For the hot-shot high school senior shortstop or the four-year pitcher at an SEC or Big Ten school, getting drafted by a Major League Baseball team isn’t much of a problem.
For everyone else, there is the Palm Springs Power.
“This is the new path for the non-high level prospect to get into professional baseball,” said Andrew Starke, the founder of the Palm Springs Power, which begins its 22nd season of play Friday at Palm Springs Stadium.
The Power season will run through July 17, providing both a chance for players to impress scouts and a chance for desert baseball fans to watch college-level games.
“We get college players that are good quality from quality programs and they come out and play for us,” Starke said. “What is transitioning is we are trying to get more older players, players who are in their senior year of college or even just graduated college. Because the objective is to leverage our connections with all the MLB partner league franchises that come out to our California Winter League and try to help them backfill their rosters.”
Signing with a pro team doesn’t necessarily mean signing immediately with an MLB team or one of its minor-league affiliates. Players can also sign with a variety of teams in independent leagues like the Pioneer, Frontier and Atlantic League, Starke said the older players can sign a pro deal at any time during the Power season when they impress a scout, so the Power roster can change almost from day to day.
“Last year our opening day pitcher signed the next day,” Starke said. “So that can be tough, but it is what we are here for.”
The other aspect of Palm Springs Power is having games for hard-core fans and casual fans. Games are played Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
“We are dinner theater, with baseball being the theater,” Starke said, “And it is not just for adults, it is for the entire family. We try to have something for everyone one.”
Palm Springs Power promotional nights
A variety of promotional nights will be held at Power games this year, including theme nights for Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indio, Palm Desert and La Quinta. Opening night will feature post-game fireworks, and the team will has its traditional Fourth of July fireworks display.
There will also be a bounce house for children, $3 beer nights on Tuesdays and $6 margarita nights on Wednesdays. Saturdays are Kids Days at the stadium, with all children ages 12 and under receiving free admission to the ballgame.
There is also a competitive component to the Power season, as the team competes in the California Premier Collegiate League. The Power has won the CPCL the last three years and will be looking for their first four-year championship streak in any of the leagues the team has played in.
How much are Palm Springs Power tickets?
General admission tickets are $10, with senior tickets at $8 and youth tickets for $5. Season tickets are $100. New ticket packages include the $16 Power Ticket, which includes admission, a hot dog, chips, soda, and a commemorative koozie, and the $20 All-American Ticket, which includes admission, a hot dog, chips, and a draft beer of choice.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs Power begins its 22nd season with home opener Friday
Reporting by Larry Bohannan, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
