ALBERS RETURNS FROM KOREA, GETS MAJOR LEAGUE BID FROM TORONTO

With left-handed pitching always at a premium, Andrew Albers is back from a one-year stay in Korea to try and regain a major league job, this time with Toronto. Albers got his feet on the ground professionally during a strong season in the bullpen for the Quebec Capitales of the Can-Am League in 2010 (3-0, 17 saves, 1.40 in 40 appearances), then signed with Minnesota and less than three years later got a nice 10-game starting trial with the Twins (2-5, 4.05) before going abroad for a sizeable payday.

The Blue Jays not only signed the 29-year-old former University of Kentucky hurler but invited him to their major league spring training camp.

ONE YEAR AFTER AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, A MAJOR LEAGUE OPPORTUNITY

American Association grad Mark Hamburger also has a major league invitation. The righty is only one year removed from starting for the St. Paul (MN) Saints (6-8, 3.26), and Minnesota obviously liked what it saw in the 27-year-old during his one season, mostly in the bullpen, for their top two farm clubs to earn the major league opportunity. He did have five appearances with Texas in ’11.

TWO QUICK MOVES FOR SUGAR LAND’S BRODERICK

An Independent stint also seems to be paying off for right-hander Brian Broderick, who put up a strong 2.31 earned run average for 62.1 innings in the Atlantic League (Sugar Land, TX) last season.

The Los Angeles Angels had only recently signed Broderick, 28, after seeing him in the Mexican League this fall, and now they have traded him to Kansas City in order to pick up second baseman Johnny Giavotelli, who has major league time in four seasons. There has not been any word whether Broderick may get an opportunity in the Royals’ major league camp.

‘FAMILY’ TRADES HIM AWAY

Matt Robertson will have a story to tell his grandchildren years from now.

He can build up a great tale how his own family traded him. The youngest of the four Robertson brothers who run the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts, Matt did not get much chance as a starting pitcher while in the American Association last season. This was the role where he had been successful at Emporia (KS) State. So, the team dealt him to the Frontier League (Florence, KY), where he supposedly will return to starting.

I am guessing the Robertsons will have some fun talking about the trade at the Christmas dinner table.

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FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUERS JAKE FOX AND SCOTT RICE HAVE MAJOR LEAGUE CAMP INVITATIONS

The Atlantic League should be beaming over a couple of recent signings, both of which have resulted in major league spring training invitations.

Jake Fox, the 2013 Player of the Year, has signed with Toronto, where power always seems to be revered, and lefty reliever Scott Rice will be back in camp with the New York Mets.

Fox hit 38 home runs between the Mexican League and Philadelphia’s Double-A farm club in Reading, PA this past summer, but the Phillies did not choose to bring him up in September. Right-handed hitter has not been in the big leagues since 2011 (Baltimore) so he will be out to break that drought. Now 32, the University of Michigan product, who can play most any position including catcher, has had three stints at Somerset, NJ, including nearly the full season in ’13 when he banged 25 homers, drove in 82 and hit .310 as the Atlantic League’s top player. The Phils let him go at the end of this past season so he could help the Patriots try to reclaim the Atlantic League championship.

Rice was a popular–and busy–reliever in 2013 when he finally broke through to the majors, ending a 14-year effort to get there. He appeared in 73 games as a 31-year-old rookie with the Mets, compiling a 3.71 ERA, and started ’14 with New York (5.93 in 32 outings) in ’14 before undergoing surgery in July to remove a bone spur in his left elbow. He is expected to be fully healthy when spring training starts. Rice has pitched for Long Island, NY, York, PA, and Newark, NJ in various Atlantic League stints.

FROM JETER GAME HEROICS TO TEXAS RANGERS

Fleet outfielder Antoan Richardson (Schaumburg, IL, now a Frontier League city), who made the most of a September call-up to the New York Yankees, including scoring the winning run on Derek Jeter’s single in the star shortstop’s career finale at Yankee Stadium, has signed with the Texas Rangers and been invited to major league camp.

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GREG BURKE GETS A MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING INVITE

Catching up with a few meaningful transactions in this interim period before next week’s Winter Meetings and next Thursday’s Independent Baseball Insider column…

**Right-hander Greg Burke, who started his professional career with the Atlantic City (NJ) Surf (Atlantic League), has another major league opportunity within reach. Colorado re-signed Burke and has invited him to the Rockies’ major league spring training camp in Arizona.

**Two other righties, Kenn Kasparek and Logan Kensing, have been signed as free agents with new organizations. Kasparek, who once played for Fargo, ND (American Association), has a Double-A deal with Baltimore. Kensing (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic) is a notch higher in Triple-A with the Chicago White Sox.

**First baseman Marquez Smith (Camden, NJ, Atlantic) has a new contract with Cincinnati and is on the Triple-A Louisville, KY roster.

**Outfielder Javier Herrera (Yuma, AZ, Golden League, and Southern Illinois and Rockford, IL, both Frontier League) and right-hander Nick Sarianides (Trois-Rivieres, Can-Am League, and Rockford) have new deals with the old organizations. Herrera is the San Francisco, Sarianides with Arizona.

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COUNTING INDY NOSES WELL AHEAD OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING PLUS NEWS ON SEVERAL HIRES

Major league teams had until midnight Thursday to promote players to the 40-man roster which will protect them from next month’s Rule 5 draft. Only one former Independent player showed up this time, that being onetime Frontier League right-hander Brandon Cunniff (Southern Illinois and River City) to Atlanta’s roster, as we reported to subscribers in yesterday’s Independent Baseball Insider column.

It never is a shock to see a couple of Indy grads taken in the Rule 5 during the Winter Meetings, and players still have another avenue of non-roster invitations to train with the big guys come February and March. More than 50 onetime Independent standouts have been among the fortunate group in major league camps in recent seasons, and that number could even go higher this time given the fact that if we count prime free agents such as (alphabetically) Craig Breslow, Stephen Drew, Luke Hochevar, Max Scherzer and Joe Thatcher 33 of these players are already ticketed for the big-league camps.

BRIAN SWEENEY JOINS PHILLIES SYSTEM

I have had a soft spot for Brian Sweeney ever since this Independent original (Lafayette, IN, Heartland League, 1996) was one of the first players I interviewed early in the Insider days. The Yonkers, NY native had a nice way about him.

Sweeney, who turned 40 this summer, eventually got into 73 major league games (4-2, two saves, 3.41) during his 18-year playing career, playing with Seattle and San Diego. He also spent three seasons in Japan, and the right-hander started one game for the Somerset (NJ) Patriots (Atlantic League) in 2011 (a victory with seven innings of four-hit, two-run baseball) before the New York Mets signed him to play at Triple-A Buffalo, NY.

Sweeney has just been hired to be a pitching coach in the Philadelphia farm system.

ATLANTIC LEAGUE MANAGERIAL NEWS

Butch Hobson proved long ago that he is one of the best Independent managers, and Lancaster, PA has to feel good that he will be returning to help the Barnstormers defend their Atlantic League title. The league also got a new managerial face this week when Bridgeport, CT announced it had hired Ricky VanAsselberg, who already has four Independent championships on his resume.

“He certainly knows how to get players, including vets,” one longtime Independent league official told me this week.

VanAsselberg won two United League titles (Alexandria, LA) and two more in the American Association (Shreveport-Bossier, LA and Grand Prairie, TX), the last in 2011.

VALDES SHARP

Lefty Raul Valdes, a free agent after spending 2014 in the Toronto organization (briefly with the Blue Jays), is having another impressive winter league season in the Dominican Republic. The former Can-Am Leaguer (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH) is 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA, allowing only 12 hits and five walks in 26 innings covering four starts.

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NEARLY 80 FORMER INDEPENDENT STANDOUTS NOW FREE AGENTS

A few more onetime Independent players have received new minor league contracts from their major league organizations although a great many more have been declared free agents.

The most recent signings we have seen include right-handed pitcher Tim Dillard (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League) with Milwaukee, first baseman Matt Fields (Southern Illinois, Frontier League) with Kansas City, and both first baseman Seth Loman (St. George, UT, Golden League) and catcher Jose Yepez (Pensacola, FL, American Association, and Gary, IN, Northern League) with Atlanta. Loman has a Double-A deal, the others received Triple-A contracts.

Max Scherzer (Fort Worth, TX, American Association) is easily the highest profile free agent among those who have played Independent Baseball, although the list compiled for the Independent Baseball Insider includes 76 other players. The list (those who were in the major leagues at any time during 2014 are in bold face):

RHP (31): Mitch Atkins, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Eric Brooks, Greg Burke, Robert Coello, Michael Colla, Dane DeLaRosa, Julio DePaula, Shane Dyer, Jarrett Grube, Erik Hamren, Tyler Herron, Shawn Hill, Josh Judy, Kenn Kasparek, Logan Kensing, Josh Kinney, Michael Lee, Anthony Lerew, Mitch Lively, Terance Marin, Mike McClendon, Kyler Newby, Michael Nix, Mark Pope, Scott Richmond, Mark Serrano, Daniel Stange, Brett Tomko, Virgil Vasquez, Zak Wasserman.

