ANGELS BRING UP INDEPENDENT VET DANE DE LA ROSA AS SEVERAL OTHERS MOVE ON

Dane DeLaRosa, the well-traveled former Independent hurler who spent most of spring training with the Tampa Bay Rays, finds himself back in the major leagues today, taking the Los Angeles Angels' roster spot that opened up when Jered Weaver was disabled after being hit on the elbow of his non-pitching hand.

DeLaRosa, a 6-foot-7 right-hander who got in a dozen major league appearances with the Rays the last two seasons, was traded to the Angels late in spring training and started the season with Salt Lake City. He has played in three Independent leagues, the Atlantic with Southern Maryland, the American Association with El Paso, TX and with four different teams when the Golden League was operating (Victoria, BC, Orange County and Long Beach in California and Yuma, AZ).

Twenty onetime Independent players are now with major league teams although four of them are on disabled lists.

SOME RELEASED PLAYERS QUICKLY GOBBLED UP

Several more players from the non-major-league-affiliated teams have been released in recent days as organizations set their Opening Day rosters. Those losing out included onetime Can-Am League standout infielder Nick Giarraputo (New Jersey Jackals and Sussex) from the Chicago White Sox, St. Paul, MN (American Association) infielder Dan Kaczrowski from Arizona, left-handed pitcher Eric Niesen (Long Island, NY, Atlantic League) from Seattle, third baseman Marquez Smith (Camden, NJ, Atlantic) from Texas, American Association (Fargo, ND) outfielder Buddy Sosnoskie and shortstop Chris Wade (Windy City, Frontier League) from Baltimore.

Versatile infielder-outfielder Gabe Suarez, who was with Team Spain in the World Baseball Classic, was let go by Texas, but quickly signed with the Long Island Ducks, one of his former teams. He has played for four Atlantic League teams in all plus Kansas City, KS of the American Association, Florence, KY of the Frontier League and Lincoln, NE when the Saltdogs (American Association) still were in the Northern League.

Kaczrowski has already re-signed with St. Paul and Sosnoskie has re-joined Fargo.
 

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