Monday, December 03, 2012

RETHERFORD GETS SPRING TRAINING INVITATION; POMERANZ IN LIMBO

This is such an enjoyable week for baseball addicts so we will do our best to keep up with happenings at the Winter Meetings involving former Independent players, both here and in our subscription-driven Independent Baseball Insidercolumn that comes out after Thursday's Rule 5 draft.

The American Association has another of its former stars, Fargo, ND third baseman C. J. Retherford, guaranteed of a major league spring training look. The Los Angeles Dodgers have given him a non-roster invitation, always a good sign.

Retherford, 27, was the organization's Pride Award winner for a June explosion in which he sizzled at .458 with 13 homers in 26 games for Class A Rancho Cucamonga, CA. For the year, he hit .311 with 23 homers and 25 doubles, but batted only .250 in 44 games for Double-A Chattanooga, TN.

Meanwhile, it was surprising to see right-handed pitcher Stu Pomeranz (New Jersey Jackals, Can-Am League) non-tendered by Baltimore, especially since Manager Buck Showalter told this writer in September "he was going to impact us" (in 2012) if not for a severe oblique injury shortly after he was called up to the Orioles. The pitcher seemed to bounce back well in the Florida Instructional League this fall. The O's could re-sign Pomeranz or he might end up elsewhere for next season.

HANKERD RE-SIGNED, PROMOTED

The Chicago White Sox not only gave first baseman-outfielder Cyle Hankerd a new contract, but also promoted the 2011-12 Amarillo, TX (American Association) slugger to their Triple-A Charlotte, NC roster.

Hankerd, who was drafted by Arizona out of Southern Cal in 2006, hit 20 homers and drove in 65 runs in only 83 games for the White Sox's two Class A farm clubs last season. The 27-year-old right-handed batsman hit .437 in nine games at Kannapolis, NC, then stepped up to the Carolina League (Winston-Salem) and hit .325 with 15 of his home runs. He also had 27 doubles and was well above .400 in on-base percentage at both stops. He is a .288 hitter for seven minor league seasons, and hit .351 in 75 games for Amarillo over two seasons.

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