CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR 11 INDEPENDENT PLAYERS IN FORM OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING INVITATIONS

While it has become customary for at least a couple dozen players who have been in Independent leagues recently to receive non-roster invitations to major league spring training camps, the early pace of these opportunities is something I cannot remember in my writing about the unaffiliated leagues since 2003.

No less than 11 such spring training invitations have crossed this desk in the last two weeks, with many more virtually certain to come when organizations start releasing their full roster of invitees in January and early February. With 23 former Indy players, including seven who started out in the unaffiliated leagues, currently on 40-man rosters, this means we know of 34 players with Indy experience who will report to major league camps.

Free agents Craig Breslow, Aaron Crow, Stephen Drew, Scott Kazmir and Jerome Williams will almost surely be added along with quite a few players who are on Triple-A rosters or still are minor league free agents.

The most impressive announcements among the invitees at this point probably are left-handed pitchers Dan Runzler and Buddy Boshers since both finished the '15 season in the Atlantic League. Minnesota signed this pair as the Twins seek left-handed bullpen help. Runzler pitched at Sugar Land, TX and Boshers was with Atlantic League champion Somerset, NJ. Another southpaw, Rich Hill, who pitched briefly for Long Island, NY in the Atlantic League last season, signed at $6 million contract with Oakland earlier in the fall. He is on the major league roster.

The other non-roster invitees we know of so far, including their position, organization and their Independent teams: RHP Tim Adleman, Cincinnati (New Jersey, Can-Am League; El Paso, TX and Lincoln, NE, American Association); RHP Dylan Axelrod, Miami (Windy City, Crestwood, IL, Frontier League); OF Joe Benson, Minnesota (Sugar Land); RHP Greg Burke, Philadelphia (Atlantic City, NJ, Atlantic League); RHP Jarrett Grube, Cleveland (Southern Maryland, Atlantic); RHP Logan Kensing, Detroit (Bridgeport, CT, Atlantic); RHP Brandon Kintzler, Minnesota (St. Paul, MN, American Association, and Winnipeg, Northern League); 1B-OF Reynaldo Rodriguez, Minnesota (Yuma, AZ, Golden League); LHP Joe Thatcher, Cleveland (River City, O'Fallon, MO, Frontier).

NEARLY 100 SIGNED OUT OF INDEPENDENT LEAGUES

Should anyone believe signings by major league organizations out of Independent leagues have diminished of late, they should think again. Records maintained by www.IndyBaseballChatter.com show 82 of these signings just since the end of last spring training, and that only includes players currently in major league systems and those who became free agents at the end of the season. Other players were signed in this span of time and later released.

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CARE TO GUESS THE NUMBER OF FANS WHO HAVE ATTENDED INDEPENDENT BASEBALL GAMES SINCE 1993?

Miles Wolff and the other original investors who introduced modern day Independent Baseball back in 1993 should take delight in this number: 133,648,422.

Have a clue what it means?

That is the number of people who are believed to have attended an Independent league game these last 23 years. Yes, nearly 134 million.

David Kronheim of NumberTamer.com has meticulously come up with this number, based mostly on reports to official league statisticians with some supplemental reports, where necessary, from a few teams and leagues that did not send their attendance figures in to authorities. Actually, if every person could be counted from every league, including those that started and quickly disappeared, the number would be somewhat higher.

The top season, based on Kronheim’s diligence, was 2007 when 8,484,921 noses were counted. The total has ranged from almost 6.2 million to more than 7.1 the last five seasons through the stability of the established leagues. This year’s count has reached 6,318,729, which is about 150,000 ahead of one year ago.

ROSTER OF PLAYERS GAINS A NEW NAME

Major league teams are beginning the march toward settling their 40-man rosters prior to next month’s Winter Meetings with one new name from the Indy ranks.

The New York Mets promoted left-handed pitcher Josh Smoker, who was signed out of Rockford, IL of the Frontier League in 2014. Smoker is one of 23 onetime Indy players now with the coveted 40-man roster slots. This does not count half a dozen players who finished ’15 in the majors, but have now declared free agency. That group is made up of LHPs Craig Breslow Rich Hill, Scott Kazmir and Joe Thatcher, RHP Jerome Williams and 2B Stephen Drew.

While tracking numbers, 37 Independent players were active on major league rosters during the past season. That is four fewer than 2014’s record of 41.

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30 INDY PLAYERS HAVE PLAYED IN THE MAJORS THIS SEASON; RECORD WITHIN REACH

Independent Baseball has already seen 30 of its former players wear major league uniforms with the season about one-third gone and two others have been on the disabled list all year which certainly gives these leagues an opportunity to top the record of 41 who got to experience this thrill one year ago.

Pitchers continue to dominate with 26 of the 32 moundsmen. The list of players active or on major league disabled lists today, with their current team and their Independent stops:

Pitchers ( 17 + 3 on DL)—Craig Breslow, Boston (New Jersey, Northeast League); *#Aaron Crow, Miami (Fort Worth, American Association); Brandon Cunniff, Atlanta (River City and Southern Illinois, Frontier League); Steve Delabar, Toronto (Brockton, Can-Am League, and Florence, Frontier); Jon Edwards, Texas (San Angelo, North American League, and Alpine, Pecos League); Luis Garcia, Philadelphia (Newark, Can-Am); *Luke Hochevar, Kansas City (Fort Worth); Scott Kazmir, Oakland (Sugar Land, Atlantic League); #Brandon Kintzler, Milwaukee (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg, Northern League); Vidal Nuno, Seattle (Washington, Frontier); *#James Paxton, Seattle (Grand Prairie, American Association); *Tanner Roark, Washington (Southern Illinois); Chaz Roe, Baltimore (Laredo, American Association); *Tanner Scheppers, Texas (St. Paul); *Max Scherzer, Washington (Fort Worth); Bo Schultz, Toronto (Grand Prairie); *Joe Thatcher, Houston (River City); Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle (Tucson, Golden League); Jerome Williams, Philadelphia (Lancaster, Atlantic, and Long Beach, Golden); Brad Ziegler, Arizona (Schaumburg, Northern League).

