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NILES -- With a new format in place, the Mahoning Valley Scrappers will open their 2021 season earlier than in the past, on May 24.
No longer an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, the Scrappers, who like the rest of minor league baseball did not field a team in 2020, will be one of six teams in the MLB Draft League, powered by Prep Baseball Report.
The new league plans to showcase the best draft-eligible prospects -- from both college and high school -- in a 68-game season.
The first 42 games will be played between Opening Day and July 8 when the league will break July 9-14 for the MLB Draft, scheduled July 11-13. Play will resume July 15 with the championship game scheduled Aug. 15.
The league does not have divisions, but teams will play an unbalanced schedule with a primary opponent -- the West Virginia Black Bears for the Scrappers. Other pairings consist of Pennsylvania teams State College Spikes and Williamsport Crosscutters, and the Frederick (Md.) Keys and Trenton (N.J.) Thunder.
The Scrappers, who played their first 21 years in the now-defunct New York-Penn League, open the season on the road at West Virginia, then play their home opener at Eastwood Field on May 26 against State College.
Ticket packages for the 34-game home season are on sale. For ticket and other information, visit www.mvscrappers.com or contact the front office at 330-505-0000.