LHP (13): Kyle Anderson, Craig Breslow, Brian Burres, Tony Davis, Chad James, Kris Johnson, Zach Kroenke, Jason Lane, James Leverton, Efrain Nieves, Greg Smith, Joe Thatcher, Raul Valdes.

C (9): Craig Albernaz, (OF) Alex Burg, Mitch Canham, Jose Gil, Ralph Henriquez, Eddy Rodriguez, J.R. Towles, J.T. Wise, Zach Zaneski.

IF (14): (SS) Vance Albitz, (OF) Brian Burgamy, (3B) Mike Costanzo, Maikol Gonzalez, (SS) Daniel Mayora, (1B) Mark Minicozzi, (1B) Cody Overbeck, (SS) Jaime Pedroza, (1B-OF) Brock Peterson, Anthony Seratelli, (1B) Curt Smith, Marquez Smith, Nate Spears, (SS) Hainley Statia.

OF (9): Cory Aldridge, Brandon Boggs, Yusuf Carter, Justin Christian, Javier Herrera, Quincy Latimore, Dustin Martin, Antoan Richardson, Burt Reynolds.

ONETIME RELUCTANT INDY HURLER CHANGES HIS MIND

Brandon Cunniff feared his professional career might be at an end when the Marlins, who had drafted him, released him when he was only 21. He did not want to play Independent Baseball, at least initially.

“When I showed up to spring training (with River City at O’Fallon, MO, in 2011), talked to the guys and saw the talent that some of the guys had, I was like ‘wow, this is just like affiliated ball’. I really just didn’t know what to expect (until that time).” The right-handed hurler spent two plus seasons in the Frontier League (River City and Southern Illinois) when the Atlanta Braves came calling. He has had a year and a half in the Braves’ farm system now, including much of 2014 with Class AA Mississippi, and was rewarded this fall with an invitation that only major league prospects receive of going to the Arizona Fall League.

Still only 26, Cunniff has prospered in the AFL, too, taking a 2-0 record and two saves along with a 3.46 ERA over 10 appearances (13 innings) into the final days of the season.

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CHECKING OUT A RUMOR PLUS A SOME NICE WORLD SERIES LINKS

A word to the wise: Do not believe those rumors that the American Association is planning to expand to Brownsville, TX. One owner is believed to be stirring the pot, but the stories that say the league has been involved are not true.

WORLD SERIES RINGS LIKELY

While the Independent leagues did not have any players in this year's World Series, the Giants are not without former Indy people in their organization. As starters, coaches Andy Skeels (current Atlantic League city Somerset, NJ as well as numerous other non-affiliated spots), Ken Joyce (Northeast League) and Todd Linden (North American League) all work in the minor league system.

Speaking of coaches, congratulations are in order to onetime Quebec Manager Darren Bush (he also had a few other Indy stops) for moving up from bullpen coach to hitting coach at Oakland. New Athletics assistant hitting and catching coach Marcus Jensen also played Independent Baseball.

FROM BEST PROSPECT TO MAJORS STILL A BIG CLIMB

Before anyone gets overly giddy for the chances of Baseball America's top Independent prospect Eric Anderson making the majors, none of the last five have gotten that far to this point. Anderson was a rookie right-hander this season with Normal, IL in the Frontier League. History says he will get a chance in a major league farm system.

WHO IS HOT IN WINTER BASEBALL?

Free agent corner infielder Andy Marte (York, PA, Atlantic League) and New York Yankees catching hopeful Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association) have hot bats in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, respectively. Marte has three homers and is hitting .367 (11-for-30) while Gil is at .345 (10-for-29) with one homer.

Right-hander Tim Dillard (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic) has allowed only three hits and one run over 10.1 innings in nine appearances in Venezuela. He has struck out 12.

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CATCHING UP WITH PLAYER TRANSACTIONS, THE WINTER LEAGUES AND THE AFL

A surprising release we picked up today. Julio DePaula, who made that meteoric climb from York, PA (Atlantic League) to the Baltimore Orioles in 11 days in mid-summer, has been given free agency. He had not been in a major league uniform since 2007 (Minnesota) when he reported to the Orioles for a day before being designated for assignment and eventually returning to Class AA Bowie, MD.

BEVY OF INDEPENDENT PLAYERS IN WINTER BASEBALL

While the winter league season still is young, two hitters who had strong regular seasons are off to flying starts. San Francisco hopeful Mark Minicozzi, a well-traveled Independent vet, is hitting .417 (15-for-36) after 10 games in Venezuela. The versatile Minicozzi has two homers and has driven in eight runs. His Independent time was in the American Association (Kansas City, KS and Winnipeg), Can-Am League (Worcester, MA) and Atlantic League (Camden, NJ).

Third baseman Andy Marte, who was with the parent Arizona Diamondbacks for a very brief time this summer, has started fast in the Dominican Republic by going 5-for-11 with a homer and seven RBI in only three games. Now a free agent, Marte spent his Indy time at York.

Among pitchers, Chris Smith (Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic, and Wichita, KS, American Association) has worked 12 innings in two starts in Venezuela without allowing an earned run. He is in the San Diego minor league system.

CATCHING UP WITH ARIZONA FALL LEAGUERS

The only two former Independent players we have identified as playing in the Arizona Fall League are struggling so far. Frontier League grads Brandon Cunniff (Southern Illinois)and Alex Smith (River City) have 4.76 and 11.81 earned run averages, respectively. Both have worked five plus innings in multiple appearances. Cunniff is in the Atlanta farm system while Smith is with the New York Yankees.

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TOP SHELF INDY GRADS MARTE, FEIERABEND LOOKING FOR NEW OPPORTUNITIES

A great number of former Independent players with major league organizations will be looking for new contracts once the World Series is over, but two of the record 41 players who were active in the big leagues this season have gotten a jump by declaring free agency. Both played their Indy baseball at York, PA (Atlantic League).

Third baseman Andy Marte logged a few days with Arizona this season, and had a banner year with the Diamondbacks’ top farm club in Reno, NV. Lefty Ryan Feierabend spent most of the year with Texas’s Triple-A club in Round Rock, though he also logged time with the parent Rangers.

Right-hander Bo Schultz got his first taste of the majors during a couple of stints with Arizona (four appearances; eight innings), and was 10-8 at Reno. He was picked up via waivers this week by Toronto where he will try for a slot next spring.

FRESH START IN TRIPLE-A FOR THIS CATCHER

Ryan Eigsti, at one time with Frontier League power Southern Illinois (Marion), has seen his fortunes change. Kansas City signed the catcher and placed him on the roster of its top farm club in Omaha, NE.

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LIKE MAJORS, IT TOOK 413-PITCH MARATHON TO DECIDE ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Major League Baseball does not have anything on the Atlantic League when it comes to exhausting postseason games.

The season finale in the Atlantic, which ended up with Lancaster, PA winning its second championship, included back-and-forth leads between the Barnstormers and Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters over 13 gripping innings that required four hours and 40 minutes to play. Gabe Jacobo’s walkoff home run in the bottom of the 13th won it to the delight of most of the 6,084 fans, giving Lancaster a three-game sweep.

Fifteen combined pitchers three 413 pitches (225 by Sugar Land) with 30 hits, six home runs, 12 walks and 22 strikeouts. Twenty-eight runners were left on base in the 8-7 contest. Jacobo had a double in addition to two homers and drove in four runs. Delwyn Young homered twice for the Skeeters.

INDEPENDENTS MAY GET SHUT OUT IN LCS AND WORLD SERIES

Unless Washington can reel of three consecutive wins to erase its 2-0 deficit against San Francisco or Kansas City elects to activate reliever Aaron Crow (Fort Worth, TX, American Association) for the American League Championship Series against Baltimore, not a single Independent Baseball player will get to experience a League Championship Series or World Series this year. Tanner Roark (Southern Illinois, Frontier League) carries the current Indy hopes with Washington. Max Scherzer (Fort Worth) was the Game 1 starter for Detroit in its Division Series loss to Baltimore. Scott Kazmir (Sugar Land) of Oakland and John Holdzkom (Amarillo, TX, and Sioux City, IA, American Association, and San Angelo, TX, United League) of Pittsburgh had their hopes of going on dashed in the wild-card games.

95 WINS FOR INDY HURLERS

The final tally for onetime Independent hurlers in the major leagues during the regular season showed 95 victories and 73 defeats with Scherzer on top with 18 wins followed by 15 for both Roark and Kazmir.

‘PERCEPTION OF AGE’ NOT HELPING JASON LANE

One of the many players whose future is an unknown is Jason Lane (Sugar Land and Southern Maryland, Atlantic League), but the outfielder-turned-pitcher seems to carry an extremely positive attitude as he prepares for the winter season in Venezuela.

Lane won praise this summer when he became a rarity at the age of 37 to make his first major league mound start and held Atlanta to one run in six-plus innings for San Diego. “It’s the perception of age that works against me,” the California native told The Santa Rosa Press Democrat recently. “But the odd thing is that I’ve only been pitching for a few years (starting, primarily, at Sugar Land in 2012). My arm is really like a 27-year-old.

“I’m just very thankful for the Padres organization giving me a shot for the short time I was up there (10.1 innings, 0-1, 0.87 over two times called up).” Lane, who said he is open to most any offer the team makes but insists “I’ll fight to get back there (majors)”, also pointed out he never missed a start at Triple-A El Paso, where he went 9-9 with a 4.15 ERA.