Position Players (4 + 2 on DL) – 1B-OF Chris Colabello, Toronto (Worcester and Nashua, Can-Am); *2B Stephen Drew, New York-AL (Camden, Atlantic); OF-1B *#Daniel Nava, Boston (Chico, Golden); OF David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and Wichita, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American); OF #Antoan Richardson, Texas (Schaumburg, Northern); C Rene Rivera, Tampa Bay (Camden).

Pitchers with major league time in ’15 who are currently in the minor leagues (6)–Andrew Albers, Toronto/Buffalo (Quebec, Can-Am); Angel Castro, Oakland/Nashville (Lincoln, American Association); *Chris Martin, New York-AL/Scranton (Grand Prairie); Drew Rucinski, Los Angeles-AL/Salt Lake (Rockford, Frontier); Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota/Rochester (St. Paul); Ian Thomas, Los Angeles-NL/Oklahoma City (York, Atlantic).

Notes: Crow and Richardson have been on the DL the entire season; #Indicates is currently on the disabled list; *Indicates first pro game was in Independent Baseball.

IJAMES AMONG HOPEFULS

Nearly 200 former Independent Baseball players are in the affiliated minors today, every one of them hoping to get an eventual opportunity in the big leagues. One beginning to draw attention is outfielder Stewart Ijames, who was drafted twice but continued to play college baseball (Louisville) while trying for a higher selection that never came.

“It was the hardest thing I ever went through,” James told The Visalia (CA) Times Delta. “I can’t stress that enough. It was very hard. The one thing growing up that I was always good at was playing baseball, and I just assumed that it (being drafted again) was gonna be there, and I never thought that anything was gonna change. So that was the one thing that I learned from that–that baseball keeps going. Baseball does not need me. Baseball does not need Stewart Ijames. I need baseball to make myself feel complete.”

The former Frontier Leaguer (Washington, PA) is tied for second among California League players in home runs (12) and has 29 RBI and a .283 average for the Visalia Rawhide.

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INDY COUNT IN MAJORS UP TO 203 WITH CUNNIFF BUSY OUT OF BRAVES BULLPEN

Atlanta’s Brandon Cunniff has the distinction of being the first graduate of Independent Baseball to make his major league debut in this young season, and what a trial he is getting.

The 26-year-old right-handed reliever has made six appearances within a nine-day span since joining the Braves, and has yet to surrender any hits. He has been charged with four walks (five strikeouts) and one run in 5.2 innings (1.59), and has picked up one victory.

Cunniff was drafted by Miami, but only found work in 18 games before being released. The next two plus seasons (’11-’13) were spent in the Frontier League (River City and Southern Illinois).

Major League Count Up to 203

Records maintained exclusively by IndyBaseballChatter.com and the Independent Baseball Insider now show 203 players have made their way from Independent Baseball to the majors (1993-2015).

The 2015 major league count is down slightly this season with 15 players active and five others on disabled lists. The complete list, including major league affiliation and previous Independent team(s), with those who started in an Independent league identified with an asterisk:

Pitchers (11 + 4 on DL)—Craig Breslow, Boston (New Jersey, Northeast League); Brandon Cunniff, Atlanta (River City and Southern Illinois, Frontier League); *#Aaron Crow, Miami (Fort Worth, American Association); Luis Garcia, Philadelphia (Newark, Can-Am League); *#Luke Hochevar, Kansas City (Fort Worth); Scott Kazmir, Oakland (Sugar Land, Atlantic League); *Chris Martin, New York-AL (Grand Prairie, American Association); *James Paxton, Seattle (Grand Prairie); *Tanner Roark, Washington (Southern Illinois); *#Tanner Scheppers, Texas (St. Paul, American Association); *Max Scherzer, Washington (Fort Worth); *Joe Thatcher, Houston (River City); #Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle (Tucson, Golden League); Jerome Williams, Philadelphia (Lancaster, Atlantic, and Long Beach, Golden); Brad Ziegler, Arizona (Schaumburg, Northern League).

Position Players (4 +1 on DL) –*2B Stephen Drew, New York-AL (Camden, Atlantic); OF-1B *Daniel Nava, Boston (Chico, Golden); David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and Wichita, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American); #Antoan Richardson, Texas (Schaumburg); C Rene Rivera, Tampa Bay (Camden).

#Is on the disabled list.

Several Signed Before Season Starts

Major league organizations are not even waiting for Independent seasons to start to sign players off the non-affiliated rosters. We can count at least five of these cases, including 5-foot-8 lefty Jhonathan Ramos, whose contract was purchased from Wichita, KS (American Association) by Baltimore. The Venezuelan, 25, has pitched as high as Triple-A and started the year with a 29-18 career record for six seasons.

The first Independent Baseball action of ’15 comes next Thursday and Friday in the Atlantic League.

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INSPIRATIONAL EDWARDS STORY INCLUDED AS ABOUT 18 INDY GRADS HEADED FOR OPENING DAY

Most of the decisions have been made regarding Opening Day major league rosters with the rest of them coming by Sunday afternoon, and, as usual, some surprises and disappointments have taken place since major league spring training camps opened in February.

The most pleasant news for the Independent Baseball crowd probably centers around three right-handed pitchers, all of whom made their big-league debut last season and now appear to have made the all-important 25-man rosters. It seems likely American Association (Grand Prairie, TX) product Chris Martin will be in the New York Yankees' bullpen, Frontier League (Rockford, IL) grad Drew Rucinski will be with the Los Angeles Angels and Jon Edwards will be part of the Texas Rangers' pen. The trio has only 28 combined major league appearances.

