Florida Complex League

By Emmitt Davis

The Florida Complex League hit off their season as the rookie stars look forward to proving their skill on their quest to the major leagues. The Florida Complex League is a Rookie League that operates in Florida only. The league was previously named the Gulf Coast League, but due to MiLB's rebranding, Florida Complex League's name came to be. The Florida Complex League and the Arizona League are the lowest level of the MiLB farm system you can play with. Most Florida Complex League Teams play in their Major League Affiliates spring training complex hence the name Florida Complex League. All the team names in the Florida Complex League are the same as the Major League affiliate's team name. For example, the Toronto Blue Jays have the FCL Blue Jays, and the Marlins have the FCL Marlins. Some of the Florida Complex League teams share the same stadium with their Low A affiliate. For example, the New York Yankees have both teams, the FCL Yankees and the Tampa Tarpons, play in the same field. The Tigers, Pirates, and Orioles all have two teams in the Florida Complex League. This is because the Florida Complex League doesn't have a limit on how many players can be on an active roster as of 2021.

One thing about the Florida Complex League that fans can't get enough of is how their tickets were 100% free for the season. All you needed to do was walk up to the front gate, and they let you in. Fans loved this because they knew that they could still have the fun baseball feeling while catching a game 100% free and watching some of the future stars of the Major League's compete against each other. Another exciting thing about the Florida Complex League was how all their games were scheduled simultaneously, making it easier for fans and players to both watch and play the games. Florida Complex League has all of its games either at 10 am or 12 pm, depending on the schedule of the Low A affiliates. Sunday is also their off day, allowing players to rest up for the long week ahead.

The Florida Complex League features Jason Dominguez, the number 24 prospect for major league baseball right now, who is with the FCL Yankees. Dominguez is eighteen years young and was signed by the New York Yankees back in 2019 for 5.1 million dollars. The Florida Complex League is one of the only short-season Leagues out there, making it difficult to prove your talent in that tiny amount of time. The Florida Complex League is planning on playing 60 games only, making it crucial for stars who want to prove themselves in hopes of getting up to Low A, really focusing on the game and performing well.

Some Prospects to watch out for this season while watching a Florida Complex League game are Jason Dominguez, Yankees Outfielder and number 1 prospect in the Florida Complex League, and Blaze Jordan, 3rd Baseman Red Sox’s, Roberto Campos, Outfielder FCL Tigers, and Tink Hencel, Right-Handed Pitcher FCL Cardinals.

Jason Dominguez is the top prospect in the Florida Complex League and is the twenty-fourth prospect for the Major Leagues. Dominguez, who plays with the FCL Yankees, is fast on the basepath and in the outfield, making him a great player to see stealing lots of bases. Dominguez also is a great hitter driving in three runs on his first five at-bats in the Florida Complex League. The only problem Dominguez will have to face is his experience level compared to some of the other players. Dominguez has never played a season in professional baseball, making it unlikely to see him jump into Low A anytime soon.

Blaze Jordan is the Number 10 prospect for the Boston Red Sox's and plays for the Florida Complex League Red Sox's. Jordan won the High School Home Run Derby slugging many 500ft Home Runs out of the ballpark and was picked up by the Red Sox's in the MLB Draft. Jordan is primarily a hitter but is also good when on the field. Unfortunately, Jordan doesn't have any professional baseball experience, which makes us wonder how well he will do in the Florida Complex League.

Roberto Campos is the number ten prospect for the Detroit Tigers and plays as an outfielder for the FCL Tigers. Like many of the other players in the Florida Complex League, Campos hasn’t yet experienced the taste of a professional baseball league, making it difficult for us Scouters to know how well they will do in their first year. However, Campos is enormous as he is six-three and two hundred pounds, allowing him to drive the ball far on lots of ballparks. However, we can't give you a reasonable estimate on his stats because he hasn’t played baseball for a while.

Tink Hence is the number eight prospect for the Saint Louis Cardinals and plays for the FCL Cardinals. Tink, a right-handed pitcher, was the sixty-third draft pick for the class of 2020. Tink is a great pitcher with his fastballs and sliders recorded at speeds in the mid-nineties. Tink stands at about six feet and one inch tall and has an exciting pitching form. The only downgrade from Tink is that his curveball is not fully developed, but the Florida Complex League is a great place to practice throwing it!

The Florida Complex League is a league you should check out if you are near the Florida region. With free tickets, early games, and, best of all, great ballplayers and ballparks, the Florida Complex League is the Rookie League to visit! Below is a cart of all the teams and their locations for you to know where they are playing and what teams are near you.