IN 15TH SEASON, SCOTT RICE IS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES; BURKE LIKELY WITH METS, TOO

 

The New York Mets don't often get to be part of major celebrations these days, but one of their players--and his legion of family and friends--should be making a toast this Friday night.

While we have not seen it officially just yet, multiple sources say 31-year-old Scott Rice, a first-round draft choice way back in 1989 (Baltimore, selection number 44), will be putting on a major league uniform for the first time in his 15 professional seasons when the Mets host San Diego in a National League opener Monday afternoon.

The left-hander, who has been in six organizations and played for three Atlantic League teams, was notified Friday that he had made the 25-man Opening Day roster. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone at his age make it for the first time out of spring (training),” reported the Wall Street Journal’s Jared Diamond. “Real excitement here,” his tweet added. (Note: Another Independent product, catcher Chris Coste, debuted with Philadelphia at the age of 33 a few years ago.) Michael Baron of MetsBlog.com also reported Rice’s addition to the 40-man roster, and ESPNNewYork reported another former Independent pitcher, Greg Burke, also has made the Mets’ bullpen staff.

While several Indy players have received the disappointing news that they would not be in the majors on Opening Day despite outstanding spring training campaigns, as we reported in yesterday’s subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider column, the additions of Rice and Burke help make up for it.

Rice was the final cut in spring training by the Los Angeles Dodgers one year ago, but he made a big impression on Mets Manager Terry Collins this spring. “He has a sinking fastball and he induced a lot of ground balls over the course of camp,” analyzed Baron. The Simi Valley, CA native, who pitched in the Atlantic League in 2008, 2009 and 2011, added a scoreless inning in New York’s 7-2 victory over St. Louis Friday afternoon.

During his long grind in the minor leagues, working exclusively in relief since 2005, Rice was in seven games (mostly ineffectively) with the Long Island (NY) Ducks in his first Atlantic League stint, did a little better with Newark, NJ a year later then helped York, PA to a league title two years ago when he had a 2.45 earned run average (1-0, one save) in 15 appearances.

Burke, who started his professional career with Atlantic City, NJ in the Atlantic League, later made it up to San Diego in ’09 for a time before injuries took a toll. He was in the Baltimore minor league system last year.

 

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BASEBALL'S VERSION OF MARCH MADNESS ALSO HITS A PEAK IN NEXT FEW DAYS

March Madness will mean more than the NCAA basketball tournaments this week.  Baseball players in major league camps will be nervously awaiting news whether they have made the 25-man Opening Day roster or where they will be playing this summer.  A few may get outright releases although most will go back to minor league teams.  For players already in minor league camps, a heavy number of them will be handed pink slips while others will be assigned to a full season team or held back for extended spring training.

 

Several former Independent players have already been released out of minor league camps, which means they could return to the non-affiliated ranks.  Arizona has already cut four such players, including veteran RHP Mike DeMark, who started his pro career at Florence, KY, in the Frontier League.  He later played for the York (PA) Revolution in the Atlantic League.  Also let go by the Diamondbacks were Quebec (Can-Am League) righty Chris Cox, York corner infielder Chris Nowak and southpaw Matt Way, who pitched for Laredo, TX in the American Association and Long Island, NY, in the Atlantic League.  RHP Donovan Drake (Windy City, Frontier) was released by Atlanta.  Cox and Drake also played their first pro games in Independent leagues.

 

CHRISTIAN, DE LA ROSA OUT OF MAJOR LEAGUE CAMPS

 

The most recent that we have seen Independent players sent back to farm systems out of major league camps were outfielder Justin Christian, who saw a lot of time with the St. Louis Cardinals this spring, and Tampa Bay right-hander Dane DeLaRosa.  Christian is one of the players with some major league time after starting in Indy baseball.  He played for River City in the Frontier League and later for Southern Maryland in the Atlantic League.  DeLaRosa, who has brief major league time, also played at Southern Maryland as well as for El Paso, TX in the American Association and for four Golden League teams.  We had a longer list of players sent back to the minors from major league camps in last week's lengthy Independent Baseball Insider, which subscribers receive via email every Thursday.