All have heart-warming stories, none better than that of Edwards, who emerged from the youth-oriented Pecos League (Alpine, TX) and the North American League (San Angelo, TX), which no longer exists.

Not only did Edwards move from the outfield to pitching to salvage his career, but he has overcome testicular cancer surgery when it was discovered a few days before Christmas and he has recently learned he will become a first-time father this fall.

"It was surprising how quickly the doctors wanted to move on it (the cancer) and the urgency of it (surgery) kind of showed the concern the doctor felt," Edwards' wife Katelyn told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram as part of a lengthy feature on the couple, who have a strong religious background.

Edwards has held opposing teams to only seven hits in 12.1 innings while striking out 18 in compiling a 2.92 earned run average this spring for the pitching-starved Rangers.

It appears as many as 22 former Independent players will be on Opening Day rosters although up to four of them may be on disabled lists including Aaron Crow, who is going to have Tommy John (with Tommy John (elbow) surgery and will miss the season. The players, with major league affiliation and previous Independent teams, with those who started in an Independent league identified with an asterisk:

Pitchers (17)—Craig Breslow, Boston (New Jersey, Northeast League); *#Aaron Crow, Miami (Fort Worth, American Association); Jon Edwards, Texas (St. Paul, American Association); San Angelo, North American League, and Alpine, Pecos League); Luis Garcia, Philadelphia (Newark, Can-Am League); *#Luke Hochevar, Kansas City (Fort Worth); Scott Kazmir, Oakland (Sugar Land, Atlantic League); *Chris Martin, New York-AL (Grand Prairie, American Association); Vidal Nuno, Arizona (Washington, Frontier League); *James Paxton, Seattle (Grand Prairie); *Tanner Roark, Washington (Southern Illinois, Frontier); Drew Rucinski, Los Angeles Angels (Rockford, Frontier); *#Tanner Scheppers, Texas (St. Paul, American Association); *Max Scherzer, Washington (Fort Worth); *Joe Thatcher, Houston (River City, Frontier); Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle (Tucson, Golden League); Jerome Williams, Philadelphia (Lancaster, Atlantic, and Long Beach, Golden); Brad Ziegler, Arizona (Schaumburg, Northern League).

Position Players (5) –*2B Stephen Drew, New York-AL (Camden, Atlantic); OF-1B *Daniel Nava, Boston (Chico, Golden); David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and Wichita, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American); #Antoan Richardson, Texas (Schaumburg, Northern); C Rene Rivera, Tampa Bay (Camden, Atlantic).

#Will be or likely to be on disabled list to start season.

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ANGELS' RUCINSKI APPEARS TO BE THIS YEAR'S TOP INDEPENDENT SURPRISE

It seems every spring training at least one virtual unknown out of an Independent league stuns some major league team. Think Jon Weber with the Yankees, Chris Coste with Philadelphia and last year Ian Thomas with the Braves.

James Hoyt (Wichita, KS) with Houston or Mark Hamburger (St. Paul, MN) with Minnesota, both out of the American Association, are decent stories this year although it seems unlikely anyone compares right now to 26-year-old Frontier League product Drew Rucinski, who is making a very big statement with the Los Angeles Angels.

General Manager Jerry Dipoto confirmed as much this week.

“Drew came in as guy no one paid a whole lot of attention to, but in the last 10 days, Drew has put himself in position not only to be on our club, but I have already fielded multiple phone calls from other teams wondering if Drew Rucinski might be available,” Dipoto told The Orange County Register this week. “He put his best forward at the right time, and we have noticed.”

Dipoto told the newspaper Rucinski is not only in the running for the long relief job opened when Cory Rasmus got hurt, but he could start for the Angels, confirming so far he has outpitched Hector Santiago, Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano. Asked flat-out about Rucinski’s chances of making the team, Dipoto said: “You should be liking them. He’s had an unbelievable spring.”

The right-hander went undrafted after four seasons at Ohio State (22-13), pitched one game for Rockford, IL in 2011, then got a brief look from the Cleveland Indians. Rucinski was back in the Frontier League city for all of ’12 and most of ’13 (a combined 11-10, mostly in starting roles) before the Angels signed him largely to fill out a Class A roster.

He was a strong 10-6, 3.14 as a starter for the Angels’ Double-A Arkansas team last season, and got into three games in relief for the parent club at season’s end.

The Neenah, WI native has allowed two runs in 12 innings this spring, including four hitless innings in a start against Colorado’s regular lineup. He pitched the final 4 2/3 innings of a victory over San Francisco on Sunday, ending the game with a strikeout with the tying run at third.

“I wish I could tell you we thought he was going to show up and do what he’s doing now, but sometimes you get lucky,” Dipoto admitted to The Register.

Rucinski is scheduled to pitch again Friday, possibly in a minor league game, mostly to get enough innings of work.

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THE UPS AND DOWNS OF SPRING TRAINING

Mark Hendrickson’s bid to make a comeback with Baltimore after becoming a grandfather did not work out, but as surely as one career slows down another gets a timely boost.

Drew Rucinski took advantage of a surprise start for the Los Angeles Angels when C. J. Wilson was under the weather this week, and all the 26-year-old out of the Frontier League (Rockford, IL) did was turn in four innings of hitless work in an 11-0 romp over Colorado.

That effort has to help the right-hander’s chances either now or in the future. Thirty-two of Rucinski’s 48 pitches–he faced one batter in the fifth–were strikes as he fanned five and allowed only one walk in lowering his Cactus League earned run average to 2.45 for 7.1 innings and two relief appearances in addition to the start.