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INDEPENDENT HURLERS COMBINE FOR 91 MAJOR LEAGUE WINS

Nineteen former Independent pitchers have earned at least one win this major league season (through Wednesday, September 24), with a total of 91 victories. The list:

•Detroit’s Max Scherzer, Fort Worth , TX, American Association, earned 17 wins.
•Washington’s Tanner Roark, Southern Illinois, IL, Frontier League, earned 15 wins.
•Oakland’s Scott Kazmir, Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic League, earned 14 wins.
•Kansas City’s Aaron Crow, Fort Worth, TX, American Association, earned 6 wins.
•Philadelphia’s Jerome Williams, Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League, and Long Beach, CA, Golden League, earned 6 wins while pitching for Houston, Texas and Philadelphia.
•Seattle’s James Paxton, Grand Prairie, TX, American Association, earned 6 wins.
•Arizona’s Brad Ziegler, Schaumburg, IL, Northern League, earned 5 wins.
•Milwaukee’s Brandon Kintzler, St.Paul, MN, American Association, and Winnipeg, MB, American Association, earned 3 wins.
•Seattle’s Tom Wilhelmsen, Tucson, AZ, Golden League, earned 3 wins.
•Toronto’s Steve Delabar, Brockton, MA, Can-Am League, and Florence, KY, Frontier, earned 3 wins.
•Arizona’s Vidal Nuno, Washington, PA, Frontier League, earned 2 wins while pitching for the New York Yankees and Arizona.
•Boston’s Craig Breslow, New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls), now in the Can-Am League, earned 2 wins.
•Los Angeles (AL) Joe Thatcher, River City, MO, Frontier League, earned 2 wins while pitching for Arizona and the Los Angeles Angels.
•Minnesota’s Caleb Thielbar, St. Paul, MN, American Association, earned 2 wins.
•With one win apiece were Atlanta’s Ian Thomas, Winnipeg, MB, American Association, Cincinnati’s Dylan Axelrod, Windy City, Crestwood, IL, Frontier League, Los Angeles Angels’ Yoslan Herrera, Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League, the New York Mets’ Scott Rice, York, PA, Atlantic League, and Newark, NJ, Can-Am League, and Pittsburgh’s John Holdzkom, Amarillo, TX, and Sioux City, IA, both in the American Association.

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AFTER SIX-GAME SERIES, YORK AND SUGAR LAND NOW SQUARE OFF IN ATLANTIC LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

The York (PA) Revolution should have a pretty good idea of the best restaurants near their hotel in Sugar Land, TX.

Mark Mason’s gang got to Sugar Land last Tuesday (September 16) to begin a season-ending six-game series against the Skeeters, and now the Revolution are there for the first two games of the best-of-five Freedom Division playoff series starting one week later (Tuesday, September 23). Playing long series in Sugar Land is one of the quirks in the Atlantic League schedule until it can add more teams in that region.

Sugar Land confidence should be running high since the Skeeters won four of six from York (four of the last five, actually) to capture the second half divisional title. For anyone scratching their head to figure out how Sugar Land won the half-season championship when it actually finished tied with Lancaster, PA, the answer is that the Skeeters won five of nine second-half games from the Barnstormers. The two teams split 20 decisions over the entire campaign.

Lancaster’s prize for becoming the wild-card entry in the four-team playoffs is to open with Games 1 and 2 against Somerset, NJ for the Liberty Division title at home. Somerset, which won both halves, will have the remaining games in the five-game set back in New Jersey.

RUCINSKI GETS LENGTHY STINT FOR ANGELS

New major leaguer Drew Rucinski, who spent all of 2012 plus parts of ’11 and ’13 in the Frontier League (Rockford, IL), got an extended outing from the Los Angeles Angels over the weekend. The 25-year-old out of Ohio State hurled four innings at home against Texas, allowing three hits and a walk plus two earned runs. The right-hander struck out five.

Rucinski, 10-6, 3.15 in 26 starts for Class AA Arkansas this summer, also faced Texas in his only other major league appearance so far, giving up two runs in an inning of work back on July 10.

GREAT POWER SEASON FOR MATT FIELDS

Matt Fields, a onetime Independent Baseball player at Southern Illinois (Marion) of the Frontier League, has pounded 59 home runs the last two seasons in the Kansas City farm system without getting any time with the parent Royals. A first baseman-designated hitter, the 6-foot-5, 235 pounder, hit 28 homers and drove in 81 runs for Omaha this season, then helped the Storm Chasers all the way to the Triple-A championship. He was 1-for-4 in the 4-2 win over Pawtucket, RI (Red Sox) in the title game between the two AAA league winners. The 29-year-old Fields improved his average by 40 points to .262 at Omaha after a 31-homer output when he hit .222 for Double-A Northwest Arkansas one year ago.

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RECORD CROWD SAYS GOODBYE IN ST. PAUL; MORE PETE ROSE SIGHTINGS PLUS AFL ASSIGNMENTS

Leave it to the St. Paul (MN) Saints. They played their 999th and final game at Midway Stadium Thursday night as they prepare to move into a sparkling new home for American Association games next season, and a franchise record 9,455 fans turned out.

The Saints have been a big draw since their very first year (1993) in the Northern League, and this crowd brought the season home total to 248,106, their best since 2009. The fans had to have a nostalgic feeling for Midway because the team is out of playoff contention. Incidentally, St. Paul was beaten by playoff-bound Winnipeg, 4-3.

PETE ROSE BACK IN DEMAND FOR TWO INDY APPEARANCES

The major leagues’ all-time hit king, Pete Rose, has been booked for two more visits to Independent Baseball stadiums before the season ends, following up on his one-day stint earlier as guest manager for the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish of the Atlantic League.

Rose will even step into the batter’s box as the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the first inning for the Florence (KY) Freedom of the Frontier League on Tuesday (September 2). He will be introduced, then a pinch hitter will replace him and Rose will coach both third and first base for some of the remaining innings.

On September 14, he returns to Bridgeport once again in a guest manager slot to take part in Ken Shepard Day activities as the team honors its general manager, who is leaving after the season to continue his fight against Stage 4 kidney cancer.

INDEPENDENT PLAYERS, FIELD STAFF HEADED TO ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Two players are among a contingent of at least five people with Independent Baseball credentials headed to the prestigious Arizona Fall League. All represent major league organization now.

Right-handed pitchers Brandon Cunniff and Alex Smith are on the rosters announced to this point. Both spent time in the Frontier League. Cunniff, who played for Southern Illinois and River City and now belongs to the Atlanta Braves, will pitch for Peoria. Smith, out of River City and currently in the New York Yankees system, will be with Scottsdale.

Onetime Frontier League Manager Andy Haines (Windy City, Dubois County), who has worked his way all the way up to managing Miami’s top minor league club in New Orleans, will lead the Salt River team. Peoria’s co-pitching coaches are Jason Simontacchi and R. C. Lichtenstein. Simontacchi, now coaching in the minors for St. Louis, played for Atlantic League teams in Lancaster, PA, Long Island, NY and Bridgeport as well as for Springfield of the Frontier League. Lichtenstein, a Tampa Bay minor league coach, was involved with Dubois County (and possibly other Indy teams).

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EXPECT MORE MEXICAN LEAGUERS TO SHOW UP; PRAISE HEAPED DO D-BACKS' PERALTA AND THE SCOUT WHO FOUND HIM

The end of the regular Mexican League season a few days ago reminds me we will almost certainly see the return of a number of players to the Atlantic League and perhaps other Independent leagues in the days ahead, often bolstering rosters for the postseason.

For example, it would not be surprising to see the top two hitters among the returnees. Batting champion Sandy Madera (.403) and runner-up Chris Roberson (.384) have played Independent Baseball in the past with Madera with the New Jersey Jackals (Can-Am League) on multiple occasions as well as with Newark, NJ, which no longer has a team in either the Atlantic League or the Can-Am. Roberson was at Winnipeg (American Association) as recently as two years ago.

MORE PRAISE FOR PERALTA, D-BACKS AND CARMINUCCI

We have written in this space and our weekly Independent Baseball Insider column on various occasions how the Arizona Diamondbacks have been the most active of any major league organization in signing Independent players the last couple of years, largely because onetime Can-Am League and American Association Manager Chris Carminucci is that team’s coordinator of Independent league scouting. J. P. Morosi of FoxSports.com did a lengthy piece on the subject just this week. Excerpts follow:

“The lucky ones (scouts) have assignments that fall within a given geographic region. Chris Carminucci, the Arizona Diamondbacks’™ coordinator of independent league scouting, is not one of them. And his willingness to go anywhere, in the name of finding talent, is why the fourth-place Diamondbacks can claim one of the best stories in baseball this season: David Peralta, the effervescent 27-year-old rookie outfielder from Venezuela.

“€œI can’€™t keep track of him (Carminucci),”€ said Mike Bell, the Diamondbacks’€™ director of player development. “œI don’€™t know if I’€™ve ever called him when he’€™s not in a car driving through Canada, or in Lincoln, Nebraska, or somewhere in the Northeast. Then he gets on a plane and shoots down to Texas.

