SIX MORE SIGN WITH MLB ORGANIZATIONS, BUT OUR UNSIGNED LIST IS MUCH LONGER

Granted, it is not even mid-January, but a ton of talented former Independent players who finished last season with one of the 30 major league organizations are unsigned for 2012.

Our list shows 62 such players although a few will no doubt call it quits and some others almost certainly will return to play Indy baseball once more.

The only fulltime major leaguer unsigned is outfielder J. D. Drew, who came out of the Northern League (St. Paul, MN) and most recently had a huge contract with Boston. Five others got some action in the majors last season.

The list had six more names a few days ago, but that group has now signed. 3B Corey Smith (Newark, NJ, then in the Atlantic League) moved from the Los Angeles Dodgers organization to the Chicago White Sox, OF Leonard Davis (New Jersey Jackals, Can-Am League) switched from Washington to Colorado and LHP Derrick Loop (Camden, NJ, Atlantic, and Chico, CA, Golden League) transferred from Philadelphia to the Dodgers.

Another trio stayed with their 2011 organization, 1B-3B Mike Cervenak (Chillicothe, OH, Frontier League) with Miami, SS Anthony Contreras (Lincoln, NE, American Association) with San Diego and INF Argenis Reyes (Jackals) with Cleveland.

Those unsigned, by our records, with players who saw major league action last season denoted with an #:

PITCHERS (34): Ronald Bay, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Nick Bierbrodt, Vince Bongiovanni, Nate Bump, #Greg Burke, Alex Caldera, Tom Cochran, Gabe DeHoyos, #Mark DiFelice, Lenny DiNardo, Justin Dowdy, Joe Esposito, #Nelson Figueroa, Justin Hampson, T.J. Hose, Justin James, Eric Junge, Randy Keisler, Logan Kensing, B.J. LaMura, Chris Mobley, Sam Narron, Tommy Palica, Paul Phillips, Mark Prior, Matt Rusch, Robby Scott, Brian Stokes, Brian Sweeney, Andy Van Hekken, Les Walrond, #Randy Williams, Clay Zavada.
CATCHERS (6): Andy Bouchie, #Robinson Cancel, Jeff Howell, Shawn Riggans, Travis Scott, James Skelton.
INFIELDERS (14): SS Angel Berroa, 1B Tagg Bozied, 3B Eric Campbell, Ozzie Chavez, Matt Cusick, 3B Pedro Feliz, SS Andy Gonzalez, 1B (also OF) Cyle Hankerd, 3B Jorge Jimenez, 1B-3B Mike Lamb, 1B John Lindsey, Anderson Machado, Raul Padron, SS Ed Rogers.
OUTFIELDERS (8): Brent Clevlen, #J.D. Drew, Jose Duarte, #Joey Gathright, #Jay Gibbons, Chris Lubanski, Drew Macias, Jon Mark Owings.

I encourage anyone who knows of signings (or retirements) that we have not noticed to email RWirz@aol.com.

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