The Neenah, WI native logged his first 13 days of major league service time last September and posted a 4.91 ERA for three efforts out of the bullpen. He had an 11-11, 3.28 record for his combined work at Rockford in 2011-13, and was 10-6, 3.14 in 26 starts for Class AA Arkansas last season.

As for Hendrickson, who finished last season closing for the York (PA) Revolution in the Atlantic League, his re-invented sidearm delivery at 40 years and nine months was not sufficient for another opportunity with Baltimore, which had invited the 6-foot-9 onetime NBA player to camp after an offseason workout.

Hendrickson, whose first major league spring training was in 2000, has a 48-54 career record in the majors. He took a positive attitude to camp in Sarasota, FL, probably knowing his chances were slim.

“If people in York County can see me doing something that’s probably against the odds, maybe that will push them to do something they thought they couldn’t do,” he told Goerie.com before camp opened.

JETER DAY STAR IN NEWS AGAIN

Speedy Antoan Richardson, who stands only 5-foot-8, has won a promotion since spring training started to the Texas Rangers’ 40-man roster. Now, perhaps the outfielder, 31, can make the Opening Day roster.

Richardson, who play Independent Baseball in Schaumburg, IL for 27 games and stole 20 bases when he was between affiliated organizations in 2009, has only 22 major league games on his lengthy career resume, but he is well remembered for scoring the winning run on Derek Jeter’s Yankee Stadium finale last September.

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ANOTHER 10 GET SHORT TRIPS TO MAJOR LEAGUE CAMPS

It is not just the 52 former Independent Baseball players who are getting to strut their ability in major league spring training camps. Far from it.

The Independent Baseball Insider has identified 10 more such players who have gotten at least a one-day opportunity to be in uniform for Grapefruit or Cactus League games as MLB team reinforce their rosters, especially for late-inning duty.

Interestingly, two of those who have gotten into games come from the Golden League, which has been out of operation for a few years. First baseman Seth Loman got into one game with Atlanta, and Austin Bibens-Dirkx saw brief duty with Toronto. Both of those players have seen spring training duty in other years, too. Loman played Indy baseball for St. George, UT; Bibens-Dirkx was with Victoria, Canada.

Julio DePaula, who had a whirlwind ride from York, PA of the Atlantic League to the parent Baltimore Orioles last summer, has seen action with his new team, Arizona. It certainly would seem the D-Backs are intrigued, getting DePaula into two games aready. He has given up a run and a hit in 1.1 innings. The right-hander also has pitched for Bridgeport, CT of the Atlantic League and St. Paul, MN of the American Association.

Arizona also has looked at right-hander Brandon Sinnery (Lincoln, NE, American Association; London, Ontario, Frontier League). Another American Association grad, righty Matt Nevarez (Wichita, KS), spent at least one day with Pittsburgh, and Atlantic League righties Mark Rogers and Mitch Atkins have been with Texas. Rogers, signed only recently, played at Lancaster, PA, while Atkins was at Somerset, NJ.

Frontier League players besides Sinnery who have gotten to wear major league uniforms include RHP Johnny Omahen (Traverse City, MI) with Arizona, OF Matty Johnson (Gateway, Sauget, IL) with Boston and RHP Stephen Shackleford (Florence, KY) with Philadelphia.

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GRANDPA HENDRICKSON PASSES FIRST TEST WITH ORIOLES

One can only imagine the taunts Mark Hendrickson is going to hear this season if he makes the Baltimore Orioles bullpen since the 6-foot-9 lefty has a six-month old granddaughter. Where he stands on the comeback trail likely won’t be known for a few weeks, but the onetime NBA player passed his first test during a six-inning intra-squad game that ended in a 0-0 tie.

Pitching in the third inning, Manager Buck Showalter had Hendrickson extend an extra batter so he would face power-hitting Chris Davis. Showalter even left the dugout to get a closer look, and the 40-year-old, who last season was in the York (PA) Revolution bullpen in the Atlantic League, did not disappoint. He got Davis to watch a called third strike.

“It’s an opportunity,” Hendrickson, who last pitched in the majors in 2011, told CSNBaltimore.com earlier this spring. “I think, if anything, the way I progressed the past couple years that’s all I’m looking for.”

Colabello to Get a Look in Left Field

Start looking for former Can-Am Leaguer Chris Colabello in left field during Toronto’s spring training games. That seems to be the seven-year Worcester, MA star’s best opportunity with his new team although he primarily played first, right field and designated hitter when he was with Minnesota the last two seasons.

Sportsnet.ca reports Toronto Manager John Gibbons has hinted Danny Valencia and Colabello, who is in camp as a non-roster invitee, will see time in left as the Blue Jays fill the void created when the expected starter, Michael Saunders, suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee that is expected to keep him out of action until July.

Holdzkom Will Get an Early Look

With 20 of its former players in major league camps, it was easy to predict the American Association would be in the news frequently. Sure enough, that is true as teams head into the exhibition season.

For starters, John Holdzkom, one of the darlings of last season when he started out in the American Association (Amarillo, TX) and ended up in Pittsburgh’s playoff game after a whirlwind climb, has been tabbed to work an inning in one of the Pirates’ first two Grapefruit League games, both against Toronto as he zeroes in on trying to nail down a fulltime bullpen spot.

“He’s got an opportunity,” a home country blog in New Zealand (stuff.co.nz) quoted Pittsburgh Manager Clint Hurdle. “It’s real. He knows it’s real. I don’t think he’s putting any pressure on himself. Still, in his mind, he’s got nothing to lose. He got a taste of it (major leagues), he likes it, and he wants more of it.”

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INDEPENDENT LEAGUES HAVE 52 PLAYERS TICKETED FOR MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING

By the time all position players have reported to spring training in little more than a week, 52 players who have spent time in one or more Independent leagues will be wearing major league uniforms, records compiled by the blog IndyBaseballChatter.com reveal. This is an increase of one over last year and the number of players on 40-man rosters has jumped from 25 to 28. The rest of the players are non-roster invitees.

