The Wandering Disciple

Fort Myers, Florida: The Florida Complex League began their 2023 season this week throughout Florida. The FCL is a rookie level league in the Minor League Baseball system and is typically the bottom level of affiliated baseball in the United States and is played in the spring training homes of the major league clubs in Florida.  On Thursday afternoon, the FCL Red Sox hosted the FCL Rays at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. After a brief delay due to a quick shower that passed through, the teams got things started in their third game of the season.  The Red Sox jumped out to an early lead on an RBI single by Johnfrank Salazar in the first inning that scored Marvin Alcantara to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.  They extended their lead in the second inning by pushing across a pair of runs. Angel Pierre drove home Karim Aybui with an RBI triple to right. Then it was Alcantara picking up an RBI with a single to score Pierre to make it 3-0.  The Red Sox added two more in the b...

Orioles minor leaguer Brayan Hernandez slides safely into home during a Saturday morning Florida Complex League game. During the offseason, minor league baseball restructured resulting in the loss of a few levels of the minor league ladder to streamline the path to the majors. One of the changes was the in the Rookie level in which the Gulf Coast League was renamed the Florida Complex League and a few teams like the Orioles are fielding two teams in the FCL to help train their younger players that may have been assigned to one of the abandoned leagues like the short-season affiliates. (Photo: August 28, 2021)

Twins minor league third baseman Wander Valdez throws to first to record an out during a Florida Complex League game. The 21 year old Dominican, Valdez is in his fourth season of professional baseball after being signed by the Minnesota Twin as an international free agent in 2016. (Photo: August 13, 2021)

Red Sox coach Bianca Smith relays signals from the first base coaches box during a Florida Complex League game on Friday afternoon. Hired by the Red Sox as a minor league coach in January, Smith is breaking barriers by becoming the first professional African American female baseball coach. She is will be working with position players during the Florida Complex League, a rookie league that plays their home games at JetBlue Park. (Photo: August 13, 2021)