 

MARK PRIOR'S FUTURE

 

It looked like former major league standout Mark Prior might be through after his time at Pawtucket, RI, Boston's top farm club, last season, but Cincinnati gave the right-hander a minor league contract recently and he has pitched a scoreless inning for the parent Reds.  Prior's Independent comeback time was at Orange County (Fullerton, CA) when it was in the Golden League

 

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PUERTO RICO STARTER IN WBC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WAS AN ATLANTIC LEAGUE RELIEVER IN '05

Every time I think we have nailed down a full list of the Independent players who have been in this year's exciting World Baseball Classic another name pops up.  The latest one is very important today since he will be the starting pitcher for Puerto Rico in tonight's championship game against the Dominican Republic.

 

Right-hander Giancarlo Alvarado was in the Atlantic League back in 2005, working as a reliever for both the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers and the Newark (NJ) Bears, the latter now in the Can-Am League.

 

Another who was identified recently was Team Italy shortstop Anthony Granato.  Chris Carminucci pointed out that Granato played for Atlantic City, NJ when the Surf were in the Can-Am.  Chris, now a scout for Arizona, should know since he was the Atlantic City manager at the time.

 

CURT SMITH JOINS TWINS ORGANIZATION

 

We mentioned in last week's Independent Baseball Insider column that Netherlands first baseman Curt Smith was one of the three Indy players who we felt had especially helped themselves with their performances in the WBC.  Smith, who was scheduled to play in the Atlantic League (Lancaster), has signed with the Minnesota Twins.

 

Smith, a .335 hitter in the American Association in 2011 (Lincoln, NE), and another of the trio we singled out, longtime Can-Am League star Chris Colabello (Worcester, MA), could end up being teammates in the Twins' farm system.  Colabello was a surprisingly early cut after the WBC, getting only two additional at-bats before being sent to the minor league camp.

 

Others trimmed recently from major league camps include Robert Coello by the Los Angeles Angels, Bo Schultz from Arizona, and Caleb Thielbar from the Twins.  Thursday's Insider will focus on some of the Indy grads who seem to have a decent chance of being on Opening Day major league rosters.

 

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SHAWN HILL AND RAUL VALDES JOIN FIGUEROA WITH SUPERB PITCHING PERFORMANCES

Pitching has been the name of the game in recent days for Independent players trying to work their way onto Opening Day rosters in major league spring training camps.

 

Nelson Figueroa, who has been with three major league teams since his brief two-start experience with the Long Island (NY) Ducks (Atlantic League) back in 2006, stole the show with his six-inning scoreless string before he reached the World Baseball Classic-imposed 80-pitch count in that spell-binder that catapaulted Puerto Rico into the championship round and sent the United States players back to their various spring tranning camps.  But he was not alone.

 

Shawn Hill, who started last season in the Atlantic League (York, PA), made a statement to his Detroit Tigers bosses when he shut down St. Louis in the first four innings of a 3-0 Tigers triumph.  Hill allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out three.

 

And Raul Valdes, continuing to pitch for his future with the Philadelphia Phillies as either a starter or a reliever, shut down the New York Yankees in a three-inning starting stint.  He gave up three hits, fanned one and got the Phils started on their way to a 7-0 victory at the Yankees' Tampa, FL base.  The southpaw pitched for two Can-Am League teams (New Jersey and Nashua, NH).

 

Figueroa leaped off the mound and earned a big hug from St. Louis Cardinals all-star catcher Yadier Molina at the end of his triumphant stint against Team USA in Miami.  "We were supreme underdogs against that lineup," the 38-year-old told MLB.com.  "It was motivation to show them what kind of pitcher I was."  His task now is to convince the Arizona Diamondbacks he deserves his first major league opportunity since 2011.