Forty-one pitchers are included.

The American Association tops all leagues with 20 players, four more than the Atlantic League, with eight representing the Frontier League and five the Can-Am. Several leagues no longer operating also have representation.

The list with major league affiliation and previous Independent leagues and teams, with those who started in a non-affiliated league identified with an asterisk (*) and non-roster players shown with an “n”:

Pitchers (41)—nAndrew Albers, Toronto (Quebec, Can-Am League); Dylan Axelrod, Cincinnati (Windy City, Frontier League); Craig Breslow, Boston (New Jersey, Northeast League); nBrian Broderick, Kansas City (Sugar Land, Atlantic League); n*Greg Burke, Toronto (Atlantic City, Atlantic); nAngel Castro, Oakland (Lincoln, American Association); *Aaron Crow, Miami (Fort Worth, American Association); Brandon Cunniff, Atlanta (Southern Illinois and River City, Frontier); Steve Delabar, Toronto (Brockton, Can-Am League, and Florence, Frontier); nDane DeLaRosa, Baltimore (Southern Maryland, Atlantic; El Paso, American Association; and Victoria, Orange County, Long Beach and Yuma, all Golden League); Jon Edwards, Texas (San Angelo, North American League, and Alpine, Pecos League); Luis Garcia, Philadelphia (Newark, Can-Am); nMark Hamburger, Minnesota (St. Paul, American Association); nMark Hendrickson, Baltimore (York, Atlantic); n*Luke Hochevar, Kansas City (Fort Worth, American Association); John Holdzkom, Pittsburgh (Amarillo and Sioux City, American Association, and San Angelo, United League); n*James Hoyt, Houston (Wichita, American Association, and Edinburg and Yuma, North American); Scott Kazmir, Oakland (Sugar Land, Atlantic); nLogan Kensing, Chicago-AL (Bridgeport, Atlantic); Brandon Kintzler, Milwaukee (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg, Northern League); nJason Lane, San Diego (Sugar Land and Southern Maryland, Atlantic); nMitch Lively, Washington (San Angelo, United); *Chris Martin, New York-AL (Grand Prairie, American Association); Vidal Nuno, Arizona (Washington, Frontier); *James Paxton, Seattle (Grand Prairie, American Association); nScott Rice, New York Mets (York, Long Island, and Newark, Atlantic); *Tanner Roark, Washington (Southern Illinois, Frontier); nChaz Roe, Baltimore (Laredo, American Association); Drew Rucinski, Los Angeles Angels (Rockford, Frontier); nCody Satterwhite, New York-NL (Sioux City, American Association); *Tanner Scheppers, Texas (St. Paul, American Association); *Max Scherzer, Washington (Fort Worth, American Association); Bo Schultz, Toronto (Sioux Falls and Grand Prairie, American Association); nJoe Thatcher, Houston (River City, Frontier); Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota (St. Paul, American Association); *Ian Thomas, Atlanta (York, Atlantic, and Winnipeg, Northern and American Association); nJon Velasquez, New York – NL (Camden, Atlantic, and Rockland, Can-Am); Tom Wilhelmsen, Seattle (Tucson, Golden League); Jerome Williams, Philadelphia (Lancaster, Atlantic, and Long Beach, Golden); nDontrelle Willis, Milwaukee (Bridgeport and Long Island, Atlantic); Brad Ziegler, Arizona (Schaumburg, Northern).

Catchers (3) – Rene Rivera, Tampa Bay (Camden, Atlantic); nEddy Rodriguez, New York-AL (Sioux Falls and El Paso, American Association); nJose Yepez, Atlanta (Pensacola, American Association, and Gary, Northern).

Infielders (4) — n*1B-OF Chris Colabello, Toronto (Worcester and Nashua, Can-Am), *2B-SS Stephen Drew, New York-AL (Camden, Atlantic); n1B Matt Fields, Kansas City (Southern Illinois, Frontier); n1B-OF Jake Fox, Toronto (Somerset, Atlantic).

Outfielders (4) — nBen Francisco, Lancaster (Atlantic); *Daniel Nava, Boston (Chico, Golden); David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and Wichita, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American); nAntoan Richardson, Texas (Schaumburg, Northern).

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COLABELLO'S STATUS TO BE KNOWN SOON WHILE ANOTHER TRIO EXCELS IN CARIBBEAN SERIES

This could be one of the biggest weeks in longtime Can-Am League star Chris Colabello’s baseball life since the 10-day window after he was designated for assignment by his new team, Toronto, will expire.

This means the 31-year-old first baseman-outfielder will either become a free agent or have his contract picked up by another major league team. It seems unlikely he would re-sign a minor league pact with the Blue Jays although Korea or some other foreign league could once again come into play.

GIL, FUENMAYOR, MARIN STAND OUT IN CARIBBEAN

What a bizarre finish to the Caribbean Series with Cuba, which only scored seven runs in its first four games and down 4-0 in the semifinals, bouncing back to oust Venezuela 8-4, then finish off Mexico 3-2 on Sunday.

Two former Independent players had great offensive series for Venezuela with catcher Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association) enhancing his free agent status by going 5-for-11 (.455) with four runs and one RBI in three appearances after hitting .328 during the winter league season and Can-Am MVP Balbino Fuenmayor (Quebec) going 7-for-19 (.368) while playing in all five games. The first baseman, now Kansas City property, had a homer and three runs batted in.

Frontier League grad Terance Marin (Evansville, IN), now in the Chicago White Sox system, was a mound standout for Mexico, picking up a win in relief and another with a six-inning start (no earned runs) against Cuba. He had 8.2 innings in all without allowing an earned run.

