• To provide professional baseball players, especially overlooked recent college grads and just released pro players,  a winter instructional league to be able to compete for pro jobs during spring training, or for those currently under contract to sharpen their skills and be a step ahead of other wintering players.
• To assess and select players for the 2011 Golden Baseball League Championship season and to provide players to other independent leagues, foreign leagues,  and major league organizations for the 2011 season.
• To bring professional baseball for fans in the southwestern United States to enjoy during the beautiful winter weather

Easily the premier and most effective winter pro baseball development league, the AWL has had over 200 Players From the first four seasons  sign  Professional Contracts with the Golden Baseball League, the Frontier League, the Northern League, the American Association, the United League, the Continental League, the New York State League, the Mexican minor league, the Dutch League in Europe, the San Francisco Giants, the Baltimore Orioles, the Kansas City Royals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Boston Red Sox, the San Diego Padres, and the Toronto Blue Jays. Two AWL Player, Sergio Romo (2007) and Scott Richmond (2007), are now in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays respectively.

In 2010, a record 84 AWL players left with professional contracts, including three who were signed out of the AWL by the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego Padres.  In addition, 18 independent league teams and three foreign leagues signed players out of the 2010 AWL.

The Most Successful development league in getting players signed to pro contracts, including players signed during the league by major league organizations and independent leagues. Contracts offered during and at the end of the AWL. General Information:

• 20 -man Rosters: First 160 players to register are guaranteed a roster spot.  Only one - two extra position players per team so everyone gets lots of playing action every game.
• 8 - 10 Team League: Yuma Scorpions, Western Canada Miners, San Diego Surf Dawgs, Blythe Heat, El Centro Imperials, Saskatchewan Silver Sox, Team Canada, San Luis Atleticos, and Sonora Pilots
• 3 Day "Spring Training" starting Tuesday,  February 1, 2011
• Teams selected with Opening Night on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011
• Season includes 4-5 gamedays per week with instruction on off-days, international all-star game in San Luis, Mexico versus Liga Del Norte minor leaguers (bring your passport to be eligible), Playoffs and Championship Game, departures on March 1^st.
• At conclusion of the Arizona Winter League, at least 20 Players guaranteed to be signed to Golden Baseball League and other professional league contracts. Last year 57 players were signed to professional contracts during the AWL and 84 left with pro contracts at the conclusion of the league.
• Scouts representing major league organizations, the Can-Am League, the Frontier League, the American Association, the Mexican Summer League, the Liga Norte Sonora, the Korean and Taiwan professional league, Japan Independent Leagues, the Colombian Winter League, and European professional leagues . Last year major league scouts from the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians,New York Mets, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays all attended AWL games.
• Games will be played at the Ray Kroc Complex, former home of the San Diego Padres and Yakult Swallows spring training, in Yuma, Arizona. The complex has four fields, including the 7,500 seat Desert Sun Stadium, plus a major league clubhouse with locker rooms for all teams, and a fully stocked training room. Games may also be played in San Luis, AZ., Blythe, CA., and El Centro., CA.
• Championship Rings will be presented at the end of the season at the Awards Banquet honoring the AWL Champions.
• Game/Player statistics will be reported to the Associated Press and ESPN and displayed on the Pointstreak.com statistics website, and will be emailed weekly to all major league Minor League Operations Directors. All major league scouting Directors have been invited to attend.
• Full game coverage on the front page of the Yuma Sun newspaper each day. Games are complete minor league experience including fans (4000 turned out for the AWL Championship Game last season), mid-inning promotions, sponsor endorsement opportunities for players, additional press (GQ Magazine did a photo shoot of the Canada Miners one season) exposure including Yuma radio and television stations.

Rules:

• Player must be 18 years or older at the start of the league (Jan. 31, 2011; Must be born before 1/31/1993)
• Players must have minor league, collegiate, or high school experience

Fees:

• $3,500 for Season ($1,000 minimum due with registration, balance of $2,500 on Dec. 1st). Receive a $600 discount for a total payment in full of $2900 with registration.
• Includes hotel, meals, gym membership, and local transportation to training facilities for entire length of league
• Includes all instructor fees
• Uniforms, workout gear, bats, helmets, catcher's gear all provided.
• Players are responsible for their own transportation to and from Yuma, Arizona.
• Your registration is a firm commitment to participate in the Arizona Winter League. Cancellations will not result in a refund.

