Gulf Coast League
From SoSH
The Gulf Coast League, commonly referred to as the "GCL", is a league in organized baseball at the "rookie" level, the lowest level in the United States. Only the Dominican Summer League and Venezuelan Summer League rank below the GCL (and the GCL's equivalent, the Arizona League).
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League Structure
The GCL is unlike other minor leagues because none of the teams are independently-owned franchises. All of the teams operate out of (usually minor league) spring training complexes in Florida and attendance is generally limited to mainly scouts and family, although most teams have free admission. Players generally have morning drills before a noon game. Due to the heat and boredom of Fort Myers, it is an unpopular stop on the Red Sox minor league chain for players.
Players in GCL teams come from a variety of places:
- Recently drafted high school players or recently signed draft-and-follows
- International signings coming from the Pacific Rim or the Caribbean. Most Caribbean players would have already made their professional debut in the DSL or VSL, although some advanced prospects (such as Luis Soto) skipped straight to the GCL
- College players failing to make the Lowell roster. Often these college players are undrafted free agents.
GCL rosters can have as many as 35 active players, although only 30 of them can be eligible for any given game. Also, rosters are not allowed to have players aged 20 and older if they have already played two years in the minors, not including time in the DSL or VSL.