Free agent Gary Majewski (Sugar Land, TX, Atlantic League) hurled two scoreless innings over three appearances for Mexico while teammate Marquez Smith (Camden, NJ, Atlantic) went 0-for-5 in his two appearances. He now belongs to Cincinnati. For host Puerto Rico, Rene Rivera (Camden) caught all four games, going 3-for-16 with an RBI and lefty Jon Velasquez (Camden and Rockland County, Can-Am) had two strikeouts in his only appearance of one inning in relief. Rivera now heads to Tampa Bay’s major league camp and Velasquez to the New York Mets. Free agent Mark Serrano (Laredo, TX, American Association) was on the Venezuela roster but did not pitch.

WHERE HAVE THEY GONE?

With the help of Somerset, NJ (Atlantic League) closer and player personnel boss Jon Hunton, we can report on several players on our most recent list of free agents.

Pitcher Virgil Vasquez (Southern Maryland, Atlantic) and shortstop Vance Albitz (Lincoln) have retired as players to join the minor league systems of Minnesota and St. Louis, respectively. Veteran lefty Raul Valdes (New Jersey Jackals and Nashua, NH, Can-Am) has signed to play for Chunichi in Japan and Jarrett Grube (Southern Maryland) has inked a deal to pitch in Mexico.

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CHECKING OUT THE CARIBBEAN SERIES, INCLUDING CUBA'S GURRIEL FAMILY

After all of the shuffling of rosters that goes on between the individual league championships and the Caribbean Series, I have spotted seven current or former Independent players who are on the 28-man rosters for these climactic winter league games being played now in Puerto Rico. There may be others.

The Camden (NJ) RiverSharks of the Atlantic League should have considerable interest with a trio of their former players involved. Catcher Rene Rivera, expected to carry a significant load with Tampa Bay this season, went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Puerto Rico’s opening 5-2 loss to Venezuela. Jon Velasquez, who will be an invitee in the New York Mets’ spring training camp, is on the Puerto Rican mound staff and first baseman Marquez Smith (Cincinnati farm system) is with Mexico. Velasquez also played for Rockland County in the Can-Am League.

Another Atlantic Leaguer with Mexico is Gary Majewski, a strong part of the Sugar Land, TX bullpen the last three seasons. Venezuela has a trio of Indy players, including catcher Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association), who played a big role in that opening victory by going 2-for-3 with two runs. He hit .328 during the regular winter league season. Laredo, TX (American Association) right-hander Mark Serrano and first baseman Balbino Fuenmayor (Quebec, Can-Am and recently signed by Kansas City) also play for Venezuela. Fuenmayor was 0-for-4 in the opener.

GURRIEL FAMILY WELL REPRESENTED WITH CUBA

It was significant news last summer when 32-year-old Yuniesky Gurriel became the first player to receive the Cuban government’s approval to play in North America, and the outfielder joined the Can-Am League’s Quebec Capitales. He likely will be back there this season after hitting .321 in 30 games.

MLB.com did a major feature on the Gurriel family (spelling it Gourriel) timed to the opening of the Caribbean Series because Lourdes Gurriel, Sr., is a baseball hero in Cuba and he has three quality baseball-playing sons. Yuniesky played center field for Havana this winter although he is not on the Caribbean Series roster, while Yulieski and youngest brother Lourdes, Jr. both are infielders on the team. Yulieski is expected to return to Japan for the regular season and Lourdes may join him. Cuba has dropped its first two games, losing 6-1 to the Dominican Republic today (Tuesday).

NAVA MAY TRY HITTING SOUTHPAWS AS LEFTY BATTER

It is unquestioned that Boston outfielder Daniel Nava has been one of Independent Baseball’s biggest success stories. Now the onetime Golden League Player of the Year (Chico, CA) has his biggest contract at $1.85 million, and the switch-hitter is thinking about trying to bat only from the left side where he has been much stronger.

“Essentially, all I’m doing different is just trying to see how lefty on lefty feels,” he told WEEI Radio in Beantown recently. “But I’m still going to be working as a switch-hitter…I really have to see what lefty-lefty feels like. But I’m open to doing (it) to hopefully get myself on the field more and be more productive.”

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RECENT ATLANTIC LEAGUER AMONG SPRING TRAINING INVITEES, BUT 50 STILL IN FREE AGENCY

Eleven of the 30 major league teams have yet to announce their full list of non-roster invitees to spring training camps starting next month and there will be some late signees, still our records already show 48 players who have spent time in Independent leagues will be among the elite players afforded such opportunities.

One impressive name on the list is that of 28-year-old Brian Broderick, who only signed with Kansas City recently after making 60 relief appearances at Sugar Land, TX in the Atlantic League last season (0-2, 11 saves, 2.31 with 65 strikeouts and only nine walks in 62.1 innings).

Broderick has been pitching professionally since ’07 (St. Louis, Washington), but the tall right-hander has only 12.1 major league innings (Nationals, 2011).

Right-hander Dane DeLaRosa (Southern Maryland, Atlantic, El Paso, TX, American Association and four Golden League teams no longer in existence) signed as a free agent with Baltimore this week, and received a camp invitation. San Diego added lefty Jason Lane (Sugar Land and Southern Maryland) and first baseman Matt Fields (Southern Illinois, Frontier League) got an invite from the Royals.

Catcher Eddy Rodriguez (El Paso and Sioux Falls, SD, American Association) signed with the New York Yankees. It would not surprise if he gets a camp invitation although the Bombers have not announced their additions to the established 40-man roster.

STILL AVAILABLE

It might be starting to become nervous time for another group of onetime Independent players who were in major league organizations when last season ended and are without jobs in affiliated or Indy leagues.

