, but they do not have autonomy. The Major League Organization’s scouts, talent evaluators and executives instruct the minor league team on which players to use and how to use them. This gives you a straight shot to the Major Leagues, but you can be “blocked” by current Major League talent. For example, it’s very difficult to get called up by the Yankees because they purchase a roster of MLB all-stars.Â
If you haven’t already been drafted and have not already played at a high level in an affiliated system (up to Triple-A or the Major Leagues), then you’ll likely have to begin your journey in the Independent League ranks.
But breaking into any level of professional baseball can be very difficult.Â
Avoid Costly Open Tryouts
Indy ball teams are usually rostered by experienced professional baseball players. Many of them have been drafted and have played some level of affiliated baseball, and so breaking into the indy ball system can be near impossible if you haven’t been drafted.Â
You could attend costly open casting calls with hundreds of other players, like the annual Frontier League Tryout. You’ll be quickly brought through drills, ground balls, throws, BP, bullpens, and live at-bats (if you make the day’s cut). But you’ll find very little time to make an impression and you’ll likely go home frustrated.
It’s better to prove your mettle at Beimel Elite Athletics. We know exactly what it takes to play at all levels of professional baseball, and our coaches and trainers will tailor a workout program to address your needs. Grind through an off-season, make gains, gather readings and show off your skill through live at-bats with Major Leaguers.Â
Exposure to our staff over a long period of time can help us recommend you to the right league. It’ll give you a much better shot that an open tryout.
The Indy Ball Ranks
The affiliated system boast the familiar Rookie Ball, Single-A, Double-A and Triple-A ranks, but the Indy Ball System is a little bit less formal. Here’s a guide to ranking the different leagues from the best to the bottom of pro baseball.
The Atlantic League is the strongest independent league in the country. Featuring eight teams on the mid-Atlantic Coast, this league has sent players straight to the Big Leagues. Some consider the league to be Triple-A competition, but for our purposes we’ll call if Double-A-and-a-half.
The American Association spans up from Winnipeg to the Dallas area up the middle of the country. With a handful of teams centered around Chicago, this league can be ranked Double-A. It features veteran hitters, experienced pitchers and a few ex-MLB players.Â
The Frontier League is the third Indy Ball system with a close relationship with the Major Leagues. It’s massive league spanning from the midwest to the northeast and into Canada. There’s an age limit in this league, so it features less experienced players to give a Single-A designation.Â
The Pioneer League was an affiliated system prior to 2020, but now it is an indy league throughout Montana, Idaho, Utah and Colorado. This high-elevation league is known for high ERAs and home runs, and it features a cap on pro experience. You cannot play in the Pioneer League if you’ve had more than three years of pro experience to give this league a Rookie Level designation.
There are four indy ball feeder leagues — the Pecos League, The Mavericks League, The United SHores of Professional Baseball, and the Empire League — but they aren’t paid and don’t qualify for professional baseball. But what these leagues do offer is exposure because you can always climb the ranks. You could start in a feeder league to move onto the Pioneer League, the Frontier League, the American Association, the Atlantic League and then finally get bought out by an affiliate on your way to the MLB.
