The Jackson City Council held an agenda meeting Thursday at City Hall to discuss a new baseball tenant for The Ballpark at Jackson.

The Prospect League – based in Elkhart, Indiana – consists of 16 teams located in Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

If the league places a franchise in Jackson, the team would not begin play until 2023.

According to the Prospect League’s website –

WHAT WE ARE – The Prospect League is a top summer collegiate wood bat baseball league. The purpose of the league is to: (a) Provide family friendly, affordable baseball entertainment in the communities where our teams are located; (b) Provide a summer baseball program for eligible college players to give them experience using a wood bat in a competitive atmosphere; (c) Provide a venue to allow MLB Scouts to watch collegiate prospects using wood bats against live pitching in competition.

PLAYING SCHEDULE – The Prospect League begins play in late May with a schedule of approximately 60 games and ends with the Prospect League Championship Series during the second week of August.

TOURNAMENT – The first half winners in each division will host the second half winners in a one-game divisional championship round. (If the same team wins both halves, the team with the next-best second-half record makes the playoffs). Division winners in the East Concference will play a one-game conference championship round, as will the division winners from the West Conference. The East Conference Champion and the West Conference Champion will meet in a best-of-three Prospect League Championship Series. The team with the better overall record decided whether to host game one or games two and three.

For players to participate in the postseason, they must be on the 32-man active roster at the end of the regular season and must have played or pitched in a regular-season game prior to the final 10 days of the regular season.

PLAYER PROCUREMENT – The Prospect League has a program of information gathering and promotion to go along with the coach’s own contacts and word-of-mouth in order to attract the best possible professional prospects. We promote the league nationally, through a network of coaches, players and scouts. promotion through this web site, and recommendations from college coaches. The final decision on players rests with the teams themselves, and should be based upon potential for advancement into professional baseball. Ideally, all players would be recommended by Major League Scouts. No more than four players from any single college or junior college team may play on the same Prospect League team. Players sign a Prospect League Player Contract to confirm their choice of summer leagues and that contract precludes them from playing in any other summer collegiate league. If you want to play in the Prospect League, go to our HOME or CONTACT US link on the navigation bar and click on the Player Information link. Be as complete as possible and when you submit the form, it immediately goes to each Field Manager and Team.

HOUSING – Housing is generally provided through host families unless players are from the community in which their team is located.

PLAYING FIELD – A well maintained college field meets the standards for Prospect League play. Lights are required, as well as concessions, adequate public seating and facilities to bring a true “minor-league” experience to the players and the fans. The field must be available during the playing season to allow for scheduling. One of the mainstays of the Prospect League is the quality and class of the facilities that the games are played in. Our high-quality facilities help set us a part from most other summer leagues and is a benefit for players and fans.

TRAVEL – Team travel is by charter bus. Traveling for games in personal vehicles is prohibited.

UMPIRES – The Prospect League contracts with a professional assignor who schedules umpires for all games. The Prospect League plays by NCAA rules, with a few exceptions. We adhere to all recruiting and eligibility rules of the NCAA as well as numerous other sections of NCAA rules.

ROSTERS – The Prospect League roster is limited to 32 players. No more than four players from any one school (the school attended in the spring immediately preceding the Prospect League season) may play on the same Prospect League team. By NCAA regulation, no NCAA players may play on a team in the summer in which coaches from their school are associated.  A Player must have been enrolled in the spring term prior to the summer season, and must still have college eligibility. Additionally, each team is allowed players in each new special class: up to two (4) Graduated High School Seniors (must submit signed LOI to play baseball in college for the following season) and up to four (6) Graduated College Seniors.

The City Council will have a Special Called meeting at 9 a.m., Tuesday, to vote on the proposal.