“This guy must have coffee running through his veins. And I’€™ve never talked with him when he’s not having a good day.”

“A slight amendment: Carminucci is having a good year. This season, the Diamondbacks have called up three players Carminucci signed out of independent leagues: infielder Andy Marte, right-hander Bo Schultz, and Peralta. For three indy ball alums to play on the same team is rare. To have one on the fringe of the National League Rookie of the Year discussion . . . well . . . it would be difficult to imagine this sort of baseball tale even while daydreaming in the grandstand at Yogi Berra Stadium –€” which, by the way, is home to an independent club in Upper Montclair, N.J.

“Peralta, who made his major-league debut June 1, is now the Diamondbacks’€™ everyday right fielder and No. 3 hitter, with All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt lost for the season. Peralta’€™s .793 OPS ranks among the top 30 major-league outfielders who have at least 250 plate appearances this year. His star rose even higher this month, with a bold steal of home on a lazy throw back to the pitcher by Colorado catcher Michael McKenry. He’€™s drawn favorable comparisons to Rays outfielder David DeJesus, the smooth, steady, 12-year big leaguer.

“And to think: Peralta’€™s pro baseball career began as a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinals’ system. He was released in 2009 after two shoulder surgeries, having never made it out of rookie ball. But Peralta went home to Venezuela, transformed himself into a position player and returned to the U.S. in 2011 as an outfielder with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the North American League . . . which no longer exists.

“Once Peralta moved in 2012 to the Wichita Wingnuts of the (higher-profile and still-breathing) American Association, he was on Carminucci’s radar

“€œEvery independent league player brings something to the clubhouse: They’ve failed,”€ said Carminucci, a former independent league player, manager and general manager. “€œIn this game, you have to learn how to fail and get back up and fight. David in particular has done that, but that’s true of these other guys, too. And from the moment he walked into that clubhouse last year, everyone had instant respect for him, because he came all the way back.

“There’€™s a saying in Independent ball: ‘You don’€™t like where you are? Play better and get out.’

“The stellar half-season at Visalia wasn’€™t enough for Peralta to get an invitation to the Diamondbacks’€™ major-league spring camp. He made an impression on general manager Kevin Towers, anyway. Added to the roster for a spring game because the Diamondbacks needed an extra outfielder, Peralta grounded a single up the middle and hustled to second on a momentary bobble by the center fielder.

“KT was sitting ahead of me,”€ Bell recalled. “€œHe turned around and asked, ‘€˜Does he always run that good?’€™ I just said, ‘€˜I can tell you, he always runs that hard.’

“€œThere are certain players who have a look about them. That day, a light bulb went off in Kevin’€™s head, like, ‘€˜This guy’€™s a big leaguer.’€™ Kevin started talking about him [as a call-up candidate] real early in the season. It’€™s funny: That one play in spring training stood out in our GM’s eyes, and it stuck with him all year.”

“The irony, of course, is that Carminucci has had little time to admire the ascent of his star signee. He’€™s too busy trying to find the next David Peralta, while several more of his former independent leaguers are progressing through the Diamondbacks’€™ system. Nick Sarianides, a 24-year-old reliever, has been dominant at low Class A South Bend; Carminucci found him pitching for a Can-Am League team in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec.

“Carminucci said he’€™s grateful that Towers, Bell and chief Diamondbacks scout Bill Bryk value his expertise in what many baseball executives view as a niche market. In contrast to massive amateur scouting departments that cost upwards of $4 million per year –€” before signing bonuses –€” only a handful of major-league organizations employ a full-time independent league scout like Carminucci.

“Perhaps more of them should.”

AMENDING EDWARDS’S PATH TO TEXAS RANGERS

I made a bobble in yesterday’s Insider when I said new Texas Rangers reliever Jon Edwards had spent time in the American Association (St. Paul, MN). I had read that on a website, but did not double check. Edwards only worked in the Pecos and North American Leagues before Texas signed him.

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SEAN BIERMAN KEEPS ADDING TO HIS PITCHING FEATS FOR ROCKLAND COUNTY

Sean Bierman is doing more than his share to keep Rockland County (Pomona, NY) on the heels of the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls) in the Can-Am League race.

The 25-year-old left-hander picked up an 11-3 victory Thursday night to move the Boulders within one-half game of New Jersey despite the fact he may not have had his best stuff as evidenced by the fact he allowed 10 hits but only one run in working the first six innings, and improving his record to 8-5 with a tiny 1.88 earned run average.

Bierman, a New Jersey native who came out of the University of Tampa, hurled a complete-game three-hitter to defeat the Jackals 1-0 in his previous start. That vaulted him to a second consecutive Pitcher of the Week award and he also took league-wide honors for the month of July. No one had won back-to-back Pitcher of the Week honors since another southpaw, James Leverton, now with Miami’s top farm club in New Orleans, in July of 2011.

Bierman has won four straight and seven of eight since July 1 when his ERA was at 2.67.

SLAM MAY HAVE COST BO SCHULTZ HIS MAJOR LEAGUE JOB

Bo Schultz (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association) had worked his way up to the parent Arizona Diamondbacks for the second time this season, but his second poor outing in three games since coming up from Reno, NV sent him back to Triple-A once more. Schultz was only charged with two runs in a 4.1 inning relief stint against Kansas City although the first hitter he faced, Norichika Aoki, slugged a grand slam to put the Diamondbacks down, 11-1.

Schultz has a 7.88 ERA for his eight innings with Arizona spread over four appearances. He has been 8-7, 5.75 in 21 starts at Reno this season.

RARE CYCLE FOR DUCKS

I can’t shake the thought of what the Long Island (NY) Ducks did in a recent Atlantic League game.

They had a home run cycle, a bases empty job plus round-trippers with one, two and three runners aboard.

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SIX-PITCH RULE ALREADY BEING USED; JASON LANE, JAKE FOX SWINGING HOT BATS

It turns out one of the speed-up rules adopted by the Atlantic League has been in play in the Can-Am League and American Association for some time. That is the rule which limits pitches between innings (except in cold weather) to six instead of the normal eight.

Miles Wolff, commissioner of those leagues, believes this single step, which does not apply when a pitcher is first entering a game, could be saving seven or eight minutes a game. The veteran executive points out the Carolina League at one time allowed only five pitches.

Wolff says when the American Association All-Star Game is played in Winnipeg Tuesday the Can-Am League rule instituted this year whereby when a game gets to the 11th inning each team will start the inning with a runner on second base. That rule will apply if the All-Star contest gets to a 10th inning since the teams will have a limited number of relievers, and most or all of them will be in the game by that time.

JASON LANE’S AVERAGE UP TO .419; FOX DRIVING RUNS IN

Jason Lane, who had a brief recall to the parent San Diego Padres as a pitcher earlier this season, is 5-8, 4.76 after 18 starts for Triple-A El Paso, TX, but the real news may be what this onetime major league outfielder is doing at the plate. He has appeared in 32 games, and after a 3-for-3 performance earlier this week is hitting .419 (18-for-43) with three homers and 10 runs batted in. His OPS (on-base plus slugging) is off the charts at 1.211.

2013 Atlantic League Player of the Year Jake Fox, who we probably will pay attention to in next week’s Independent Baseball Insider column, has 42 RBI in 38 games (.343) since joining the Class AA Reading (PA) Fightin Phils from Mexico.

TRACKING PLAYER RELEASES

As always, there have been a few former Indy players released in recent days by major league organizations.

One such release was handed to Frank Viola III, trying to make it as a knuckleball pitcher. Toronto dropped the former St. Paul (MN) Saints (American Association) right-hander. Other releases have been felt by RHP Brett Brach (Somerset, NJ, Atlantic League) from Washington, SS Jaime Pedroza (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic) from the Chicago White Sox and 3B Rusty Ryal (Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic) by Philadelphia. Pedroza is already back with Lancaster.

RHP Mitch Lively, a major league spring training invitee by San Francisco again this year, was released by the Giants, then quickly signed by Washington and sent to Triple-A Syracuse, NY.

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VAN STRATTEN MOVES WITHIN TWO OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION'S ALL-TIME HITTING STREAK

Nick Van Stratten of Laredo, TX extended his American Association hitting streak to 32 games, two shy of Stephen Douglas’s league record, with a single in four at-bats Thursday night. The Lemurs topped host Sioux Falls, SD, 1-0, on John Alonzo’s seventh-inning home run. Van Stratten is on pace to break the record at Grand Prairie, TX this weekend.

HERE AND THERE

Bouncing around with a few former Independent players now in major league organizations:

**Jerome Williams (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic League, and Long Beach, CA, Golden League), released recently by Houston, made his first start for Texas’s top farm club in Round Rock, allowing seven hits and four runs (three earned) in 4.1 innings.

**First baseman Brock Peterson (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic) is taking advantage of his new organization (Los Angeles Dodgers), hitting a homer and double in five at-bats for Albuquerque, NM, Thursday night with his average at .375 (18-for-48) in 14 games. He has three homers and nine RBI.

**Julio DePaula, who jumped from York, PA (Atlantic) to the parent Baltimore Orioles in a mere 11 days, returned to Class AA Bowie, MD, but has allowed four runs in as many innings over three outings. Still, in six appearances overall with Bowie, DePaula has two saves and a 3.48 ERA while posting 14 strikeouts in 10.1 innings.