 

We will have much more on the chances of players in major league camps for subscribers this Thursday in our regular Independent Baseball Insider column.

 

 

 

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CURT SMITH AND CHRIS COLABELLO HELP BUILD EXCITEMENT IN WBC WITH KEY HOMERS

Two big home runs in the last 24 hours seem certain to keep Independent Baseball fans interested as the World Baseball Classic builds up a head of steam.

I can't help but wonder if first basemen Curt Smith and Chris Colabello had ever played in domed stadiums before their big clouts.

Smith, who hit .335 for Lincoln, NE in the American Association in 2011 and very recently signed to play for Lancaster, PA in the Atlantic League this season, hit a round-tripper to help The Netherlands's chances in its second-round competition in the Tokyo Dome.  It was an important run in the 6-2 victory over Cuba.  Smith was 2-for-5.

Colabello sent a line shot into the leftfield stands at Chase Field in Phoenix (the game was moved to Chase because of inclement weather) with two on and two out in the bottom of the third this afternoon to give Team Italy a 5-1 lead over Canada.  The Canadians closed to 6-4 in the seventh, but the onslaught continued from Italy, which closed out a 14-4 win on the 10-run rule in the eighth. 

The Italians already were riding a crest from their nail-biting victory over Mexico last night, and now have a definite advantage toward moving to the second round. 

Colabello, the longtime Can-Am League star (Worcester, MA) hit fifth in the order and also had three singles in five at-bats, scored three runs and drove in four.  He is 5-for-10 for the two games. Mike Costanzo (Camden, NJ, Atlantic League), moved from his normal infield role to the outfield, hit right behind Colabello and is 3-for-7 for the two games.  He went 2-for-3 (both doubles) against Canada, walked twice, drove in two runs and scored once.

Colabello is hoping to work his way onto the Minnesota Twins' roster this spring while Costanzo got to play briefly for the Washington Nationals prior to the WBC, as we outlined in yesterday's subscription-only Independent Baseball Insider column, which devoted much of its space to the WBC.

Not to ignore the pitchers, recent Atlantic Leaguers Chris Cooper (York, PA) and Dan Serafini (Bridgeport, CT) and Brian Sweeney, who started his lengthy pro career in the Heartland League (Lafayette, IN, and trained with the Atlantic's Somerset Patriots in New Jersey), all have gotten key outs for Italy.  Cooper worked three innings (in the third to sixth), allowing two hits and a run, Serafini was charged with two runs in two-thirds of an inning and Sweeney picked up a swinging strikeout to end the top of the seventh.  He only faced the one hitter.

Detroit farmhand Shawn Hill, who pitched for both York and the Toronto Blue Jays last season, started for Canada and was charged with two runs in 2.2 innings.  R. J. Swindle, who had not even been listed on earlier rosters posted for the Canadians, came on in the eighth inning.  He has major league experience as well as spending time with both Schaumburg, IL (Frontier League) and Newark, NJ (Can-Am League) when those cities were in other leagues.  

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HOW DID INDY PLAYERS QUALIFY TO JOIN SPAIN IN WBC? WE'VE GOT SOME ANSWERS ALONG WITH A REPORT ON COLABELLO'S HOME RUN

Since many people indicate an interest--perhaps even surprise--that many players on such World Baseball Classic teams as Italy and Spain qualified to play without actually coming from those countries, I put the question to several of Espana's players when I had the chance to see them prior to their first exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Bradenton, FL Tuesday.

 

The only native of Spain on the 28-man roster, 13 of whom have played in Independent leagues, is Frontier League pitcher Eric Gonzalez, who, ironically, was the only one I had overlooked when tracking down their Independent roots.  The right-hander, who pitched at Lake Erie the last two years and went a combined 11-11, was born on an island off the coast of Morocco and lived there until he was 16.