While we may have overlooked a late signing or two and a few players likely will retire, the list maintained by the Independent Baseball Insider column still shows exactly 50 such players. They are:

RHP (23) – Eric Brooks, Robert Coello, Michael Colla, Shane Dyer, Jarrett Grube, Erik Hamren, Ray Hanson, Tyler Herron, Shawn Hill, Josh Kinney, Anthony Lerew, Mike McClendon, Kyler Newby, Michael Nix, Mark Pope, Scott Richmond, Jake Roberts, Cody Scarpatta, Mark Serrano, Daniel Stange, Brett Tomko, Virgil Vasquez, Zak Wasserman.

LHP (7) – Brian Burres, Tony Davis, Zach Kroenke, Nate Reed, Will Startup, Joe Thatcher, Raul Valdes.

C (7) – (Also OF) Alex Burg, Mitch Canham, Jose Gil, Ralph Henriquez, J.R. Towles, J.T. Wise, Zach Zaneski.

IF (6) – (SS) Vance Albitz, (3B) Mike Costanzo, Maikol Gonzalez, (1B) Cody Overbeck, (SS) Jaime Pedroza, Nate Spears.

OF (7) – Cory Aldridge, Brandon Boggs, Yusuf Carter, Justin Christian, Tyler Graham, Dustin Martin, Dustin Richardson.

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INDEPENDENTS PAVE WAY FOR STILL MORE TO COACH FOR MAJOR LEAGUE ORGANIZATIONS

It never ceases to surprise this writer how many uniformed personnel (players, coaches, managers) are getting fresh opportunities with major league organizations after being in Independent leagues.

These are only a few of the recent moves we have seen:

**Longtime Indy infielder Iggy Suarez after failing to reach the majors as a player, is now the hitting coach for Lowell, MA in the Boston system. He did play in the Red Sox chain from the time he was 22 until he reached 28, then spent four seasons in the Atlantic League (Somerset, NJ, Lancaster, PA, Southern Maryland (Waldorf), Sugar Land, TX and Bridgeport, CT, the latter in 2013. He is only 33.

**In a similar path, 19-year minor leaguer Liu Rodriguez is getting an opportunity at 38 as a minor league coach for Milwaukee. He played in Independent leagues from ’06 to ’12, with Atlantic League stops at Newark, NJ and five years between Southern Maryland and York, PA. He also spent time in the Golden League.

**A newcomer in the Los Angeles Dodgers system at Ogden, UT is noted slugger Darryl Brinkley, who started his pro journey at 25 in Winnipeg (then Northern League, now American Association). Brinkley hit .399 at Calgary (Northern League) in ’07, and also made Indy stops at Saskatoon (Prairie League), New Jersey (Little Falls) in the Northeast and Can-Am Leagues plus Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic and Edmonton in the Golden. He was in some of those cities more than once.

**Joe Espada, who once played in the Central League (Pensacola, FL), is the New York Yankees’ new third base coach. Only 39, he had the same job for four seasons with Miami.

**Butch Henry, who managed El Paso, TX in the American Association for several seasons, has been hired as pitching coach for the Yankees’ short season team at Staten Island, NY.

Then there is the case of former pitcher Jason Simontacchi, recently promoted to Double-A pitching coach for St. Louis. He was in Joplin, MO where the American Association has a new team this season (Blasters) as part of the Cardinals’ winter caravan and talked about how playing Independent Baseball years ago helped him:

“I needed to develop a little more, develop my pitches and get back some of my confidence that I lost in the two years prior to that (affiliated leagues) because I wasn’t pitching very well,” he told The Joplin Globe. “I went there (Springfield, IL., Frontier League) and pitched better and it kind of got me on a roll a little bit.” That was pretty modest. Simontacchi went 10-2 that season, was named Pitcher of the Year, and helped Springfield to the league title.

He was in the majors four years later, starting out 7-1, 2.82 in his first 13 starts for St. Louis. Simontacchi finished his pitching career in the Atlantic League (Long Island, NY) and Lancaster.

PLAYER MOVES

The newest trio of Indy invitees to major league spring training all have Atlantic League experience. Outfielder Ben Francisco (Lancaster) will be with Arizona, Logan Kensing (Bridgeport) with the Chicago White Sox and longtime veteran Dontrelle Willis (Bridgeport and Long Island) with Milwaukee.

Yoslan Herrera (Lancaster) was scheduled to be back in camp with the Los Angeles Angels for whom he had a 2.70 ERA in 20 appearances last season, but a deal was worked out whereby Herrera would get his release in order to play in Japan (Yokohama), presumably for more guaranteed money.

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SUSSEX OFF AND RUNNING; MORE PLAYERS GET SPRING TRAINING INVITATIONS

More challenges lie ahead before anyone knows how successful the Can-Am League's new Sussex County Miners will be, but General Manager Dave Chase certainly has the New Jersey team off to a nice offseason start.

Chase, a real vet when it comes to minor league franchises, tells us he has been very pleased with the media reception, at one point saying he was "overwhelmed" by it. His first major hit was his ability to get two-time American Association Manager of the Year Steve Shirley to guide the Miners since it will take a seasoned leader to secure a solid roster.

Chase has a four-person sales staff out working to build the fan and sponsor base.

MORE MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING TRAINING INVITATIONS

The American Association, already assured of strong representation in major league spring training camps, keeps getting good news, and I am not just talking about the fact Fort Worth, TX product Max Scherzer is joining Washington with his rich new contract.

Right-handers Cody Satterwhite (Sioux City, IA) and James Hoyt (Wichita, KS) have joined the major league contingent with the New York Mets and Houston, respectively. Hoyt was part of the five-player swap in which the Astros received Evan Gattis from Atlanta. Hoyt, who does not have major league experience, also pitched for two North American League teams (Yuma, AZ and Edinburg, TX) during his '11-'12 seasons in Independent Baseball.

