View source for Arizona Winter League

{{Short description|Short-season independent winter professional baseball league}}
{{distinguish|Arizona Fall League}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox sports league
| logo     =
| pixels   = 
| caption  =
| sport    = [[Baseball]]
| founded  = 2007
| folded   = 2018
| motto    =
| teams    = 6
| country  = [[United States]]
| champion = Team Canada
}}

The '''Arizona Winter League''' was an independent professional [[Winter league baseball|winter baseball]] league. Arizona Winter League games were all played at [[Desert Sun Stadium]] in [[Yuma, Arizona]]. The league was founded in 2007. It disbanded in 2013 due to parent league, the [[Golden Baseball League]]/[[North American League (baseball)|North American League]], folding, but was restarted in 2016, only to fold again following the 2018 season.

==League format==
The inaugural season consisted of a 21-game regular season, with the first and second-place teams facing off in a one-game playoff for the championship. All teams are based in the Yuma, Arizona area playing all games at Desert Sun Stadium and utilizing the Ray Kroc Complex which used to house the [[San Diego Padres]] and Yakult Swallows [[spring training]] operations. The league is a professional winter league that includes a number of ex-major league stars as managers and instructors including [[Mike Marshall (outfielder)|Mike Marshall]], [[Garry Templeton]], [[Ozzie Virgil Jr.]], [[Les Lancaster]], [[Darrell Evans]], and [[Cory Snyder]], most of whom manage independent league teams in the North American, American Association, and Frontier Leagues or are coaches in the minor league system for big league clubs.

In the first five years, over 225 players have left the AWL with professional contracts. Two pitchers from the 2007 Arizona Winter League, [[Scott Richmond]] and [[Sergio Romo]] have reached the major leagues pitching for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] and [[San Francisco Giants]] respectively in 2008.

===2007: Debut season===
Announced on November 15, 2006, and headquartered in [[Yuma, Arizona|Yuma]], [[Arizona]] by the [[Golden Baseball League]], it is an [[Independent Baseball|independent]] baseball league which consists of ten teams based out of the [[San Diego Padres]] former spring training complex in Yuma.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yumazone.com/Arizona%20Winter%20League.htm|title=Professional Baseball Comes To Yuma In The Winter|date=15 November 2006|website=Yuma Zone}}</ref>

The Arizona Winter League debuted January 19, 2007, with four charter teams: the [[Canada Miners]], [[Yuma Scorpions]], [[Snow Falcons]], and [[Sonora Surf Dawgs]], under GBL team management. These respective teams began using the logos, caps and uniforms of past GBL teams such as the [[San Diego Surf Dawgs]] (Sonora), [[Mesa Miners]] (Canada) and the [[Surprise Fightin' Falcons]] (Snow) with the lone exception of the Scorpions, whose identity is the same as their GBL brethren.<ref>Saxon, Mark - [https://archive.today/20130105113708/http://www.yumasun.com/sports/league_24718___article.html/winter_scorpions.html It's official: Baseball here in January] ''The Yuma Sun'', November 15, 2006</ref>

The league was a surprising source of players for the GBL and major league organizations in its first season as 37 players were signed by independent pro teams and the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox also signed players out of the AWL as well.

===2008 Season===
For the 2008 season, the league added two expansion teams, the [[Blythe Heat]] and [[Palm Springs Chill]], the Sonora Surf Dawgs reverted to the previously-known [[San Diego Surf Dawgs]] and the Snow Falcons were renamed the [[Sonora Pilots]]. The Heat and Chill play their home games at respective California ballparks. In addition, the league expanded beyond its affiliation with the Golden Baseball League and had Can-Am League, Frontier League, Northern League, and American Association teams represented in the instructor ranks and eligible to draft players at the end of the AWL. Over 40 players were drafted and signed by independent, foreign professional, and major league organizations.

