5/25/2018, Chelmsford, MA— The 2017 season for the Futures Collegiate Baseball League was a historic one as the league was the first in the country to adopt a home run derby format to decide extra-inning games. The Blast Home Run Derby was a huge success with players and fans but will need a few minor adjustments for the 2018 season moving forward. Ten games in 2017 regular season were decided by the home run derby and has proven to be pivotal in the results of league standings. “The home run derby accomplished everything we hoped it would.” said Futures League Commissioner, Chris Hall. “We protected our pitchers, our games ended at a reasonable time of night for our players and fans and our fans were excited about the possibility of games ending in the derby.”
The home run derby kicked in when the score was tied after the 10th inning. Like hockey, the new extra inning rule was accompanied by a move to a point system that was implemented to determine league standings. After ten innings of tied baseball, each team automatically received one point toward the league standings. The team that won the home run derby received an additional point (two points total) for the win. During the season the rule was adjusted to include a formula that would ultimately have league standings determined by this point system and winning percentage to make up for teams that weren’t able to make up rained out games. This format became a complicated way for players and fans to follow the league standings.
The 2018 Futures League season will continue with the home run derby starting when a game is tied after the 10th inning. To simplify the standings, the derby will decide the winner of the game. Points will no longer be part of the standings. Futures League standings will be determined by overall winning percentage. Continuing their partnership with the Futures League, Blast Motion will enter their second year powering the extra innings contest for the 2018 season. Blast, a motion sensor technology company, partnered with The Futures League last year to improve player swing performance during practices and games for data collection and analysis. Blast, along with the Futures League are excited to continue what looks to be an entertaining addition to regular season games.
The Futures League regular season runs from Wednesday, May 30 through Sunday, August 5 and will be immediately followed by the Futures League playoffs. On July 18th, the Nashua Silver Knights will host the 7th Annual Futures League All-Star Game at Historic Holman Stadium in Nashua, NH.
About the Futures League:
The Futures League (FCBL) is a summer collegiate, wood bat league in its eighth year of existence and features seven teams throughout New England including the Worcester Bravehearts, Brockton Rox, Bristol Blues, Nashua Silver Knights, North Shore Navigators, Pittsfield Suns and the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks. Futures League franchises present high-caliber baseball with rosters comprised of both New England baseball stars as well as top prospects from around the U.S. Dozens of MLB Scouts regularly attend Futures League games, including the League’s All-Star game in particular. The FCBL provides family-friendly and affordable fun for its host communities in a minor league-style setting and is led by Commissioner Chris Hall. For more information about the Futures League, see www.TheFuturesLeague.com.
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