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Our Programs and Seasons

What program fits you ?

Blizzard Elite (11u-18u) - August - March

The Blizzard Elite program - the premier, comprehensive baseball experience for players ages 11u-18u. Practices begin in August leading up to playing in ScoutStop’s AFBL season including an AFBL World Series.  The winter season that includes traveling tournaments, full practice regimen, college consultations, varsity showcases and more. Teams will travel to some of the top tournaments in the country (Perfect Game Kernels Foundation Championship, Perfect Game MLK Championships, Desert Fall Classic – Las Vegas, NV and more!) Typically, there are two elite teams (Blue and Black) per age level.

New to the Elite Program in 2019-2020:

  • Will play added fall tournaments during fall season / less weekend DHs
  • more training weekends in fall
  • 15u-18u - fall intensive
  • UnderClass and UpperClass Elite League at Bethel and Northwestern
  • UpperClass / games vs. colleges
  • 12 players / team (Elite Program)
  • 12-14 players / team (Fall Program)
  • 15u/18u may have a few pitcher only positions

Blizzard Fall Only (9u-18u) - August - October

The Blizzard Fall Only program is for players who may be involved in multiple winter/fall sports and want a high-level fall baseball experience. Our Blizzard Fall Only teams will compete in ScoutStop’s AFBL and have the same August and September practice schedule as the Blizzard Elite teams. The fall teams also act as a minor league system for the Blizzard Elite teams as we have had several players called-up after the fall to participate in tournaments. There are typically 2-3 levels of fall play: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Blizzard Gold Program - August - October

Ages 12u - 18u will compete in ScoutStop's Advanced Fall Baseball League and travel to two tournaments - two local and one traveling. 

Ages 9u - 12u will compete in ScoutStop's Advanced Fall Baseball League and travel to two local tournaments.

All players attend the same tryouts are placed on a team based on their scoring.

Standard of Excellence

The BLIZZARD BASEBALL ACADEMY was started in 2003 by Adam Barta and John Anderson in order to give kids an opportunity to compete on a level playing field with warm weather states. By starting small and working with kids seven days a week, Barta and Anderson graduated some of Minnesota’s most decorated prep baseball players including: Joe Loftus (Vanderbilt), Madison Boer (Oregon), Logan Shore (Florida) and many more.

Standard of Excellence

Currently, there are four divisions of Blizzard Baseball Academy (sometimes referred to as Minnesota Baseball Academy):

  • Blizzard Baseball Academy (instruction and development)
  • Minnesota Blizzard (fall ball and elite travel teams)
  • The AFBL and EUL - Advanced Fall Baseball League (a metro-wide youth select ball league and the AFBL World Series select tournament) and the UnderClass Elite League (a high school-based elite fall league)
  • ScoutStop (college and pro exposure for student athletes - tournaments, leagues, showcases and profiles)

All four  divisions use sports specific training to achieve a broader impact on our student athletes. In each case, this is achieved through a standard of excellence set by our leaders and mentors in our program – primarily our instructors and coaches.  As a result, this standard of excellence is the founding principal of the Minnesota Baseball Academy and it continually resonates throughout all four of our divisions, guiding the continued growth of our student athletes.

But teaching baseball skills isn’t the only thing the Blizzard do for their players.  They teach that attitude, effort and the importance of preparation is what makes great baseball players and more importantly – great people. The lessons learned at Minnesota Baseball Academy go past the lines and into the real world.  Our Blizzard Big 5 are a key component and is the centerpiece to the Blizzard program.

Blizzard Elite Program

The Minnesota Blizzard program (9u-18u) has been designed to aggressively assemble the most dedicated and elite baseball players in the Midwest.  Our program’s goal is to create opportunities for all players by way of quality instruction, league play, national tournaments, developmental, college consultations and exposure to the college and professional ranks through showcases and recruiting profiles.

ELITE BASEBALL PROGRAM

Competing in tournaments since 2003, the Minnesota Blizzard has placed in the top four 228 times including 96 tournament championships and has produced over 350 college and professional players including:  Logan Shore (Florida), Sam Carlson (Florida) Ryan Boldt (Nebraska), Alex Call (Ball State), Matt Fiedler (Minnesota), Joe Loftus, (Vanderbilt/Diamondbacks), Mike Strong (Milwaukee Brewers) and Madison Boer (Oregon/Twins). 

Tournaments are set and include our traditional trips (Las Vegas, Perfect Game Kernels Championships) but will also includetournaments such as Prospect Select Twin Cities Classic, PBR Championships, the Freshman and Underclass Perfect Game World Championship - the top scouting events and invite-only tournaments in the country.

By the numbers ...
National Tournament Championships 96
Top-Four Finishes 228
MLB Draft Picks or FA 58
Current Major League Players Matt Koch / Brad Hand
2019-2020
2018-2019 College Commitments: 35
2017-2018 College Commitments: 49
2013-2016 College Commitments: 180
2008-2012 College Commitments 84

Values, Vision and what drives Blizzard Baseball – The Blizzard Big 5

The competition, college and pro exposure, player development, alumni involvement and family are what drive our program.  The Blizzard is more than baseball – it’s a life experience with coaches who care and players who want to get better.  Our vision and values of the Blizzard Big 5 drive our core values, guide players through their youth years, into high school and onto both college and professional baseball.

Why play for the Blizzard?

Quite simply, the Minnesota Blizzard is the best elite travel baseball program in state, with a strong tradition of producing the top players in Minnesota. 

The Blizzard travels to top-tier tournaments throughout the U.S., providing players the opportunity to play against some of the highest-level competition in the country.  The competition, college and pro exposure, player development, alumni involvement and family are what drive our program.  The Blizzard is more than baseball – it’s a life experience with coaches who care and players who want to get better.

The tournaments also provide exposure to college recruiters for the upperclassmen, as 100% of the varsity players have gone on to play college baseball over the past three years.  The coaching staff includes two associate scouts for MLB teams, as well as former college and professional players who all have an expansive network in baseball.