NOW 25, ADAM BUSCHINI STARS AT AMARILLO AND WINS TRIPLE CROWN IN AUSTRALIA

Here is the latest example of a player whose talent may be maturing after an initial stint in affiliated baseball.

 

Adam Buschini just won the Triple Crown in the Australian League with a .363 average plus league records in homers (15) and runs batted in (50).

 

The infielder, who will not turn 26 until May, came off a .422 junior campaign at Cal Poly in 2009, was drafted by the Phillies and hit .228 and .219 in two seasons (135 games total) in their farm system.  Buschini picked up the pieces with a .288 season for Chico, CA in the North American League, then exploded to .354-14-70 at Amarillo, TX this past summer.  The San Ramon, CA product's average was fourth best in the American Association.

 

Independent players set two other Australian records in the just-completed season.  Native Aussie Craig Anderson (Brockton, MA, Can-Am League) had eight wins and Zach Penprase of Fargo, ND (American Association) stole 16 bases.  It is key to remember the Australian League does not play a lengthy schedule.

 

REICHERT, SIMONTACCHI MOVE INTO THE COACHING RANKS

 

First the major leagues, then later seasons in Independent leagues and now coaching assignments for both Jason Simontacchi and Dan Reichert. 

 

Simontacchi, who played in Independent leagues near the start and end of his playing career, will now coach in the St. Louis Cardinals organization.  He was an Indy leaguer at Springfield, IL (Frontier League) and in the Atlantic League (Bridgeport, CT, Lancaster, PA and Long Island, NY).

 

Reichert is now the pitching coach for Lincoln, NE in the American Association.  Reichert played for the Saltdogs in '07 and finished his lengthy career with Southern Maryland (Waldorf) of the Atlantic League last season.  His other Independent stops were at Calgary of the Northern League, Nashua, NH of the Can-Am and additional Atlantic League appearances in Atlantic City, NJ and Bridgeport, CT.

 

TWO MORE NON-ROSTER INVITEES

 

A pair of right-handers, Kevin Johnson and Robert Coello, are the most recent players who have been in Independent leagues to receive major league spring training invitations.  Both will be training with the Los Angeles Angels.

 

Johnson started his pro career with a brief time at Pensacola, FL when it was in the American Association in 2010.  Coello, who has been in six major league games with both Boston and Toronto, divided '08 between the Canadian cities of Calgary and Edmonton, at that time in the Golden League.

 

 

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