BASEBALL AT 35,000 FEET

PROSPECT LEAGUE

The Prospect League is a summer college baseball league featuring top college players who are looking to improve their skills and to potentially play professional baseball. The League operates under NCAA rules allowing the participants to maintain their NCAA eligibility.

Each team can roster up to 40 players who live with host families in their respective communities. Players come from across the country to compete against elite competition. The Prospect League features athletes from the NCAA DI, D2, D3, the NAIA and the NJCAA.

The League was founded in 2009 when the Central Illinois College League (founded in 1963) merged into the Prospect League. Since 2009, more than 300 Prospect League players have been drafted by Major League Baseball with hundreds more playing professional baseball.  The League’s rich history includes Hall of Famers and NCAA Champions, nearly 200 alumni in Major League Baseball, and more than 800 professional players.

In the 2024 MLB amateur draft, 25 former Prospect League players were drafted including two players in the first round.  Former Aviator – Trey Swiney – a first-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2021, made his major league debut at shortstop with the Detroit Tigers this past August.

The 18-team Prospect League is the only league of its caliber in the footprint bound by the Mississippi River to the west and Johnstown, PA to the east. Teams play a 60-game regular season schedule starting in 2025 on May 27 and concluding on July 31. The winners of the first half in each division meet in a one-game playoff followed by a one-game conference championship playoff. The two conference champions meet in a best 2 of 3 for the League Championship.  The Aviators won the Prospect League Championship in 2017 and finished as runners-up in 2021.

In addition to the new stadium in Lafayette, the Prospect League features many excellent facilities, many of which were home to former professional teams including Burlington, Chillicothe, Clinton, Johnstown, Normal, O’Fallon, and Jackson.

Eastern Conference

Northeast Division

Champion City Kings (OH)

Chillicothe Paints (OH)

Johnstown Mill Rats (PA)

Lafayette Aviators (IN)

Central Division

Danville Dans (IL)

Dubois County Bombers (IN)

Normal CornBelters (IL)

REX Baseball (IN)

Springfield Lucky Horseshoes (IL)

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Burlington Bees (IA)

Clinton Lumber Kings (IA)

Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (IL)

Quincy Baseball Club (IL)

South Division

Alton River Dragons (IL)

Cape Catfish (MO)

Jackson Rockabillys (TN)

O’Fallon Hoots (MO)

Thrillville Thrillbillies (IL)