For the city’s top high school baseball prospects, the sport won’t end locally when the summer does, and they can thank John Franco for that.
The former New York Mets and St. John’s closer is teaming with Gary Perone, the director of new business development for the Brooklyn Cyclones, and Bay Ridge Prep coach Lou Rossi to form the NYC Varsity League, a six-week showcase for the area’s top players in front of college and local professional scouts.
“We’re trying to get exposure for the kids and bring baseball back to Brooklyn,” said Franco, the Mets Hall of Fame closer and a product of Lafayette. “I think it’s important to get involved in the city, get baseball going.”
The NYC Varsity League will host tryouts today at 9 a.m. at MCU Park in Coney Island, the home of the Cyclones, where all practices and games will be held. It is not affiliated with the Cyclones, Perone said.
It is being modeling after the Arizona Fall League, where professional organizations send their best prospects for extra work, and has 43 players registered already. The hope is to have six teams and games each weekend, beginning Sept. 2.
The league’s champion will get an all expenses paid trip down to Dodger Town in Vero Beach, Fla., Franco said, for workouts and a few exhibition games.
Perone, who is also an associate scout with the Mets, and Franco are expecting former major and minor leagues, such as Frank Rodriguez, John Halama and Frank Menechino, to be a part of the league, and possibly coach a few of the teams.
How much local high-end talent it draws remains to be seen. The city’s top summer programs play in the fall and several top players also travel to sunny outposts to play on summer teams there.
“Their competing against much better organizations with a track record,” New York Grays summer coach David Owens said. “A lot of organizations get college coaches. I wouldn’t send any of my kids there.”
Franco isn’t overly concerned about battling local organizations for players. They will work with the other teams and he feels his reputation, in addition to the exposure the league offers and the other people involved, will attract top players.
“It’s up to the kids if they want to come here,” Franco said. “It will be a great experience for them.”