The Constellation Energy League was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas during 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions limiting travel, and as a way to create opportunities for minor league players.
History The league consisted of four teams, each managed by a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player:
Team Manager Roster Eastern Reyes del Tigre Dave Eiland link Sugar Land Lightning Sloths Greg Swindell link Sugar Land Skeeters Pete Incaviglia link Team Texas Roger Clemens and son Koby Clemens link
The teams were made up of former MLB players as well as other minor league and independent professional players. Each team was scheduled to play 28 games, including seven-inning doubleheaders every weekend. The league's season was planned to begin on July 3, but was pushed back to July 10 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Even with the delay, the league began play two weeks before the start of the 2020 MLB season.
All games were played at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. Parking was included with ticket prices to limit staff and fan interactions and up to 1800 ticket-holders were seated in a socially distanced fashion within the 7500-seat stadium. No games were canceled due to COVID-19 cases, and the league operated for five weeks without any positive COVID-19 test results. Players received $1600 per month, with exposure to MLB teams being the main reason for playing; at least five players in the league were subsequently added to MLB rosters.
Results and honors The Sugar Land Skeeters finished with the best record in the four-team league. A most-valuable player (MVP) was named for each team.
Team Record Win pct. MVP (statistics) Sugar Land Skeeters 17–11 Dustin Peterson (.309/.400/.500 slash line) Eastern Reyes Del Tigre 14–14 Ford Proctor (.346/.500/.679 slash line) Sugar Land Lightning Sloths 14–14 Jamie Westbrook (18 RBIs, 5 home runs) Team Texas 11–17 Kody Clemens (.416 slugging percentage)
An all-star team was also named:
Pos. Player Team C Jake Romanski Sugar Land Skeeters 1B Casey Gillaspie Eastern Reyes Del Tigre 2B Dustin Peterson Sugar Land Skeeters SS Ford Proctor Eastern Reyes Del Tigre 3B Ryder Jones Sugar Land SkeetersOF Courtney Hawkins Sugar Land Skeeters Evan Marzilli Eastern Reyes Del Tigre Jamie Westbrook Sugar Land Lightning Sloths DH Jared Walker Eastern Reyes Del TigreUTIL Kody Clemens Team Texas David Hamilton Team Texas
Pos. Player TeamSP Matt Dermody Sugar Land Skeeters Anthony Vasquez Eastern Reyes Del Tigre Joe Wieland Sugar Land Lightning SlothsRP Alejandro Mateo Team Texas Zac Rosscup Sugar Land Lightning Sloths Robby Scott Sugar Land Skeeters
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