**Lefty Greg Smith (Grand Prairie, TX, American Association) has a winning record (7-6) and a 3.86 ERA in 18 starts for Philadelphia’s top club, Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA).

**Outfielder Cory Aldridge (Somerset, NJ, and Newark, NJ, Atlantic) is hitting .333 (10-for-30) with a .432 on-base percentage in 10 games since Toronto promoted him to Triple-A Buffalo, NY.

RE-ENTERING GAMES NOW POSSIBLE

One unique aspect of the Atlantic League’s speed-up rules is that even a player who has been taken out of the game may serve as the substitute runner for a catcher. He could even be used multiple times so some creative team may look for a speedster who would serve primarily in that role.

To clarify from yesterday’s Independent Baseball Insider column, umpires will be allowed to give a batter an automatic ball if the team in the field uses more than the allowable 45 seconds for a mound visit if the pitcher is not relieved.

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NEW TEXAS FARMHAND HAMREN WAS HAPPY WITH ATLANTIC LEAGUE ALL-STAR SELECTION

While the major leaguers have their All-Star Game tonight (Tuesday), we will be watching no less than four minor league classics Wednesday since two are Independents (Atlantic and Frontier) and the other two (Triple-A, Eastern League) have a number of former Indy players. Our regular Independent Baseball Insider column will have all of the details for subscribers on Thursday
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One pitcher who must have some mixed emotions is right-handed reliever Erik Hamren, who was chosen to represent Southern Maryland (Waldorf) in the Atlantic League contest in Sugar Land, TX, then had his contract sold to the Texas Rangers.

"I was excited to get the news (of the All-Star selection)," the 27-year-old had told SoMdNews.com. "It's near the top (of my career achievements), just simply to be recognized in a league with a lot of great talent." Hamren's goal, like every minor leaguer, is to get to the majors where he enjoyed a stay with San Diego (1-0, 4.38 in 14 appearances) three years ago. Hamren was having a strong campaign with the Blue Crabs (42 strikeouts in 37.1 innings with a 2.41 ERA in 36 games), and started well in the Class AA Texas League with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts for Frisco.

NEWEST MAJOR LEAGUERS

Two onetime Indy southpaws earned major league promotions in recent days, Ryan Feierabend (York, PA, Atlantic League) with Texas and Kris Johnson (Kansas City, KS, American Association) with Minnesota. Feierabend, 8-5, 4.54 in 19 starts for Triple-A Round Rock, TX, had not been in the majors since stints with Seattle in 2006-7-8. He worked 1.1 innings (one run) over the weekend for the Rangers. Johnson is in his second stint with the Twins this season.

COELLO REAPPEARS IN BALTIMORE ORGANIZATION

Former Golden League pitcher Robert Coello, a major league spring training invitee of the New York Yankees but released recently out of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, PA, signed with Baltimore over the weekend and one day later picked up a save for Triple-A Norfolk, VA.
Other players who have drawn their walking papers from organizations in recent days include former Can-Am League batting star Bridger Hunt from San Diego and Continental League pitcher Brandon Sisk from the Los Angeles Angels

A REAL CHAMPION

New Grand Prairie, TX Manager Eric Champion brings an impressive resume to the American Association team. He led Baptist Christian to back-to-back small-college national championships. Champion replaced Ricky VanAsselberg at Grand Prairie. He had been the bench coach.

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WINLESS IN ATLANTIC LEAGUE, SCARPETTA PART OF CAROLINA LEAGUE NO-HIT HISTORY

Cody Scarpetta could not even collect a victory (0-2, 5.13) in his eight starts for the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers this season, but the 25-year-old already has two wins in his first three starts in the Carolina League.  Oh yes, the onetime Milwaukee draft choice from Guilford, IL also played a major part in a no-hitter. Scarpetta made history for Lynchburg, VA Friday night, hurling the Hillcats to their second consecutive no-hitter for the Atlanta Braves Class A farm club.  Since pitchers in affiliated leagues often are held to tight pitch counts, the 6-foot-3 right-hander went the first seven innings and Benino Pruneda threw the last two in the 5-0 victory at Wilmington, DE. “Being able to go pitch Indy baseball, it taught me some things,” Scarpetta told MiLB.com.  “I had to learn how to pitch to older hitters in that (Atlantic) league and I was able to carry that with me here.  It’s a different mentality that came through than when I was younger. ”  Scarpetta, who is 2-1, 1.89 for three starts with Lynchburg, has allowed 12 hits and five walks in 19 innings while striking out 15.  He surrendered a two-out walk in the sixth and hit the leadoff hitter in the seventh while throwing 99 pitches in the no-hitter. It is believed this is the first time in the long history of the Carolina League that pitchers have thrown no-hitters against the same opponent on consecutive days although Rocky Mount, NC hurlers combined for two seven-inning no-hitters in a doubleheader May 15, 1966.

We will have more on Scarpetta’s gem in next Thursday’s Independent Baseball Insider column, which is written exclusively for subscribers (www.WirzandAssociates.com).

HOW IS THIS FOR PARITY?

All four teams in the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League have posted 5-5 records in their last 10 games.  Pennsylvania rivals Lancaster and York share the first-half lead with nine games remaining while Sugar Land, TX, which has 10 games to play, trails by two and a half games.  Southern Maryland (Waldorf) is well off the pace. York is the most recent team to lose a player to a major league organization.  Reliever Julio DePaula (2.42 in 28 appearances) had his contract purchased by Baltimore this week.

NOTEWORTHY RELEASES

Pitchers Cody Eppley, who was in the major league camp of the Pittsburgh Pirates this spring, has been let go by the Bucs out of Triple-A.  The same fate hit veteran major leaguer Mike MacDougal, who was with Seattle’s top farm club.  Eppley was signed by Pittsburgh after last season with Lancaster while MacDougal also has Atlantic League experience with Camden, NJ. 

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CATCHING UP WITH STEVE DELABAR, SHAWN HILL AND OTHERS

Catching up on a number of Independent Baseball notes this Friday afternoon.

Wildness probably cost Steve Delabar his bullpen job with Toronto when he walked three and gave up a run when the Blue Jays were only trailing the New York Yankees 5-2 in the seventh inning Thursday night.  As we had noted in this week’s Independent Baseball Insider, Delabar (Can-Am and Frontier Leagues) had been optioned to Buffalo for two days earlier in the week, in part because of six walks in his previous 5.1 innings…Shawn Hill, who was scheduled to return to return to the Atlantic League’s York (PA) Revolution until Toronto decided to give him another look this season, has had two decent starts since his contract was sold to the Chicago White Sox.  Hill has allowed two earned runs in five and six-inning starts for Triple-A Charlotte, NC, bringing his season record in AA and AAA to 2-4, 4.63 for 11 appearances (nine starts)…I am not certain I would class the decision by the San Rafael (CA) Pacifics of the Pacific Association to wear uniforms next Friday (June 27) patterned after those worn by the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League as one of the highlights of the season although it will net some publicity.  There is a worthy cause involved since A League of Their Own star Tom Hanks will autograph two of the uniforms with the proceeds after an auction going to support breast cancer…first baseman Mark Minicozzi’s 28 RBI in only 29 games with San Francisco’s top farm club in Fresno, CA along with his .423 on-base percentage has to keep the Giants thinking of this longtime Indy leaguer (Can-Am League, American Association and Atlantic League)…Former NBA star Tracy McGrady, who has been on the inactive list for some time, will make another start for Sugar Land, TX at Long Island, NY tomorrow (Saturday) in the 1 p.m. portion of a day-night doubleheader…catcher Salomon Manriquez, who spent a great deal of time in the Atlantic League and some in the American Association from 2009-last season, has taken a minor league coaching job in the Texas Rangers system.

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WITH PROMOTION OF CHRIS MARTIN, 23 ONETIME INDY PLAYERS IN MAJORS (31 THIS YEAR)

With all of the promotions recently, including American Association (Grand Prairie, TX) grad Chris Martin rejoining the Colorado Rockies (and the Phillies sending Luis Garcia, Newark, NJ, Can-Am League, back to Triple-A) right after we put our subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider to bed this week, 23 onetime Independent Baseball players are currently on major league rosters.

Thirty one have been in the majors so far this season, only six behind the count for all of last season and that was the second best year on record.

HERE AND THERE WITH THE INDEPENDENTS

The surprising announcement that the New Britain (CT) Rock Cats are planning to move to nearby Hartford in 2016 opens up what could be a very fine market for either the Atlantic or Can-Am League. Both are likely to be interested because of the strong attendance history and the quality stadium…How many pitchers does it take to throw a seven-inning no-hitter? Winnipeg used five to blank Sioux Falls, SD, 3-0, and collect a road victory in the American Association…hot-hitting David Peralta picked up two more hits to keep his average above .400 in his young major league career with Arizona Friday night. Peralta also continues to use social media to show how grateful he is to various people who have helped him. He used Facebook to tell the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts, the first of two American Association stops (Amarillo, TX was the last one), how much he appreciated everyone’s help, singling out hitting coach Jose Amada, who the outfielder said “helped me learn a lot about hitting”. Peralta was part of establishing two records in his very first game with the D-Backs. The team started an all-Venezuelan outfield (Peralta, Ender Inciarte, Gerardo Parra), a first for a National League team, and along with Miguel Montero and Martin Prado it marked the first time five Venezuelan natives were in a starting lineup in either major league.

