The West Virginia Black Bears today released their game schedule for the 2027 MLB Draft League season. The Black Bears open on the road on June 2 with two games against the 2026 champions, the Williamsport Crosscutters, before traveling to Trenton to take on the Thunder. The Bears return to Granville to face the Aberdeen IronBirds for three games beginning with the Home Opener on Tuesday, June 8.
The 78-game schedule features 40 home games with six Fridays and seven Saturday contests, including Independence Day Eve on July 3. For the second season, the Black Bears will host an International Series against national team representation (June 18-20), while fans enjoy one of the biggest days of the summer with Father’s Day and West Virginia Day on Sunday, June 20.
The first half of the season, which showcases amateur, draft-eligible players, ends on July 10. After a three-day break, the second half begins on the road against the Crosscutters on July 14 with players who have exhausted their amateur eligibility. West Virginia concludes the season at home against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, August 29-31, with the MLB Draft League Championship game scheduled the following day (September 1).
In their sixth season in the league, the Black Bears finished fifth in overall standings under first-year manager, Tim Garland. Highlights of the 2026 campaign include setting a record for most players drafted (15) and most pitchers selected (10) during the 2026 MLB Draft, as well as infielder Cayden Gaskin’s record-breaking 37 steals in the second half.
Game times will be announced as the promotional schedule is finalized. Black Bears season tickets will go on sale Monday, October 19.
