SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Sarah Hodel and Rachel Koehler arrived at Robin Roberts Stadium more than four hours before the first game of the Women's Professional Baseball League. Once inside, Hodel stopped periodically for pictures as she walked along the concourse.

Minor League Baseball consists of 120 full-season affiliated teams across the U.S. and Canada and serves as a developmental system for Major League Baseball. MiLB, founded in 1901, is headquartered in New York and operates additional rookie leagues in Arizona, Florida and the Dominican Republic each summer.

Martha Reeves and two other women's national anthem performance drew social media criticism before the historic first women's pro baseball game in nearly three decades.

Fans traveled from across the country to be part of history as women’s professional baseball returned to the U.S. after a 72-year absence.

Before the first pitch, Martha was joined by two backup singers to perform "The Star-Spangled Banner," helping kick off the league's long-awaited debut. The anthem quickly became a viral moment online, with social media lighting up as viewers weighed in on the performance -- praising the historic opening ceremony.

Fantasy baseball expert leagues like LABR and Tout Wars reveal how analysts draft, value players, and test strategies each season. Expert fantasy baseball leagues offer a window into how experienced analysts approach roster construction and draft strategy.

Wild, beautiful, and independent, America’s lowest rung of professional baseball is improbably and victoriously commencing its 15th season. The lords of baseball on the margins ply their craft in small outposts scattered across the mountain, desert West ...

Over the weekend, Baseball America ranked the top 20 prospects in the recently completed Florida Complex League, with two Tigers making the cut.