Coastal Plain League: The Nation's Hottest Summer Collegiate Baseball League

2017 Coastal Plain League Umpires

Minor League Baseball Umpire Development, formerly known as Professional Baseball Umpire Corp (PBUC), a Minor League Baseball wholly owned subsidiary, first entered into a working agreement to provide its reserve umpires to the Coastal Plain League beginning in 2008. The agreement allows reserve list umpires to continue to develop their skills in a competitive environment, while waiting for the call from MiLB Umpire Development to work Minor League Baseball games. Prior to the start of the 2016 CPL season, the Coastal Plain League and MiLB Umpire Development extended its agreement through the 2018 CPL season.

"Minor League Baseball is extremely excited about extending our partnership with the Coastal Plain League once again," said Minor League Umpire Development Director Dusty Dellinger. "We could not have a better environment for our future professional umpires to train and gain such valuable experience.

“Our relationship with the Coastal Plain League has been extremely valuable to our organization in the sense that we can have our next available professional umpires working in an environment in the CPL that is very comparable to what they will face in pro ball. The experience the CPL provides our umpires can’t be matched and we hope that our relationship continues for years to come."

Since 2008, 144 PBUC reserve umpires have gotten their start in the Coastal Plain League, with an impressive 106 of them moving on since to work games in Minor League Baseball. Furthermore, Nic Lentz became the first former CPL umpire to make it to the Major Leagues on April 20, 2016. Lentz served as the first base umpire during the Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins game along side home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt, second base Umpire Scott Barry, and third base umpire Tripp Gibson.

“We have enjoyed working with Dusty and his staff at Minor League Baseball Umpire Development, as well as the numerous reserve umpires that have come through the Coastal Plain League during our partnership,” said CPL COO/Commissioner Justin Sellers. “We feel that our quality of play and overall atmosphere has gone a long way in helping the development of future Minor and Major League Baseball umpires. The number of alumni that have gone on from the CPL into umpiring in professional baseball is strong proof that our relationship has been beneficial to both parties.” MiLB Umpire Development is responsible for the training, evaluation and recommendation for promotion, retention or release of all umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada.

Below are the 2017 Coastal Plain League Umpires: