Recent American Association lefty and Pittsburgh Pirates non-roster spring training invitee Kris Johnson continues to be one of the intriguing stories heading into the week-long Caribbean Series which starts Friday.
The 28-year-old has to have Pittsburgh's full attention because of his tremendous season in leading Escogido into the Caribbean Series as the Dominican Republic's representative. He won two of three decisions, including the 4-0 clincher, in the Dominican Republic playoffs with a fancy 1.11 earned run average and 28 strikeouts in a similar number of innings for five postseason starts. Johnson had a 0.67 ERA for 27 regular-season innings, and always seemed to be on the mound for the biggest games.
He was 6-3, 3.23 in 16 starts for the Kansas City (KS) T-Bones in '11, then went a combined 8-4 for the Pirates' top two farm clubs last summer.
Switch-hitting American Association All-Star outfielder Chris Roberson (Winnipeg) had a solid playoff run in the Mexican League although his Mexicali team did not advance. Roberson, still on the Winnipeg roster, drove in 10 runs in 17 postseason games, hitting .239, and led all Mexican League players with eight stolen bases.
POWER SHOW GETS YORK'S CHRIS NOWAK A LOOK FROM D-BACKS
The 59 homers Chris Nowak blasted the last two seasons in the Atlantic League (York, PA), including a career-best 34 last season, has earned the first baseman-third baseman another affiliated opportunity, this one in the Arizona farm system which has been aggressive in signing Independent players this winter.
Nowak, the first Atlantic Leaguer to hit the 30-home run plateau since Jesse Hoorelbeke hit 33 for Bridgeport, CT back in '07, turns 30 in February (21st) and will be hoping his third major league organization will be the one to get him to the major leagues one day soon. He does not have a major league spring training invitation.
CONGRATULATIONS
Newark Owner Danielle Dronet, trying to get the Bears back among the leaders in the Can-Am League, has been named one of New Jersey's Best 50 Women in Business by NJBIZ, a leading business publication in that state. An independent panel of judges made the selections based on dedication to business growth, professional and personal accomplishments, community involvement and advocacy for women.
DE MARK, GARKO GET NEW DEALS
Veteran infielder Ryan Garko, signed out of Long Island, NY (Atlantic League) early last season, has changed major league organizations, moving from Tampa Bay to Colorado where he is on the Rockies' Triple-A Colorado Springs roster.
Right-hander Mike DeMark stayed put, re-signing with Arizona. He started out in Independent Baseball with Florence, KY in the Frontier League and later joined York.
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