Skeeters to scratch itch to return to field
Plan unveiled for four-team league with limited crowds to start July 3
Amid a continued rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations and cases throughout the state, Texas is welcoming back professional baseball.
The Sugar Land Skeeters are preparing a four-team professional league to begin play at Constellation Field on July 3, owner Kevin Zlotnik said Wednesday. Seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens has pledged his services in whatever way possible, perhaps even as a coach for one of the teams.
Around 90 players will participate, a group ranging from former big leaguers to recently released minor leaguers with upside. Plans include fans but at about 25 percent of Constellation Field’s 7,500-seat capacity. Teams will play 28 games apiece.
“It’s risky for certain, but we’re not a family or an organization that won’t take risks,” Zlotnik said.
Zlotnik said the Skeeters are working with Memorial Hermann and have “lifted some stuff” from the 67page health and safety proposal Major League Baseball presented to its players association last month — a document the two sides have still not agreed upon.
The Skeeters plan to provide two manuals — one for fans and another for players. There will “most likely not” be daily testing of players, according to Zlotnik.
The Skeeters’ plan has not yet been approved by Memorial Hermann. When and if it is, Zlotnik said it will be shared with the city of Sugar Land and the Texas Department of Health and Safety Services for final approval.
“We’re going to do as best we can, but we’re not going to shut down if somebody tests positive,” Zlotnik said. “That’s just an untenable situation. You have to work under the assumption that someone is going to test positive.”
On Wednesday, Texas reported a record number of COVID-19 hospitalizations for a third straight day. The state is averaging 1,927 hospitalizations over the last seven days. Numbers continue to rise, but baseball is nevertheless slowly trickling back. A four-team college tournament was played last week in Bryan, where players were sequestered in one hotel, had food delivered and bussed only to the ballpark and back.
The Skeeters’ plan calls for far more freedom.
“It will not be a bubble situation,” Zlotnik said. “We’re going to offer everyone a hotel room, but we’re not demanding people stay there. If they have a local connection or if they’re from Houston, they can stay at home or stay with their parents. It’s just impossible to get 90 or 100 guys to follow and stay inside. They’re grown adults.”
Zlotnik put Skeeters manager Pete Incaviglia in charge of recruiting players. Interest has been overwhelming, mostly from minor league free agents. The deluge of minor league releases across baseball last week only heightened the appetite for a place to play.
Zlotnik said that of the first 29 players committed to the league, “12 or 13” were released last week.
“There was a worry we wouldn’t be able to sign 90 guys, but that’s the least of our concerns now. I’m getting an email every 10 minutes from Pete with new guys,” Zlotnik said. “I’m seeing a lot of Single- and Double-A guys that have really good pedigrees — first-rounders. So I think we’re going to have some really talented teams.”
With the industrywide expectation of no minor league baseball season, Zlotnik said there have been “discussions” about welcoming players who are under contract in affiliated baseball. But under current rules, that wouldn’t be allowed.
“We already have to deal with so much uncertainty,” Zlotnik said. “So let’s just deal with free agents.”
Incaviglia will manage one of the four teams. Clemens and his son, Koby, will coach another. Zlotnik said Roger Clemens has other commitments during the summer, so full-time managing may fall to Koby, a former Memorial standout and Astros farmhand.
Koby’s brother, Kacy, was among the Blue Jays’ minor leaguers released last week, making him a logical candidate to play in the league, one still with many hurdles to clear before opening day.
“We think we can make it work,” Zlotnik said.