Team Managers/Instructors, including GBL Managers, are:

• Kash Beauchamp: Former Wichita Wingnuts Manager in the American Association, currently the Taiwan Professional Baseball Hitting Director and Player Procurement Scout, considered one of the most accomplished managers in Independent Minor League baseball, legendary hitting coach and operator of the renowned Wood Bat Mechanics professional hitting school, #1 draft choice in the 1982 draft (selected by the Toronto Blue Jays).
• Garry Templeton: Long Beach Armada Manager, 16-year major league career, 4-Time National League All-Star with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, 2 major league Silver Slugger Awards, 5-year AAA Manager for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, has signed over 20 players from the Arizona Winter League in the last three seasons.
• Les Lancaster: Sioux City Explorers Manager in the American Association, 7-year major league career, former Sporting News National League All-Star and All-Rookie Team, 9-year pro managing career including Baseball America Manager of the Year Award and multiple Championships, holds record for number of players signed by major league organizations off one independent league team.
• Mike Marshall : Yuma Scorpions Manager, 11-year major league career, former National League All-Star, 1988 World Series Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-year pro managing career, former VP of Baseball Operations for the Northern League.
• Tim Johnson: Tucson Toros Manager,  7-year major league career with the Brewers and Blue Jays, major league manager with the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1990s, legendary independent league manager with the Lincoln Salt Dogs, Tucson, and in the top Mexican Leagues with the Mexicali Aguilas, Mexico City Red Devils, and Obregon Yaquis.  He also spent 20 seasons managing and coaching in the minor league farm systems of the Dodgers, Cubs,  Expos, and Red Sox.
• Cory Snyder : Maui Na Koa Ikaika Manager, 9-Year major league career, top American League slugger with the Cleveland Indians, All-American at BYU and member of the 1984 US Olympic baseball team, three year minor league managing careers, has signed over 30 players from the first three Arizona Winter League season.
• Ozzie Virgil: 14-year major league career, two time National League All-Star catcher with the Phillies and the Braves. Pro minor league manager and coach. Considered one of the top catching and hitting instructors for professional players in the country.
• Butch Henry: El Paso Diablos manager in the American Association, 8-year major league career as a left-handed pitcher with Houston, Montreal, Boston, Colorado, and Seattle.  He was a coach and pitching instructor for three years in the Cincinnati Reds farm system before being named manager of the El Paso team.  He has led the Diablos for the last four seasons, including being named American Association Manager of the Year in 2007.
• Boots Day:   Calgary Vipers hitting coach, led the AWL Calgary Vipers to the AWL Championship in 2009, 6-year major leaguer as a centerfielder with the Montreal Expos, he has managed and coached in the Tigers and Cardinals minor league system in addition to coaching in both the Atlantic League and Golden Baseball League.
• Alex Arias:   11-year major leaguer who played shortstop and third base for the Cubs, Marlins, Phillies, Padres,  and Yankees.  Hit .303 for Philadelphia as their everday shortsop in 1999.  Coached in Yuma in the Golden Baseball League in 2005 and has been a manager in the Baltimore Orioles farm system since then.
• James Frisbie: Fort Worth Cats pitching coach in the American Association, 3 years experience as a pro manager and considered one of the top minor league pitching coaching in the country. 10-year minor league career. Managed Saskatchewan Silver Sox last year and had 8 of his players signed to pro contracts, including a Korean pitcher that is the leading candiate for pitcher of the year in the American Association at this time.
• Brooks Carey: Four year minor league career in the Orioles organization where he rocketed to AAA as a left-handed pitcher before injuries derailed him. Has managed and coached in the minor leagues and is currently the pitching coach for the Can-Am League champion Sussex Skyhawks. Has had over 20 players of his in the first three season of the AWL signed to professional contracts. Has a reputation for giving pitchers the something extra they need to succeed at the next level, and considered as a pitching guru by players not only for his knowledge and pitching instruction techniques but for his deep profound wisdom that he dispenses tying his life lessons to pitching success.
• Benny Castillo: 10-year minor league careers, 7 seasons managing in the independend leagues and for major league farms systems with Tigers and Marlins. Championships in the Northern League and named Baseball American Manager of the Year. Outstanding manager and hitting coach, has had over 20 of his AWL players signed to pro contracts in three seasons.
• Rusty Meacham: 7-year major league career as a pitcher primarily with the Kansas City Royals. Minor League pitching coach in the Washinton Nationals organization and manager and coach in the pro independent minor leagues as well.
• Dave Marcon: Detroit Tigers pitching and hitting instructor, 12-year minor league career, leading Independent League scout and operator of the Indy Pro Showcase.
• Nick Belmonte, AWL roving base-running and fielding instructor: former Salt Lake City Trappers manager, Boston Red Sox Independent Leagues scout, scout and player procurement for Can-Am, Frontier, New York State, and American Association teams. Scout for 5 independent leagues and the leading player procurement consultant in minor league baseball. He placed 120 players on the rosters of 2009 independent league clubs.

AWL Players Signed by Major League Organizations:
- Sergio Romo, Giants
- Scott Richmond, Blue Jays
- Brandon Fowler, Padres
- Rylan Sandoval, Mets
- Jay Broughton, Red Sox
- Brandon Taylor, Dodgers
- Andrew Romo, Giants
- Darrick Hale, Reds
- Mike Thompson, Royals
- Kennard Jones, Orioles

AWL Players Who Have Played in the Major Leagues:
- Sergio Romo, Giants
- Scott Richmond, Blue Jays
- Garrett Stephenson, Cardinals
- Jeff Tam, Athletics
- Lou Pote, Angels
- Les Lancaster, Cubs
- Ozzie Virgil, Jr., Phllies