===2009 Season: Format Change===
For the 2009 season, the league expanded once again and added two more teams, the [[San Luis Atleticos]] and the [[Saskatchewan Silver Sox]]. In addition, the [[Sonora Pilots]] did not return in 2009 and were replaced by [[Team Canada (baseball)|Team Canada]]. The 2009 AWL started a new format with two divisions:  The International Division had Team Canada, Western Canada, Saskatchewan, and San Luis, while the American Division  comprised Palm Springs, San Diego, Blythe (defending champions), and Yuma. The 20-game season finished up on February 27 and then had a single-elimination semi-final between the top two teams from each Division. A championship game the next night, which is the winter highlight event in Yuma each year and heavily attended, pitted the semi-final winners in a winner-take-all game. A record 47 players were drafted and signed out of the 2009 AWL.

===2010 Season: Record Player Signings and MLB Teams Take Notice===
For the 2010 season, eight teams return once again to the AWL. With the Golden Baseball League's Calgary Vipers replacing the Palm Springs Chill, who were dropped. The league will now feature an American Division consisting of the Yuma Scorpions, Blythe Heat, San Luis Atleticos, and San Diego Surf Dawgs. In addition, a full Canadian Division will feature the Vipers, Team Canada, the Western Canada Miners, and the Saskatchewan Silver Sox. The El Centro Imperials were also dropped.<ref>[http://www.goldenbaseball.com/winter/ArDisplay.aspx?ID=5246&SecID=880 AWL Managers Announced]{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, AWL website, October 23, 2009</ref>

More heavily stocked than ever with pro team instructors and managers who will be signing players, the AWL in 2010 coaches from the Golden Baseball League, the Frontier League, the American Association, the Can-Am League, the Mexican Liga Del Norte, the Northern League, the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers. Recognizable major league alumni working as instructors and player placement consultants include Mike Marshall, Garry Templeton, Cory Snyder, Tim Johnson, Boots Day, Les Lancaster, Brooks Carey, Brent Bowers, Ozzie Virgil and many more. Boston Red Sox scout Nick Belmonte and Detroit Tigers' hitting coordinator Dave Marcon will be running the spring training section of the league the first week.

On December 15 it was announced that Japanese female pitching sensation [[Eri Yoshida]], who became the first female professional pitcher in her home country last summer, will bring her sidearm knuckleball and participate in the 2010 AWL in hopes of attracting the attention of U.S. teams. This should be a tremendous benefit for all the players as the media attention and scout attendance should increase greatly.

On February 10, 2010 the New York Mets signed San Luis Atleticos shortstop Rylan Sandoval at the Arizona Winter League and the following week, the Mexico City Red Devils of the top Mexican League signed Yuma Scorpions catcher Ivan Villaescusa. On February 27, the Calgary Vipers became the first team in history to win both the Golden Baseball League Championship and the Arizona Winter League Championship by beating San Luis, 8-1, in the championship game shortened to eight innings by rain. More impressive is that the team did this within one year.

A record number of 59 players were signed to contracts (not just invited to spring training) by 18 teams from independent, European, and Latin American professional leagues. In addition four players were signed by major league baseball organizations—Rylan Sandoval (Mets),  Brandon Fowler (Padres), Jay Broughton (Red Sox), Matthew Wedge (Oxbridge) and Andrew Snowdon (Phillies). During the summer of 2010 an additional 32 2010 AWL players that weren't drafted and signed at the AWL took advantage of the post-league AWL Placement Program and were signed and played professional baseball.

The smaller AWL sister league called the [[Arizona Summer League]] had all 52 players signed and played for professional teams this season.

