This is Paul Janensch with a Treasure Coast Essay about the Umpire School at Historic Dodgertown in Vero
Beach. Can’t wait until March to watch Major League Baseball spring training on Florida’s Atlantic Coast? How about watching aspiring minor league umpires right now? The four-week basic course runs through February 4th. You can observe on-field work from 1 to 6 p.m. on weekday at no charge. During the morning, the students are in class learning the rules and positioning in the minor league two-umpire system. Some 90 students have registered. They come from as far away as Japan. About 30 of them will advance to an evaluation course. Last year, the Umpire School placed 42 umpires in Minor League Baseball. The Dodgers may be gone from Dodgertown, but tomorrow’s umpires are here. Batter upl! Steeee-rike! Y’er out! This is Paul Janensch.
