SUMMER SLIDE

Inside college summer leagues' fight for survival in the transfer portal era

- by JACOB RUDNER

The email landed in midwinter, polite and plain. It was the kind of request the summer league official had read a hundred times before.

“Dear (league official),” it began. “My name is (redacted) and I was wondering if you had any spots available for me to pitch this summer. I would love to send you some film for you to watch and put you in touch with my college coach.”

The official replied within minutes. No openings, he explained, but a reserve slot was possible. The player didn’t hesitate to jump at the chance. “Of course,” he responded.

What followed were the familiar calls, texts and emails that go into summer roster building. Only this time, the league official’s communi- cations went unanswered by the player’s coach, a departure from typi- cal workflow. Weeks passed. Eventually, the official broke the news: He couldn’t sign the player to a summer league contract.

That’s when the player made his next move.

“I’m entering the transfer portal,” he said. “Can I join now?”

With no coach to block his summer plans, the process moved quickly. Flights were booked, housing was secured and introductions were made. Hours later, the phone rang again. The player had verbally committed to a new school, and his new coach didn’t want him playing.

In the churn of summer baseball, nothing stays settled for long.

The summer league director of player personnel had an answer: “I said, ‘Listen, I’m just telling you right now, any good baseball person who tells you that not playing baseball is good for you doesn’t have your best inter- est in mind.’ ”

Still, no minds were changed. Plans—or the lack thereof—remained firm. The player stayed home that summer, joining a growing list of college players who did the same.