The Mets also will have another right-hander in camp in Jon Velasquez, who pitched for Rockland (Pomona, NY) in the Can-Am League and Camden, NJ of the Atlantic League. And Atlantic Leaguer Yoslan Herrera (Lancaster, PA) will be back in camp with the Los Angeles Angels for whom he logged some time last season.

SAME TEAM, SAME POSITION

Outfielder Brian Anderson is being given a new chance (although in minor league camp) with his original organization, the Chicago White Sox. After logging 334 major league games (.227-22-80) with the Chisox (and briefly with Boston), Anderson, who turns 33 in March, tried his hand at pitching, including five relief appearances in 2012 (0-1, 1.80) with Somerset, NJ in the Atlantic League. The onetime University of Arizona star, has once again signed on for a look in the White Sox's minor league camp as an outfielder.

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STRONG CAN-AM SEASON AS CLOSER GIVES SANCHEZ NEW LIFE

Salvador Sanchez appears to be a really good test case to see how far one can advance in an affiliated league after converting from the outfield and getting one season of accelerated work as a closer in the Can-Am League.

The Miami Marlins have signed the 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander and placed him on their Triple-A New Orleans roster, based in great measure on a 25-save season with the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls). Sanchez will pitch at 29 in 2015, but only the last four years of his first decade in pro baseball have come as a pitcher.

The New York City native hit as many as 16 home runs in a season and climbed to Class AA during his nine seasons in the Chicago White Sox organization. He only started pitching in the ’11 season, and did not get many innings until ’13 in the Double-A Southern League where he posted a 2.72 ERA in 27 appearances for Birmingham, AL.

New Jersey worked the right-hander hard last season, and he responded with a 4-2 record, 2.41 ERA and the 25 saves. His other numbers were good, too, with only 33 hits allowed in 41.1 innings during 42 appearances, and he fanned 46 and walked only 12. Sanchez logged another seven appearances, including two in the playoffs, for Somerset, NJ of the Atlantic League after the Can-Am season ended.

ANOTHER CONVERTED OUTFIELDER

Slender southpaw Leyson Septimo also converted from the outfield to the mound, but he did so much earlier in his career, eventually logging 21 major league appearances with the parent White Sox (0-2, 5.14) in 2012. He played briefly in the Atlantic League (Southern Maryland, Waldorf) last summer (0-0, 14.14 in eight relief outings), and now is getting a new start at age 29 with Atlanta’s top farm club in Gwinnett, GA.

NEW ADDRESSES FOR BURGAMY, MINICOZZI

Well-traveled Independent Baseball veterans Mark Minicozzi and Brian Burgamy, both borderline major leaguers, have new homes.

Minicozzi, mostly a first baseman these days, joined the Washington Nationals organization after being in the San Francisco farm system. He has played with Winnipeg and Kansas City, KS in the American Association, Worcester, MA in the Can-Am League and Camden, NJ in the Atlantic League.

Burgamy, known largely for his bat and listed now in the outfield, has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers system after playing in the minors for the New York Mets. He has made Atlantic League stops in York, PA, Camden and Sugar Land, TX as well as with St. Paul, MN in the American Association.

THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. Request a free sample column from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.

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CAN-AM'S FUENMAYOR MAKING ROYALS TAKE NOTICE WITH BIG NUMBERS IN VENEZUELA

The Kansas City Royals must be happy with their recent signing of Balbino Fuenmayor out of the Can-Am League (Quebec) because the corner infielder is not only putting up great numbers in Venezuela, but they look even more impressive when compared to Arizona outfielder David Peralta, who made a big impact in his rookie season in the National League.

Fuenmayor has 10 homers and 38 runs batted in along with a .315 average in the 42 games he has played (45-for-143), while Peralta’s production is slightly lower in the same winter league. Peralta (Amarillo, TX and Wichita, KS, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American League) is at .319 with 32 RBI and only a pair of homers in 55 games (67-for-210).

Fuenmayor won both the home run (23) and RBI (99) titles in the Can-Am and was runner-up in average (.347). Peralta played almost every day after the Diamondbacks brought him up last season, hitting .286 with eight homers and 36 batted in for 88 games.

In other winter league play, free agent catcher Jose Gil (Lincoln, NE, American Association) is showing some offensive punch in Venezuela with .328-6-24 numbers for 37 appearances and American Association (Grand Prairie, TX) grad Ryan Searle continues to set the pace in strikeouts in Australia (56 in 48.2 innings) although his ERA, mostly in a starting role, is only at 4.25. Two other American Association hurlers have much better ERAs in the same league, Jason Jarvis (Grand Prairie) is at 2.21 for 11 relief outings and Morgan Coombs (Gary, IN) has won six of seven decisions and has a 2.36 mark mostly as a starter.

BRESLOW NOW OFFICIAL, CHRIS MARTIN AVAILABLE

Boston finally announced its re-signing of lefty reliever Craig Breslow today (Wednesday). Reports have had the onetime Can-Am League (New Jersey Jackals) hurler getting $2 million after the Sox earlier rejected his $4 million option.

An original Independent find, right-hander Chris Martin was designated for assignment this week by Colorado. The onetime Grand Prairie hurler, 28, got into his first 16 major league games last season, ending up 0-0, 6.75 out of the bullpen with 14 strikeouts in 15.2 innings.

JUSTIN CHRISTIAN GOES YARD

Outfielder Justin Christian (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League, and River City, Frontier League) is another original Independent signee making news. While known primarily for his speed, the free agent has homered twice in four postseason games in Mexico. The occasional major leaguer only hit three blasts in 61 regular-season games.

THE INDEPENDENT BASEBALL INSIDER will resume in March. Request a free sample column from December in order to be automatically reminded when the column starts for 2015.

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