ATLANTIC LEAGUE HIRES FORMER MLB EXEC AS PRESIDENT; VARIOUS INDY PLAYERS PART OF CARIBBEAN SERIES

The Atlantic League, continually searching for ways to build its national resume and hoping to expand from eight to 12 teams in the near future, announced a strong hire Tuesday in naming longtime marketing and branding executive Rick White as its new president.

White, who started in the American League office shortly out of college and went on to become president and chief executive officer of Major League Baseball Properties, will be the new face and voice of the Atlantic League, which will begin its 17th season in April. He is credited with starting the annual All-Star FanFest and launched MLB Clubhouse Shops. White also had a leadership role for Nike and in recent times has been associated with ForewardDirection.com, a consulting firm.

He lives in Denver.

VENEZUELA GETS BOOST FROM INDEPENDENT PLAYERS

Outfielders Cory Aldridge (Somerset, NJ, ’13, and Newark, NJ, ’08, both Atlantic League) and Lew Ford (Long Island, NY, Atlantic) and catcher-first baseman Eliezer Alfonzo (St. Paul, MN, then in the Northern League and now in the American Association) are providing some of the offensive firepower that has lifted Venezuela into the lead with a 2-0 record in the Caribbean Series heading into a Tuesday night showdown with the Dominican Republic (1-1). Daryl Thompson (Southern Maryland, Atlantic) is on the Venezuelan pitching staff.

I have not identified any former Independent players with the Dominican Republic although the team is managed by controversial Jose Offerman, who is most known for a bat-wielding incident when he was with Bridgeport, CT (Atlantic) in ’03. He later played for Long Island. Mexico (2-1) and Puerto Rico (1-1) also have former Indy players on their roster with onetime Long Island Ducks infielder Carlos Baerga as manager for Puerto Rico.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER. Only $48 for 2014. Scouts: $28

REQUEST A FREE WEEK OF THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER

Get the independent minor league baseball trivia question of the day by clicking this link: Independent Minor League Baseball Trivia Questions