Short-season leagues & player development

[CWess12]

Our online league currently has the old minor league structure with Rookie and A- being short-season leagues. As such, most 18-20 y/o prospects are only playing half a season until they have developed enough to play in full-season A ball, which usually happens somewhere around age 21-22.

My question is, does the lack of full seasons of playing time when these prospects are at this age hinder their development and chances of reaching their potential? Is there an optimal way to structure the minor leagues so these prospects are maximizing their development and their opportunity to reach their potential?

I understand that most prospects are not going to reach their potential or that their potential will probably drop, but it would be nice to know whether the league structure and playing time is a hindrance to their development at all.

[Curve Ball Dave]

I play with short season Rookie and SSA leagues and players have developed just fine. There are guys who simply can't go from Rookie to Low A without getting their butts handed to them. There has to be bridge leagues to full season ball IMO.

[CWess12]

Originally Posted by Curve Ball Dave

I play with short season Rookie and SSA leagues and players have developed just fine. There are guys who simply can't go from Rookie to Low A without getting their butts handed to them. There has to be bridge leagues to full season ball IMO.

I know there are plenty of players that do develop fine. I guess the question is whether more players would develop if they were playing full seasons when they were 18. Does the game understand they are assigned to short season leagues and that they won't get as many PA as a full season and allow them to develop at the same rate regardless? Or would it always be optimal to have a full season league for 18 y/o so they were getting more playing time?

[dodgerblue88]

Originally Posted by CWess12

I know there are plenty of players that do develop fine. I guess the question is whether more players would develop if they were playing full seasons when they were 18. Does the game understand they are assigned to short season leagues and that they won't get as many PA as a full season and allow them to develop at the same rate regardless? Or would it always be optimal to have a full season league for 18 y/o so they were getting more playing time?

This is a very good question, and could explain why players have always taken forever to develop enough to move on from rookie ball. However, it appears the latest patch addresses the development speed of players on lower levels, so this may now be a moot point.

[Curve Ball Dave]

Originally Posted by CWess12

I know there are plenty of players that do develop fine. I guess the question is whether more players would develop if they were playing full seasons when they were 18. Does the game understand they are assigned to short season leagues and that they won't get as many PA as a full season and allow them to develop at the same rate regardless? Or would it always be optimal to have a full season league for 18 y/o so they were getting more playing time?

In my OOTP experience, guys in the short season leagues develop regardless. It is understood that they are at Extended Spring Training practicing and playing intersquad games on a daily basis. Guys who I couldn't promote in April become guys who I can promote in June when I have the Amateur Draft and have to make room for the new draftees. The players developed during the three months of EST enough to the point where they could play at the next level up.