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DAVID PERALTA AND JARRETT GRUBE MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUTS SPICE WEEKEND FOR INDEPENDENTS

Independent Baseball had another magical weekend with two players getting first-time calls to the major leagues and a third receiving a one-day call, his first time back in “The Show” since 2012.

Unfortunately, there were casualties as well with Atlanta lefty Ian Thomas (Winnipeg, American Association, and York, PA, Atlantic League) and Boston outfielder Daniel Nava (Chico, CA, Golden League) once more optioned to Triple-A.

Right-hander Jarrett Grube, an Atlantic Leaguer at Southern Maryland (Waldorf) in both ’09 and ’10, and outfielder David Peralta (Amarillo, TX and Wichita, KS, American Association; Rio Grande Valley, Harlingen, TX, United League) got the exciting news of going to the majors for the first time. Grube is with the Los Angeles Angels, Peralta with Arizona.

Grube had to wait until five months shy of his 33rd birthday to make his major league debut. For now, he has to transition from being a starter to working as part of the Angels’ bullpen where he debuted with two-thirds of an inning and a home run against Oakland. He had only allowed 52 hits in 61.1 innings at Salt Lake while compiling a 3-2 record and 3.52 ERA in 11 starts, his most recent a 6.2 scoreless stint for a 6-1 win over Tacoma.

Peralta’s had a 2-for-4 debut in a 4-3 Diamondbacks loss to Cincinnati Sunday, but the left-handed hitter is only 26 and in his fourth year–three of them in Independent leagues–since converting from pitching. He was blistering Southern League (Mobile, AL) pitching with 46 RBI in 53 games while hitting .297 with 17 doubles, a triple and six homers.

He had a combined .359 average with an abundance of power before the Angels purchased his contract from Amarillo mid-year in 2013.

We will have more in depth on Grube and Peralta when this week’s Independent Baseball Insider goes out to subscribers on Thursday.

Bobby Korecky, a relief pitcher for 23 games in Winnipeg’s last season in the Northern League in 2010 (0-2, 10 saves, 5.32), spent one day with high-flying Toronto over the weekend, recording four outs without allowing a hit. The 34-year-old also pitched in one game for the Blue Jays in ’12 and had seen work with Minnesota and Arizona prior to his Independent stint.

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TRACY MC GRADY'S SECOND START COMES UP THURSDAY

Alright you Tracy McGrady fans, start No. 2 in the NBA great’s professional baseball career comes up Thursday night (ESPN3 and other ESPN platforms) when the Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters host the York (PA) Revolution about the same time our weekly Independent Baseball Insider column lands in subscriber’s inboxes.

The 8:05 p.m. EDT game also falls on $2 beer and soda night at Constellation Field near Houston, which should not hurt at the gate. McGrady went 1.2 innings allowing two hits and two runs in his initial Atlantic League game May 10, and received generally favorable marks from those who watched.

On perhaps a more serious note for the Skeeters, who are off to a sluggish 11-13 record, All-Star outfielder Adam Godwin has returned to the roster. Godwin set a league record with 50 stolen bases and hit .282 for Gary Gaetti’s 2013 powerhouse, but started this season in Mexico.

MORE NAME-DROPPING

Pitcher Mike Piazza, a cousin of the former major league star of the same name, has allowed only two hits in 5.2 innings (two appearances) so far with Laredo, TX in the American Association. He made one start, and shows a 0-0, 3.17 log for the Lemurs.

Ozzie Guillen’s son, Ozney, landed a Frontier League job. The third baseman, 22, is with Normal, IL and has a double in five at-bats after four appearances. “This is the first time he’s seen me with a professional uniform,” the younger Guillen told SouthtownStar.com when the former Chicago White Sox manager attended a preseason game.

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MARTE STAYS HOT, MC GRADY'S DEBUT SET AND SOME DAZZLING NUMBERS FOR THE MANAGER'S DAUGHTER

How quickly things develop.

It was only last night when I finished my weekly Independent Baseball Insider column and sent it to subscribers (www.WirzandAssociates.com) that I said Andy Marte, who was still playing in the Atlantic League (York, PA) one year ago, had been on such a hot streak he could well be one of the next Indy players to get to the majors (Arizona). And, I had more praise for former NBA star Tracy McGrady although I said we still did not know when the Sugar Land (TX) Skeeters would take him off the inactive list for his Atlantic League debut.

Marte, who hit .301 with 19 homers and 74 RBI for the Revolution last season, had another big night Thursday for the D-Backs’ Triple-A Reno, NV farm club, driving in four runs with a homer and single in three at-bats and jumping his batting average 12 points to .309. He has gone 14 for his last 25 (.560) and now has three homers and 15 driven in for 29 games.

TRACY MC GRADY TO DEBUT SATURDAY

Sugar Land announced later Thursday that McGrady will make his much-anticipated professional baseball debut tomorrow (Saturday) night, starting for the Skeeters in the Houston suburb against rival Somerset, NJ.

The game starts at 7:05 EDT and will be seen on ESPN3 and the network’s digital platform.

What a showcase for the Atlantic League and all of Independent Baseball.

LUIS GARCIA REJOINS PHILLIES

It had been apparent for some time (Insider, April 24) Philadelphia had to be keeping its eye on former Can-Am League (Newark, NJ) reliever Luis Garcia, who to date has a perfect ERA plus two wins and six saves in 11 outings for their Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA) farm club.

The Phils gave Garcia his second call-up of the season Thursday. Unfortunately, the right-hander was charged with the final five runs (three earned) in a 12-6 loss to Toronto hours later. He allowed four hits and a walk in two innings (44 pitches).

UMPS, MANAGERS NEEDED

Pecos League Founder Andrew Dunn’s most important goal, he told us this week, in taking the four-year-old league that features recent college players to the next step in its development is to find 10 good managers (pay ranges from $5,000-$15,000 for the 70-game season) and 10 quality umpires.

HOW ABOUT THESE MOUND NUMBERS?

St. Paul (MN) Saints (American Association) Manager George Tsamis made it to the major leagues for part of one season as a lefty reliever for Minnesota. Now, he has a budding pitching star in his own family.

Daughter Casey, a senior at Bacon Academy in the family hometown of Colchester, CT who probably is headed to the University of Rhode Island, has struck out 35 batters and has not walked anyone so far in 29 innings this season while compiling a 5-0 record for the softball team.

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WALKS HAUNTED HERRERA WITH ANGELS

Yoslan Herrera seemed to be rolling along nicely out of the Los Angeles Angels’ bullpen when all of a sudden the right-hander, who was pitching in the Atlantic League (Lancaster, PA) last year, had a game against Cleveland in which he gave up two hits, a walk and two runs without retiring anyone and all of a sudden he was sent back to Salt Lake City.

Herrera’s earned run average bumped up from under 2.00 to 4.50 since he had only worked six innings in seven appearances. It probably was walks which cost him since he issued seven passes in those six innings.

COLABELLO COWBELLS

Chris Colabello, the second year sensation out of the Can-Am League, is to be honored at Target Field Friday night with a giveaway of cowbells. It may be a stretch to think cowbells because of the first baseman-outfielder’s name, but then again such attention only helps his overall buildup by the Minnesota Twins.

KEEPING UP WITH NAVA, GARCIA AND BROCK PETERSON

Daniel Nava had another 1-for-3 night (one strikeout) on Thursday for Pawtucket, RI, but the Boston outfielder, hoping to get back to Fenway Park soon, still is hitting .333 (7-for-21) with a .400 on-base percentage since being farmed out six games ago.

Brock Peterson continues to drive in a decent amount of runs in Triple-A with his 11th in 26 games for Syracuse Thursday, but it is probably going to take one of his power shows before the parent Washington Nationals consider him. Peterson, who played his Independent baseball for Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League, still has not homered in 98 at-bats this season. The first baseman is hitting .235 with four extra base hits (three doubles, a triple) among his 23 hits.

Luis Garcia (Newark, NJ, Can-Am League) continues to excel for Philadelphia’s top farm club. He picked up his fourth save Thursday to go along with a 2-0 record and a perfect ERA for Lehigh Valley (Allentown, PA). Garcia has allowed six hits spread over 11 innings in eight appearances.

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LEFTIES VALDES, COUSINS IN THE NEWS; TOUGH BREAK FOR INDY VET MINICOZZI

Left-handed pitchers always seem to generate interest, and today is no exception.

We had no more than mentioned in Thursday’s Independent Baseball Insider column that the veteran Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH, Can-Am League) was doing well at Triple-A Oklahoma City (1-0, 2.45, 4 games) when we found out the Astros were adding the 36-year-old to their major league roster. Houston is Valdes’s fifth major league team since 2010.

And, how about veteran major leaguer Scott Cousins, who was ticketed to play the outfield for the Camden (NJ) RiverSharks (Atlantic League) until he joined the Texas organization. It turns out Cousins, 29, is going to extended spring training to try converting into a southpaw pitcher. He last pitched in college at the University of San Francisco.

