Major League Baseball

MLB to launch prospect league in Nicaragua

Published Apr. 15, 2015 4:10 p.m. ET

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Major League Baseball will open an Amateur Prospect League in Nicaragua this weekend.

Its two teams will play each Saturday through July 4 and follow with a fall season that starts in September, the commissioner's office said Wednesday. Players will include those currently eligible to be signed and those eligible in the draft period that starts July 2.

A player who is not a resident of the United States or Canada must be at least 17 in order to be eligible during a signing period or turn 17 by Sept. 1 of that period.

MLB started an Amateur Prospect League in the Dominican Republic in March 2012.

Thirty-one Nicaraguan players have major or minor league contracts.