 

Some of my personal findings were quite intriguing:

 

--Eddie Morlan, who pitched for Southern Maryland (Waldorf) in the Atlantic League the last two seasons, has had a Spanish passport since he was "11 or 12" when he came to the United States from Cuba.  Both sets of grandparents still live in Cuba.

 

--Versatile Gabe Suarez, who played for seven different Independent teams between 2005-11 before joining the Texas Rangers farm system, qualified to play because his grandparents are from Spain.

 

--Nick Schumacher's father was born on an Air Force Base in Madrid, even though the pitcher did not realize it for a long time.  Schumacher pitched for Sioux City, IA in the American Association last season, and just signed to play for the Atlantic League's York (PA) Revolution this year.

 

--Current Sioux City pitcher Richard Salazar qualified because his wife lived in Spain the first 11 years of her life.  They now call Caracas, Venezuela home along with their 8-year-old daughter.  Salazar also has pitched for Wichita, KS and the former team in Shreveport, LA in the American Association.

 

I learned so much about the players' Independent Baseball experiences, their roles in the WBC and their future plans, which will be featured in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider column.

 

COLABELLO HOMERS

 

Longtime Can-Am League standout Chris Colabello was the designated hitter for Italy's exhibition opener, a 4-3 loss to Oakland Tuesday, and the Minnesota Twins hopeful kept up his solid hitting with a solo home run.  He went 1-for-3.

 

KEVIN HOWARD BACK WITH BARNSTORMERS

 

While this week's Insider also will list the 40 or so formerly major league-affiliated players who came from the Independent ranks but were released during the offseason and remain unsigned,  lanky infielder Kevin Howard will not be on that list. Howard, who was in Triple-A in the Toronto system last season, has rejoined Lancaster, PA (Atlantic League) where he was a standout shortstop before his contract was sold to the Blue Jays.

 

  

 

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NEW ATLANTIC LEAGUER CURT SMITH HELPS THE NETHERLANDS START FAST WHILE COLABELLO, ALBERS, THIELBAR AND PIE STAR IN GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE GAMES

Onetime American Association standout Curt Smith, who has signed to play for Lancaster, PA in the Atlantic League this season, has struck the first blow for Independent Baseball in the initial day of the World Baseball Classic.

The first baseman, who hit .335 with the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs in the American Association in 2011 and was in the Miami Marlins farm system last season, drove in a run (1-for-2) in The Netherlands' 5-0 win over Korea in one of the two games played so far.  Smith was the only one of the three Indy players with The Netherlands to get into the contest.

Meanwhile, three additional Independent players--all Atlantic Leaguers--have been identified as being on WBC rosters.  Onetime Lancaster right-hander Ching Lung Lo is with Chinese Taipei, Somerset, NJ infielder Justin Huber with Australia and Sugar Land, TX infielder Luis Figueroa with Puerto Rico. 

COLABELLO, ALBERS, THIELBAR, PIE STAR IN MLB GAMES

Longtime Can-Am (Worcester, MA) first baseman Chris Colabello continues to have a solid spring training with the Minnesota Twins before leaving shortly to join Italy in the WBC.  Colabello had a single and double and drove in his third run in his initial major league opportunity Friday, lifting his average to .357.  He has been in six of the Twins' seven games.

Another  former Can-Am player, Triple-A lefty Andrew Albers (Quebec), took advantage of a brief visit to the Twins' major league camp by hurling a scoreless inning against Philadelphia in which he struck out two and allowed one hit.  Teammate Caleb Thielbar, a fellow southpaw who once pitched for St. Paul, MN in the American Association and is on 40-man roster, closed out the 12-5 victory by collecting three strikeouts in a hitless ninth inning.  It was the first major league game for both pitchers.

Outfielder Felix Pie, a non-roster invitee trying to get back to the major leagues after a season in the Atlantic League (Camden, NJ), has to be making his presence known to Pittsburgh officials since he leads the Pirates in runs batted in with five in as many Grapefruit League appearances.  Pie has a double, triple and home run among his five hits (12 at-bats) for a lofty .417 average.

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