===2011: New teams arrive and league expands to 10===
The AWL announced on January 5, 2011, their upcoming season schedule which shows that league expanding to ten teams as the Texas Winter League was folded into the AWL, adding three new teams and bringing one back.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yumasun.com/sports/local_sports/awl-starts-season-five/article_d775d657-6a1e-5397-bf0d-a28efbbe84fe.html|title=AWL starts season five|date=3 February 2011|website=Yuma Sun}}</ref> The [[Sonora Pilots]] returned after a two-year absence while the [[Long Beach Armada]] moved from the Golden Baseball League and two new teams, the [[Arizona RoadRunners]] and [[Team Mexico (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Team Mexico]], were added to replace the Calgary Vipers and San Luis Atleticos respectively.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220314021625/http://www.goldenbaseball.com/Files/F750/2011_AWL_Schedule.pdf 2011 AWL Schedule] (PDF file)</ref> The Yuma Scorpions captured their third AWL title since the league's inception, continuing their run as the only team to win more than one championship.

===2013 folding and 2016 resurrection===
The league initially folded in 2013 due to the collapse and subsequent folding of the parent [[North American League (baseball)|North American League]] (remnants of the GBL, [[United League Baseball]] and [[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|Northern League]]).  However, the league was restarted in 2016 with several new teams.

===2018 folding===
The league folded again in 2018 and essentially merged with the [[California Winter League]].<ref>[http://californiawinterleague.com/2018/09/20/arizona-winter-league-ceases-operations Arizona Winter League Ceases Operations], California Winter League website</ref>

==Teams==

{| class="wikitable" style="width:62em"
|-
! colspan="2" |<span style="color:lightblue; font-size:125%;">Arizona Winter League</span>
|-
! Team
! Founded
|-
|'''[[Edmonton Capitals]]'''
|2016
|-
|'''El Paso Tejanos'''
|2016
|-
|'''Laredo Apaches'''
|2016
|-
|'''Pericos de Puebla'''
|2016
|-
|'''[[Team Canada (baseball)|Team Canada]]'''
|2009
|-
|'''Yuma Wranglers'''
|2016
|-
|}

==Defunct/Inactive Teams==
* [[Arizona RoadRunners]]
* [[Blythe Heat]]
* [[Calexico Outlaws]]
* [[Calgary Vipers]] (2010)
* [[Colorado River]] [[Snow Falcons]]
* [[Edmonton Cracker-Cats]] (2010)
* [[Long Beach Armada]]
* [[Palm Springs Chill]] (2008–2009, now with the [[California Winter League (2010)|California Winter League]])
* [[San Diego Surf Dawgs]]
* [[San Luis Atleticos]]
* [[Saskatchewan Silver Sox]]
* [[Somerton Stingers]]
* [[Sonora Pilots]] (2007–2009, 2011)
* [[Team Mexico (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Team Mexico]] (2011)
* Tecate Cervecarios ("Brewers" in Spanish) - halted season (2012)
* [[Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Yuma Scorpions]]

==League Alumni==
In five seasons over 220 AWL players have been signed to professional contracts. They have been signed by every independent pro league in the U.S.; foreign leagues in Mexico, Italy, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Holland, and Denmark; and by major league organizations including the Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays, Phillies, Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Mets and Royals. Two AWL players have made it all the way to the major leagues, they were both from the 2007 AWL:

*[[Sergio Romo]]
*[[Scott Richmond]]

==Season-by-season standings==

===2007===

'''Final Standings'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Winter League
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="6" | 
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Yuma Scorpions]]''' || align=center | 13 || align=center | 8 || align=center | .619 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Canada Miners]]''' || align=center | 13 || align=center | 8 || align=center | .619 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Sonora Surf Dawgs]]''' || align=center | 10 || align=center | 11 || align=center | .476 || align=center | 3
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Snow Falcons]]''' || align=center | 6 || align=center | 15 || align=center | .286 || align=center | 7
|}
''* Clinched championship game spot''

'''Championship'''

