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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