MINICOZZI OUT WITH SHOULDER SEPARATION

We did not realize it at the time we mentioned Mark Minicozzi, the well-traveled former Independent player, was hitting .444 but not seeing much playing time for San Francisco’s top farm club in Fresno, CA, that there is a reason for the limited action. It turns out he separated a shoulder sliding into second base, and is expected to be out for at least a month. It is very unfortunate for the versatile infielder-outfielder, who trained with the parent Giants this spring and was in position where he might get that long-awaited first major league opportunity.

Minicozzi, 31, spent a season in the American Association (Winnipeg and Kansas City, KS), two years in the Can-Am League (Worcester, MA) and appeared briefly with Camden.

He hit .309-10-66 in an all-star summer in the Eastern League (Richmond, VA) last year.

‘LIFE IS BETTER’ ON LONG ISLAND

It is difficult to find any argument with the Long Island (NY) Ducks’ new slogan “Life Is Better Here”. After all, Bethpage Ballpark is within a commute of New York City, and even more importantly the team has won the last two Atlantic League championships.

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CAMPS OPEN AS ATLANTIC LEAGUE SEASON NEARS; TWO MORE INDY HURLERS IN MAJORS

This was somewhat of a milestone day in Independent circles with most Atlantic League teams, including two-time champion Long Island, NY, opening training camp in preparation for the start of the regular season on March 24. Other leagues will get busy when the calendar first turns to May.

At the same time, two more former Independent players have donned major league uniforms, increasing that total to 25 for the young season, counting Kansas City’s Luke Hochevar (Fort Worth, TX, American Association), who likely will spend the entire season on the disabled list because of injury.

The Los Angeles Angels called up right-hander Yoslan Herrera, who spent all of last season in the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers bullpen, working a team-leading 59 games with a 2-1 record, 11 saves and a 3.74 ERA. The Cuban native, who turns 33 later this month, also was in the majors for five starts with Pittsburgh (1-1, 9.82) in 2008. Reliever Dane DeLaRosa, who has experience in the Atlantic League (Southern Maryland), American Association (El Paso, TX) and the former Golden League, was optioned to Triple-A by the Angels.

PHILS CALL GARCIA

Philadelphia has added righty Luis Garcia, who got into nine games with Newark, NJ (Can-Am League) in 2012, to its bullpen although indications are the stay may be brief as another player comes off the disabled list. Garcia went 1-1 with a 3.73 ERA in 24 games with the Phillies last season. That was the first time the 27-year-old had been in the majors.

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HAS ANY INDEPENDENT PLAYER MATCHED COLABELLO'S SIX RUNS BATTED IN?

I cannot help but wonder today how many–if any–pure Independent Baseball players have had a six-RBI game in the major leagues as longtime Can-Am League star first baseman Chris Colabello did Thursday in helping Minnesota to a chilly, come-from-behind 10-9 victory against the Chicago White Sox in the Windy City.

How sweet it must have felt to the former Worcester (MA) Tornadoes star to see that he was batting cleanup (and the DH) for the Twins, then to come through with two big doubles and an RBI groundout. Colabello later told reporters an effort to cut down on his swing when he has two strikes is paying dividends, and typical of the 30-year-old’s approach to the game he told The Minneapolis Star Tribune “That was a character win.”

One must remember Colabello only drove in 17 runs in 55 games in his debut season in the majors (2013), which came in the second year after his seven-year stint in the Can-Am League.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION TOPS IN BIG LEAGUERS PRODUCED THIS TIME

As we reported in yesterday’s subscription-only Independent Baseball Insider column, a record 20 former Independent players were on Opening Day rosters in the major leagues with another three on the disabled list. Eight–plus two of the DL players–were in the American Association at one time, with half of the eight (plus one on the DL) playing their very first professional game in the league. The count of eight includes pitcher Bo Schultz of Arizona, who was active for the Diamondbacks’ first two games in Australia before going back to Triple-A Reno.

The Atlantic League accounts for five players plus one of those disabled while the Frontier League has four and the Can-Am League two. Three leagues no longer active also have players among the major leaguers.

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AMERICAN ASSOCIATION'S BO SCHULTZ DEBUTS IN AUSTRALIA, TWO OTHERS IN SPRING TRAINING GAMES

While it no doubt went largely unnoticed in all of the hoopla surrounding baseball taking its first two official 2014 games to Sydney, Australia, the those contests between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks provided the platform for a right-handed pitcher only three years removed from the American Association to make his major league debut.

Bo Schultz, who used the 2011 season as a reliever for the Grand Prairie (TX) AirHogs (4-3, 4.13 in 37 games, including four starts) as a springboard to get back to affiliated baseball and climb above Class A where he had plateaued with Oakland, gave up a leadoff single to Hanley Ramirez when he stepped on a regular-season major league mound (okay, it was the Sydney Cricket Ground) for the first time, then put down the next three Dodgers in order in the top of the eighth inning. (Adrian Gonzalez grounded to second, Andre Ethier lined to left and A. J. Ellis grounded to short.)

Now Schultz will have to sweat out whether he will be on the 25-man roster when play resumes stateside since both teams were allowed to have 28-man rosters for the early start to the new season. Even if the right-hander should be sent to Triple-A, he has a major league appearance on his record with the possibility of many more down the road for the 28-year-old former journalism student at Northwestern University since the D-Backs have been singing his praises.

Three Independent graduates pitched for Arizona in their two losses to the Dodgers with established relievers Joe Thatcher (River City, O’Fallon, MO, Frontier League) and Brad Ziegler (Schaumburg, IL, then in the Northern League and now in the Frontier) also working out of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. It should be noted that non-roster spring training invitee Andy Marte, a corner infielder who has seen heavy action in spring training for Arizona, was not among the active players for the Australian games.

Schultz is the 188th Independent player to make it to the majors, according to records we maintain for our regular subscription column, the Independent Baseball Insider.

BRIDGER HUNT, CODY SATTERWHITE GET INTO MAJOR LEAGUE GAMES

Two players in Independent leagues as recently as last season are the most recent minor leaguers we have noticed who have appeared in major league exhibitions this spring.

Right-hander Cody Satterwhite, who posted a 0.65 earned run average and struck out more than a batter per inning in 19 appearances for Sioux City, IA (American Association), played for the New York Mets. Can-Am League batting champion Bridger Hunt, a brilliant .402 hitter for Newark, NJ, made a brief appearance with San Diego. He is an infielder.

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BROCK PETERSON'S CURRENT BID ENDS WHILE ROBERTSON AND TOMKO GET ANOTHER LOOK

Sometimes, you cannot win. In writing Thursday's Independent Baseball Insidercolumn, I made the point that first baseman Brock Peterson (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic League) was continuing to have a good spring in his quest to stick with the Washington Nationals. A .370 batting average (10-for-27), .433 on-base percentage with a homer and six runs batted in would seem to justify the comment.

Then, I found out a few hours later Peterson had been sent to the Nationals' minor league camp that very day. Oh, my! I can only hope that performance will lead to a call-up for Peterson sometime during the season.

PAIR OF VETS GETTING LOOKS

Southpaw Nate Robertson, 36, and right-hander Brett Tomko, 40, are getting new opportunities at picking up on their major league careers, although, for now, it is in the minor league camps of Detroit and Kansas City, respectively.

Robertson, part owner at Wichita, KS and a former hurler for the American Association team, was signed by the Tigers for whom he compiled much of his 57-77 major league record. Tomko, who has a 100-103 major league record, spent much of last season with the Atlantic League's York (PA) Revolution.

Tomko contacted the Royals after Luke Hochevar (Fort Worth, TX, American Association) was pronounced as out for the season and the team released Brad Penny. "So I contacted them and said 'look at me, give me a 15-minute bullpen'", he told NewYorkDispatch.com. "I'll do whatever you want. I busted my (butt) this winter in the Dominican (Republic). Just tell me whatever role you want me in."

Stay tuned.

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PETERSON GOES YARD FOR NATS, ROBERTSON RETURNS 'HOME' AND ARIZONA MAKES SOME EARLY CUTS

No sooner had I finished the weekly Independent Baseball Insider (subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com) in which I noted that first baseman Brock Peterson had not yet homered despite the fact the onetime Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish (Atlantic League) slugger was having a good spring with the Washington Nationals when, boom, he hit a three-run shot Thursday. Peterson, who got to the major leagues for the first time last year with St. Louis, continued to get at-bats today (Friday) although he went 0-for-2 this time and his spring average dipped to .350.

In another note involving the Atlantic League, I mentioned in the Insider that 2011 Road Warriors Manager Roy Howell has just been named to lead Seattle’s top farm club in Tacoma, WA following an unexpected shuffle of some personnel. I was reminded today that the 11-year major leaguer’s first professional manager was none other than Atlantic League Executive Director Joe Klein at Pittsfield, MA.

NATE ROBERTSON BACK WHERE HE STARTED

Southpaw Nate Robertson finally got a job, and it is back with the organization where he first set foot on a major league mound. The Detroit Tigers have inked Robertson to a Triple-A contract 11 years after he broke in with the parent club at age 25. Robertson, in the Texas farm system last year, is part owner and pitched briefly for the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts of the American Association.