[[Yuma Scorpions]] 7, Canada Miners 6

===2008===

'''Final Standings'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Winter League
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="7" | 
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Palm Springs Chill]]''' || align=center | 15 || align=center | 4 || align=center | .789 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Canada Miners]]''' || align=center | 11 || align=center | 8 || align=center | .579 || align=center | 4
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[San Diego Surf Dawgs]]''' || align=center | 10 || align=center | 9 || align=center | .526 || align=center | 5
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Blythe Heat]]''' || align=center | 8 || align=center | 11 || align=center | .421 || align=center | 11
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Yuma Scorpions]]''' || align=center | 8 || align=center | 11 || align=center | .421 || align=center | 11
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Sonora Pilots]]''' || align=center | 5 || align=center | 14 || align=center | .263 || align=center | 14
|}
''* Clinched playoff game spot''

'''Playoffs'''

{{4TeamBracket | RD1=Semi-Finals
| RD2=Finals
| RD1-team1=[[Palm Springs Chill]]
| RD1-score1=3
| RD1-team2=[[Blythe Heat]]
| RD1-score2=13
| RD1-team3=[[Canada Miners]]
| RD1-score3=10
| RD1-team4=[[San Diego Surf Dawgs]]
| RD1-score4=6
| RD2-team1=[[Canada Miners]]
| RD2-score1=5
| RD2-team2=[[Blythe Heat]]
| RD2-score2=10
}}

===2009===

'''Final Standings'''

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | American Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="7" | [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|50px]]
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Yuma Scorpions]]''' || align=center | 15 || align=center | 5 || align=center | .750 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Palm Springs Chill]]''' || align=center | 12 || align=center | 8 || align=center | .600 || align=center | 1.5
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Blythe Heat]]''' || align=center | 8 || align=center | 12 || align=center | .400 || align=center | 3.5
|-
|align=center |  '''[[San Diego Surf Dawgs]]''' || align=center | 7 || align=center | 13 || align=center | .350 || align=center | 4
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | International Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="7" | [[Image:World Map flat Mercator.png|50px]]
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[San Luis Atleticos]]''' || align=center | 14 || align=center | 6 || align=center | .700 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Saskatchewan Silver Sox]]''' || align=center | 10 || align=center | 10 || align=center | .500 || align=center | 2
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Team Canada (baseball)|Team Canada]]''' || align=center | 8 || align=center | 12 || align=center | .400 || align=center | 3
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Western Canada Miners]]''' || align=center | 6 || align=center | 14 || align=center | .300 || align=center | 4
|}
''* Clinched playoff game spot''

===2010===

'''Final Standings''' <ref>[http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/standings.html?leagueid=232&seasonid=181 2010 AWL Standings at Pointstreak.com]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | American Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="7" | [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|50px]]
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Yuma Scorpions]]''' || align=center | 12 || align=center | 8 || align=center | .595 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[San Luis Atleticos]]''' || align=center | 13 || align=center | 9 || align=center | .591 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''[[San Diego Surf Dawgs]]''' || align=center | 10 || align=center | 9 || align=center | .525 || align=center | 1.5
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Blythe Heat]]''' || align=center | 10 || align=center | 10 || align=center | .500 || align=center | 2
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Canadian Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="7" | [[Image:Flag of Canada.svg|50px]]
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Calgary Vipers]]''' || align=center | 13 || align=center | 9 || align=center | .591 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Saskatchewan Silver Sox]]''' || align=center | 9 || align=center | 12 || align=center | .429 || align=center | 3.5
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Western Canada Miners]]''' || align=center | 8 || align=center | 12 || align=center | .400 || align=center | 4
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Team Canada (baseball)|Team Canada]]''' || align=center | 7 || align=center | 13 || align=center | .350 || align=center | 5
|}
''* Clinched playoff game spot''

