HOW CAN ANYONE OVERLOOK THESE STORIES OF INDEPENDENT PLAYERS MAKING THEIR WAY IN MLB ORGANIZATIONS?

The stories of Chase Lambin and Aaron King are two of the most intriguing to follow, Lambin because he is said to be the oldest active player in all of the affiliated minor leagues never to play in the major leagues and King because he has moved from trying to pitch to be an interesting offensive story.

Both came through Independent Baseball, of course, to where they are now.

Lambin, 34, has had his ups and downs ever since the New York Mets drafted him 11 years ago. He found himself in Sugar Land, TX (Atlantic League) for 24 games earlier this year (.305-5-13 and a .347 on-base percentage) before getting one more affiliated opportunity. It is in Omaha, NE, with Kansas City’s top farm club, where he is hitting .264 with four ribbies in 21 games.

“I’m realistic,” he told The Washington Post recently. “I know the chances (of reaching the major leagues) are pretty slim. But I know there is a chance.”

King once had a decent chance of climbing the baseball ladder as a left-handed pitcher. Then control issues became more prominent, including during a stint last summer with River City (O’Fallon, MO) in the Frontier League.

Fast forward to 2013 when King found his way onto the Lancaster, PA (Atlantic) roster for a short time when Barnstormers Manager Butch Hobson referred him to Grand Prairie, TX (American Association) Manager Ricky Van Asselberg because of what Baseball America quoted Hobson as saying was “unbelievable” power. The 24-year-old went 14-for-36 with six extra-base hits when Boston purchased his contract.

The Red Sox sent the Newton, NC native to their Gulf Coast League team, but only for a few days before moving him up to Class A Lowell, MA. The 6-foot-4 southpaw hit his second New York-Penn League home run last night (Thursday) and with a .328 average and .381 on-base percentage after 16 games the saga seems to be gaining life.

MORE POSITIVE PRODUCTION

In our never-ending search through the affiliated leagues for bright lights among former Independent players, these numbers are worth reviewing:

–Outfielder Antoan Richardson (Schaumburg, IL, when still in the Northern League), is hitting .285 with 21 thefts in 58 games since the Minnesota Twins promoted him to Triple-A Rochester, NY.

–Another outfielder, Dustin Martin, went 2-for-3 with a triple and RBI last night to lift his average to .343 in 38 games for Arizona’s Double-A Mobile, AL farm club. He started the year in Sugar Land.

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