The Winter Developmental League is set to return early next month for another season of winter baseball in Hawaii. After four seasons of divisional based rosters — in which the NL East took two titles — the WDL is set to unveil a new format.
Having reached out to the league, the following GM’s were put in charge of a WDL team this season:
- Banzai Waves: Jason
- Kapalua Dolphins: Kimberly
- Lahaina Sharks: Matt E.
- Lanai Islanders: Committee – see channel chat
- Princeville Pirates: Heinz
- Wailea Beach: Rob
Each WDL team will be represented by five MLB franchises.
The following managers will be used:
- Banzai: Joe Torre
- Kapalua: Ned Yost
- Lahaina: Bud Black
- Lanai: Ryne Sandberg
- Princeville: Joe Maddon
- Wailea: Ron Gardenhire
WDL ROSTER RULES
Player rejection has again been set to “rarely” — instead of using the rejection list on each Google Sheet, I have instead used a list of players that WILL ACCEPT going to the WDL. Each pick you make, the player must be on the list on the right (filter to your team). You can also see the list of willing players in-game under the WDL dropdown -> Transactions -> Select Roster -> “ACCEPTED INVITE” screen.
Winter Developmental League
Who Do I Pick?
Annual reminder that the purpose of the WDL is development and not winning every game at any cost.
The WDL is about the future, not the present. You should not be looking to send players that are on your 2025 radar. These should be players that are 2026 and beyond types.
So, who do you send?
To me, the ideal WDL candidate is perhaps a college draftee from 2024 who is maybe 22+ y/o. Someone who maybe made A+ ball, but is someone who needs more innings on the mound or AB’s against non-college pitching.
Maybe it’s a 23 y/o at AA who had a bad 2024 season, someone who was blocked and had limited opportunity.
Maybe it’s an 18 y/o pitcher you took in the draft who was stuck behind other draftees and never got any innings.
Maybe it’s a non-top 20 prospect at A- ball, but someone with a very specific skillset that with extra opportunity could see improvements in the areas he suffers in.
Maybe it’s a someone with little potential at all, but someone who had a good season at A-/A ball.
Maybe it’s an older international complex player who you want to give some extra game-time to.
Maybe it’s just someone you could be okay with if they got hurt over the valued prospect you don’t want to send.
Who would I not send? (Writing this without having looked at any current WDL draft pools. Sorry if I include a player you have or were planning on sending, you still can!!!)
To me, elite prospects who have shown minor league production and are advancing steadily are players I would probably NOT send. Someone who is close and can use Spring Training to develop.
I personally would not advise sending anyone who you might think could crack your MLB roster this coming season. TO ME, the one potential downfall in the WDL is injury.
Why not have an age or level restriction?
Age: Again, to me, college players who are drafted at 22, even 23 who have little minor league experience should not be excluded from the WDL while a guy at 20 or 21 who has 2 or 3 years of minor league experience is eligible isn’t a fair method of determining eligibility.
That makes some sense, then why not use minor-league levels?
Because this would be easy to manipulate. Demote a guy, hold a guy back a level.