The popular MLB4 tournament featuring four high-profile NCAA teams returns to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in 2020’s kickoff to Arizona spring training, set for Friday, Feb. 14 to Saturday, Feb. 16.
On tap for 2020’s tournament: College World Series Champion Vanderbilt University Commodores, University of Michigan Wolverines, University of Connecticut Huskies and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO).
Teams will play three games during the tournament. Additional schedule info, ticket pricing and broadcast details on MLB Network will be announced at a later date. There is a broad appeal to this showcase event: players will be training at the Salt River Fields complex, giving you a chance to witness some workouts and then take in a high-level NCAA baseball game.
“MLB is thrilled to welcome back Vanderbilt, as well as our new participating teams in Michigan, UConn and Cal Poly SLO to the MLB4 Tournament in February,” said Tony Reagins, Executive Vice President of Baseball & Softball Development, Major League Baseball. “We could not have launched this event any better given the caliber of baseball programs so far. We are most excited for the young people who will be able to see some phenomenal baseball and aspire to play at this level one day. We thank each of these programs, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Colorado Rockies, and Salt River Fields at Talking Stick for what will be another outstanding MLB4.”
“We were very excited to play in the inaugural MLB4 tournament and we are so grateful to be included again. This is, and was, one of the best tournaments that we have had the opportunity to play in,” said Vanderbilt Head Coach Tim Corbin.
Michigan Head Coach Erik Bakich said: “We are thrilled to open the 2020 season in one of the nation’s most elite tournaments against some of the best competition. We sincerely appreciate the invitation from Major League Baseball, as well as our strong relationship between the people inside the collegiate and professional game.”
UConn Head Coach Jim Penders said: “We are thrilled to be invited to the MLB4 tournament to open our 2020 season. In order to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. We are certainly going to have a great challenge in February in Arizona and we look forward to competing at the spring training home of two of our Major Leaguers in Nick Ahmed of the D-backs and Scott Oberg of the Rockies.”
Cal Poly SLO Head Coach Larry Lee said: “There couldn’t be a better way to start the season with games against the reigning National Champion, the runner up, and another Regional team. We’ll need to hit the ground running.”
“The D-backs are excited to partner with MLB to bring back the second annual MLB4 tournament to Salt River Fields in February,” said D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall. “The D-backs are committed to bringing the best talent possible to Arizona, and being able to showcase the top college baseball players at our award-winning, state-of-the-art Spring Training complex in the heart of the Talking Stick Entertainment District is an incredible opportunity. We are thrilled for our fans to have the chance to see the future of Major League Baseball right here in our own backyard.”
“The Colorado Rockies are proud to call Salt River Fields home, and we are excited to again partner with MLB and the Diamondbacks to welcome the MLB4 tournament back to Scottsdale,” said Rockies Owner/Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dick Monfort. “The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community have made Salt River Fields at Talking Stick a special place and one of the best sports destinations in the country, so there’s no better venue in which to showcase the top teams in collegiate baseball. We look forward to seeing all four schools and their tremendous fan bases this February.”
Comments are closed.