Jason Simontacchi (Bridgeport, Atlantic League; Springfield, Frontier League) is not going to be ready for a spot in the Washington Nationals' rotation until at least mid-April because of a groin injury, but if my reading of several rosters is correct I give at least six of the Independent Baseball products who were non-roster invitees to spring training a chance of opening the season in the major leagues.
I am not predicting six will make it, but I believe any of this group could get the call. (Independent teams, leagues in parenthesis, and some spring stats, in certain cases.)
Pitchers:
D. J. Carrasco, Arizona (Johnstown, Frontier), 11 strikeouts, two walks in 10.0 innings, 4.50 ERA
Tim Byrdak, Detroit (Joliet and Gary, Northern League), 6.75, but in 8 games and a lefty
Nate Field, Florida (Sioux City, Northern), 3.12 in a busy eight games with eight K's and only one walk
Position Players:
Shortstop Rey Ordonez, Seattle, (St. Paul, Northern), in a nice comeback
Infielder Tomas DeLaRosa, San Francisco, (Nashua, Atlantic League), as a backup infielder
First baseman Tagg Bozied, St. Louis, (Sioux Falls, Northern), as a righthanded bat off the bench
Others have an opportunity, of course, but this is the group I give the best chance.
Of 40-man roster players who haven't been major league regulars, I give Ken Ray a nice chance of being on the Kansas City mound staff. He has been busy with eight appearances (6.23), and it is key for a reliever that he has only walked two. Ray has Indy experience in the Can-Am League (North Shore), Atlantic (Long Island) and Western League (Yuba-Sutter), and got some big league time at Atlanta last year.
We will find out all the answers soon. Stay tuned.
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