(Yuma, AZ. February 28th, 2012) The Arizona Winter League announced today that 68 of its players have been selected by teams all over the world to play professional baseball in 2012. The total number of players selected at the AWL Draft tops last year’s number of 59, once again making the Arizona Winter League the premier instructional league in terms of placing players with professional organizations.

“We were really pleased with the talent that was on display at this year’s AWL and we’re happy to see that reflected in the number of players receiving professional offers,” said Arizona Winter League Commissioner, Kevin Outcalt.

Organizations selecting AWL players include the Abilene Prairie Dogs, Alpine Cowboys, Amarillo Sox, Boston Red Sox, El Paso Diablos, Evansville Otters, German International League, Japanese International League, Na Koa Ikaika Maui, Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings, Rockford Riverhawks, Roswell Invaders, San Rafael Pacifics, Sioux City Explorers, White Sands Pupfish, Windy City Thunderbolts, and the Yuma Panthers. The Boston Red Sox selected right handed pitcher Victor Ferrante, who they were impressed with following the AWL’s Major League Scout Day. Other players selected will report to their respective teams for spring training in the coming months.

The Arizona Summer League, the summer equivalent of the AWL, is now accepting registrations. The ASL will run from July 9^th through August 1^st and will offer players the chance to be picked up by a team midseason. More information is available at www.ArizonaSummerLeague.com

The entire list of players selected out of the 2012 Arizona Winter League is below, sorted by organization.

Abilene Prairie Dogs: RHP Kent Worthington

Alpine Cowboys: C Kyle Crean

Amarillo Sox: OF Michael Coffey, RHP Seth Hobbs, SS Kalaika Kahoohalahala

Boston Red Sox: RHP Victor Ferrante (invited to tryout)

El Paso Diablos: UTL Ramon Geronimo3B Kevin Park, UTL Thomas Shull, RHP Coleman Stephens

Evansville Otters: RHP Jake Henderson, SS Kevin Lovelace, OF Nicholas Shaw

German International League: RHP Robert Strecker

Japanese International League: C Sho Nagashima, RHP Toru Takahashi

Na Koa Ikaika Maui: RHP Robert Boothe, LHP Eric Katzman, LHP Dan Maurer, RHP Matt Walker

Rio Grande Valley White Wings:RHP Clint Bowker, RHP Aryo Fleming, 1B Nicholas Lenzendorf, SS Bryan Marquez, OF James Mays, C Lukas Nakandakare, RHP Brian Nicolini, RHP Travis Perkins, OF Jacob Wright

Rockford Riverhawks:OF Michael Hur

Roswell Invaders: 3B Adam Bies, 1B Skylar Brewer, OF Michael Brown, RHP Ryan Davis, OF Bryan Doheny, 3B Brandon Gregorich, OF Nick Naegele, SS Shawn Rockey, C Lucas Shaw, LHP Justin Trejo

San Rafael Pacifics: OF Mark Micowski, OF Tomochika Tsuboi, OF LJ Watson

Sioux City Explorers: LHP Victor Gonzalez

Tijuana Potros: Keigo Miyagi

White Sands Pupfish: C Andrew Caron, RHP Chris Casazza, 3B John Couch, 1B Justin Juneau, OF Anthony Kaskadden, C Brian Loard, RHP Chris Maness, OF Austin Newell, 2B Jared Northcutt, RHP Marcus Pointer, RHP Kieta Sakate, 1B Blake Shaffer, RHP John Stewart, 3B Jordan Stouffer

Windy City Thunderbolts: INF Chad Bisnette, RHP Dominguez Dykeman, C Brandon Pearl

Yuma Panthers: RHP Curtis Camilli, 3B Mario Flores, OF Tyler Hicks, RHP Tetsuya Iwasaki, OF Brandon Mims, OF Deaun Williams