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
.
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.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER. New subscriptions for remainder of 2014 only $35; Scouts $22; Monthly subscriptions $6.99

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