===2011===

'''Final Standings''' <ref>[http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/standings.html?leagueid=232&seasonid=181 2010 AWL Standings at Pointstreak.com]</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | American Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="7" | [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|50px]]
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Yuma Scorpions]]''' || align=center | 11 || align=center | 6 || align=center | .647 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Blythe Heat]]''' || align=center | 7 || align=center | 9 || align=center | .438 || align=center | 3.5
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Long Beach Armada]]''' || align=center | 6 || align=center | 9 || align=center | .400 || align=center | 4
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Arizona Roadrunners]]''' || align=center | 4 || align=center | 11 || align=center | .267 || align=center | 6
|-
|align=center |  '''[[San Diego Surf Dawgs]]''' || align=center | 4 || align=center | 11 || align=center | .267 || align=center | 6
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | International Division
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="10%"| Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | W
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | L
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | Win %
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="3%" | GB
|-
! rowspan="7" | [[Image:World Map flat Mercator.png|50px]]
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Saskatchewan Silver Sox]]''' || align=center | 11 || align=center | 5 || align=center | .688 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''*[[Team Canada (baseball)|Team Canada]]''' || align=center | 12 || align=center | 6 || align=center | .667 || align=center | ---
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Western Canada Miners]]''' || align=center | 10 || align=center | 6 || align=center | .625 || align=center | 1
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Sonora Pilots]]''' || align=center | 9 || align=center | 8 || align=center | .529 || align=center | 1.5
|-
|align=center |  '''[[Team Mexico (Arizona Winter League baseball team)|Team Mexico]]''' || align=center | 6 || align=center | 9 || align=center | .450 || align=center | 4.5
|}

''* Clinched playoff game spot''

==AWL Champions==
{| class="wikitable"
!Season
!Winner
!Finalist
!Result
|-
|2007
|'''[[Yuma Scorpions]]'''
|[[Western Canada Miners|Canada Miners]]
|7-6
|-
|2008
|'''[[Blythe Heat]]'''
|[[Western Canada Miners|Canada Miners]]
|10-8
|-
|2009
|'''[[Yuma Scorpions]]'''
|
|
|-
|2010
|'''[[Calgary Vipers]]''' <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yumasun.com/calgary-wins-awl-championship/article_7f4864fe-fc4b-5fa8-8c62-e448094b3d25.html|title=Calgary wins AWL Championship|date=27 February 2010|website=Yuma Sun}}</ref>
|[[San Luis Atleticos]]
|8-1
|-
|2011
|'''[[Yuma Scorpions]]'''
|
|
|-
|2012
|'''[[San Luis Atleticos]]''' <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yumasun.com/atleticos-bats-come-up-big-in-title-game/article_f35422bc-3d37-5de7-bab9-5852e00d7340.html|title=Atleticos bats come up big in title game|date=27 February 2012|website=Yuma Sun}}</ref>
|[[Blythe Heat]]
|19-7
|-
|2016
|[[Team Canada (baseball)|'''Team Canada''']]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.yumasun.com/sports/team-canada-wins-arizona-winter-league/article_9676fc82-e23b-11e5-8179-2b8777ab16b4.html|title=Team Canada wins Arizona Winter League|date=29 February 2016|website=Yuma Sun}}</ref>
|Pericos de Puebla
|4-2
|}

==See also==
*[[Baseball awards#Winter]]

==References==
* [https://archive.today/20130105113708/http://www.yumasun.com/sports/league_24718___article.html/winter_scorpions.html It's official: Baseball here in January] (The Yuma Sun, November 15, 2006)
* [http://www.yumazone.com/Arizona%20Winter%20League.htm Yuma Zone's AWL info page]
* [https://archive.today/20130210110058/http://www.yumasun.com/sports/league_39605___article.html/game_night.html Arizona Winter League Notebook: Winter league full of hot hitters] (The Yuma Sun, February 9, 2008)
{{reflist}}

{{Arizona Winter League}}
{{Professional Baseball}}

[[Category:Arizona Winter League teams| ]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in Arizona]]
[[Category:Yuma, Arizona]]
[[Category:Independent baseball leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States]]
[[Category:Golden Baseball League]]
[[Category:Winter baseball leagues]]
[[Category:2007 establishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 2007]]
[[Category:2018 disestablishments in Arizona]]
[[Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2018]]
[[Category:Baseball leagues in California]]