MILB.com has the Preview HERE.
I'm not surprised that Appleton Baseball Hall of Fame member Roland Hemond had a little something to do with starting the AFL or with the impressive numbers that show the success of the league:
The league was the brainchild of longtime baseball executive Roland Hemond, and is a good example of why the man is one of the most respected and beloved baseball minds in the game.
It has become a springboard for some of the top players in the Major Leagues. Consider some of the numbers:
There was not an Opening Day roster in 2006 that didn't have at least seven AFL alumni, while Milwaukee and San Diego each had 18 AFL grads.
More than 60 percent of the U.S.-born players on Opening Day rosters had played in the AFL at some point (there are restrictions on foreign-born players whose home winter leagues have first option on them), and 14 players from the Class of 2005 were on Opening Day rosters in '06.
Either the American League or National League Rookie of the Year has been an AFL alumnus in 13 of the past 14 seasons. Sometimes it's been an "exacta," as in 2005 when both N.L. Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard and A.L. Rookie of the Year Huston Street were products of the league.
The Peoria Javelinas are the team in the AFL with former Rattlers on the roster. Their game starts at 2:05pm CDT against Grand Canyon.
And so it goes.
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