FAQ: Roster Rules

Overview

The roster limit for a Northern League club is 22 players. An additional two players may be on the disabled list during the regular season. Of those 22 players, a maximum of four may be veterans and minimum of five must be rookies. The remaining players will be designated limited service (LS) players and of those LS players, one must be an LS-1 and only four (4) may be LS-4.

During the pre-season, a maximum of 28 players may be under contract at any one time without regard to classification. The 22 active player roster must be met three days before the start of the regular season

A year of service for Northern League players is 75 official at bats or more in a National Association or independent league or leagues, or 30 innings pitched in a a National Association or independent league or leagues, in any in any season prior to the present calendar year.

For Northern League service, the first two years of service equals one National Association year. For foreign players, the classification and salary level will be determined by the league office.

Statistics from the Gulf Coast League or Arizona Rookie League are not used in determining classification.

Length of Service Definitions

Rookie:

A player with less than one year of service

LS-1:

A player with less than two years of service

LS-2:

A player with less than three years of service

LS-3:

A player with less than four years of service

LS-4:

A player with less than five years of service

One of the four LS-4 players may be an LS-5. An LS-5 player is a player that is becoming a veteran by virtue of spending two (2) years in the Northern League. A player may spend only one year as an LS-5. The age rule does not apply to an LS-5.

Veteran:

A player with more than four years of service

If a player has more than five years of service but has not reached the age of 26 by September 1 of that season, he will be considered an LS-4. If he has not reached the age of 24 by September 1 of that season, he will be considered an LS-3.

Source: Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 1999 Souvenir Yearbook, pg. 19