D-BACKS START MAKING CUTS

It is no secret Arizona has been the busiest major league organization in signing Independent players in the last year or so. While it is a bit early for the heaviest run on player releases out of minor league spring training camps, the Diamondbacks, perhaps top-heavy in the number of players taken to camp, have lopped off a number of players, including some from the Indy ranks.

Among those who have felt the sting of being released are RHP Bradley Blanks (Laredo, TX, American Association, and Evansville, IN, Frontier League), RHP Tom Brendel (Sonora, AZ, Freedom League), OF Joash Brodin (Long Island, NY, 2013, after four previous Frontier League stops), OF Michael Lang (Sioux City, IA, American Association), RHP Seth Lintz (Laredo and El Paso, TX, American Association), LHP-OF Sean Mahley (Schaumburg, IL, Frontier) and LHP Eric Perrault (Windy City, Frontier).

Brodin, who turns 27 in a few days, cannot feel too happy about things. After playing part or all of five Independent seasons and hitting .307 in 106 games for Long Island last season, he finally got his first affiliated opportunity. It only lasted for eight games (5-for-29, .172) in the California League and for a time in spring training.

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FORMER INDEPENDENT STARS OFF AND RUNNING IN MAJOR LEAGUE EXHIBITIONS

It did not take long for several former Independent players to start making some type of statement in major league spring training camps. While I am gearing up for the start of Year 12 with my subscription publication, the Independent Baseball Insider, next Thursday (March 6), I have been pouring over the early Grapefruit and Cactus League box scores.

The most interesting finding took place in Thursday’s San Diego-Seattle game where recent Mariners signee and camp invitee Burt Reynolds (Newark, NJ, Can-Am League, and Camden, NJ, Atlantic League) entered as a pinch runner and ended up with a double in his only at-bat plus a run scored, slightly bettering the performance of his better known–and richer–cousin Robinson Cano, who singled and scored in his only time up. Reynolds seems to show up wherever Cano is, once being a Yankees farmhand for a brief time.

The 25-year-old Dominican product, a third baseman-outfielder, has never played above Class A, but he does have 36 minor league home runs, including 20 for Newark in the ’11-12 seasons and six in 71 games for Camden last year.

Logan Kensing (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic) and Tom Wilhelmsen (Tucson, AZ, Golden League) each pitched a scoreless inning in Seattle’s 7-1 win. Catcher Rene Rivera (Camden), who has a decent chance of returning to San Diego, went 1-for-2 for the Padres.

WATCHING MARTE, FEIERABEND, MATTY JOHNSON AND OTHERS

Among others trying to get to the major league level:

–Andy Marte, who starred at first and third while playing for York, PA (Atlantic), has been in a game for Arizona each of the first two days, going 1-for-2 with a run so far.

–Lefty Ryan Feierabend, signed by Texas from York last summer, got a bonus not often accorded up-and-comers of two innings Thursday. He allowed two hits and a run while fanning three.

–Outfielder Matty Johnson (Gateway, Sauget, IL., Frontier League), was brought over from Boston’s minor league camp Thursday because the Red Sox were playing two games against Massachusetts college teams, and he went 1-for-2 with a run in a 5-2 win over Boston College. That had to be a thrill since Johnson is only on a Class A roster.

–Jose Gil, who played seven games in the American Association (Lincoln, NE) last season before returning to the New York Yankees farm system, has been used at first base in the first two Yankees exhibitions. Normally a catcher, the 27-year-old non-roster invitee has gone 0-for-2 with a walk. Robert Coello (Edmonton and Calgary, Canada, Golden League) had a rough outing for the Yankees, giving up five runs and being charged with the loss in only one-third of an inning

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BEING HAPPY FOR SCOTT RICE AND TODD LINDEN FOR DIFFERENT REASONS

I cannot imagine how good it must feel for Scott Rice this spring training, knowing (even though he won’t openly admit it) he is a virtual lock to be back for a second season with the New York Mets.

“I’m 100 per cent healthy and ready to go,” the 32-year-old left-handed reliever told NJ.com shortly after spring training opened in Port St. Lucie, FL. Health was the only possible hang-up after Rice led the team in mound appearances (73) in his rookie season before season-ending sports hernia surgery sidelined him from September 3 through the end of the season.

Should anyone forget Rice’s story prior to 2013, he had put in 14 seasons in the minor leagues, getting only as close as being a late cut more than once out of major league spring training. The California native was with three different Atlantic League teams (Long Island, NY and Newark, NJ in ’08-09), then after looks from two more major league organizations with York, PA for 15 bullpen outings (1-0, 1 save, 2.45) in 2011 before the Los Angeles Dodgers became his fifth major league organization.

ON THE BYRDAK, ROBERTSON TRAIL

It seems almost universally believed that left-handed relief pitchers can hang around forever if they are healthy. Tim Byrdak and Nate Robertson might be having their doubts about now.

Byrdak (Gary, IN and Joliet, IL, Northern League in 2003) has let it be known he feels 100 per cent after shoulder surgery limited him to eight major league appearances last season (Mets), but so far we have not seen anything concrete develop for the 40-year-old who has made 479 major league appearances in his career. Robertson, a former hurler and part owner of the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts of the American Association, went 4-4 with a 3.04 ERA for Texas’s top farm club at Round Rock last season. Fox Sports has reported the 36-year-old “has spoken with several clubs”, but, he, too, remains a free agent.

ANOTHER PLAYER TURNS TO COACHING

Todd Linden was a major league outfielder of some note, hitting .231 in 270 games (San Francisco, Florida), and when he lost out at that level at a relatively young age did what so many others have done. He turned to the Independent game, in his case in Canada (Edmonton of the North American League) in 2011 where he still had the talent to hit 14 homers, drive in 79 runs and hit .355. Linden returned to the Giants for two seasons in Triple-A, and he recently accepted an offer, at the age of 33, to become their hitting coach at Augusta, GA in the South Atlantic League.

His case is one more of proving there can be life after a playing career for those so inclined, especially if the player has proven enough that he can be the type of asset an organization treasures. Independent Baseball has been a stepping stone in this direction for so many.

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INDY STARS PLAY MAJOR ROLES IN HELPING MEXICO WIN CARIBBEAN SERIES

Chris Roberson and Jon Weber are a pair of former American Association outfielders who have never gotten much opportunity to shine in the major leagues, but they certainly do not have trouble filling up trophy cases.

The duo, who both played at Winnipeg as recently as two summers ago, now have a combined 16 championships to their credit after helping Mexico repeat as Caribbean Series champion, taking the final step in a 7-1 win against Puerto Rico. Roberson was named Most Valuable Player after his sixth inning home run broke a scoreless tie and ignited a six-run inning. “This is a big league environment, and these teams bring their best every time out,” the 34-year-old told MLB.com.

This was the sixth time Roberson has been part of a championship team although he still lags four behind Weber. They were strong contributors in ’12 when Winnipeg swept six consecutive playoff games on its way to the American Association title. Roberson got into 85 major league games with Philadelphia in ’06-07, but only had 69 at-bats (.232) while the closest Weber has come to the majors was in 2010 when he was voted the top rookie in the New York Yankees spring training camp because of his .483 batting average. No other player was within 100 points, but he was sent to Triple-A anyway.

Roberson hit .370 with two homers and six RBI in the six games of the Caribbean Series while Weber, who also has played Independent Baseball for Fargo, ND (now an American Association team) and Camden, NJ (Atlantic League), hit .333 and was 2-for-4 with a run in the finale. A trio of 2013 Indy players also had strong series for Mexico with third baseman Yunesky Sanchez (Somerset, NJ, Atlantic) hitting .384, first baseman Daryle Ward (Lancaster, PA, Atlantic) hitting .333 and right-hander Jason Urquidez (Lancaster) handling eighth inning pitching chores.

JEROME WILLIAMS COULD MAKE $3.1 MILLION

Jerome Williams’s willingness to pitch in the Atlantic League (Lancaster, 2011) while trying to get back to the major leagues, continues to pay rich dividends. When the free agent signed with Houston recently it was for a guaranteed $2.1 million with another $1 million a possibility in incentives. His 4-0 record last September with the Angels could easily put the right-hander into starting rotation plans with the talent-starved Astros.

Chaz Roe’s stepping stone to the majors was through the American Association team in Laredo, TX, and the 27-year-old righty will get a fresh opportunity with the Miami Marlins as a non-roster pitcher in the major league spring training camp. Roe was in 21 games with Arizona last season (1-0, 4.03), found himself with Texas briefly during the offseason and when the Rangers designated him for assignment he declared for free agency and became a member of the Marlins almost instantly.

TEXAS STYLE, THE “Y’ALL-STAR GAME”

The Atlantic League plans to be more innovative once new President Rick White has time to get his feet on the ground, with the All-Star Game at Sugar Land, TX being one of the opportunities.

Someone has been grinding out ideas already. During his introductory news conference, conducted on Facebook, White said the working title for the event is the “Y’All-Star Game”. Very clever. I would run with it.

In another Atlantic League tidbit, multiple team owner Peter Kirk told Baseball America Virginia Beach, VA is making progress as a possible expansion site.

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