The contributions of Independent leagues to major league organizations is never more evident than the annual compilation by IndyBaseballChatter.com of the players who have had experience in these leagues and are in major league spring training camps
That total is 49 as of today although it still could grow.
Twenty-three of the players are on 40-man major league rosters while the other 26 are non-roster invitees. Both totals are down slightly from one year ago when 26 players were on rosters and 32 players received special invitations.
Pitchers continue to dominate, with 39 hurlers in the 30 camps compared to 10 position players.
Nine players received their initial professional experience in an Indy league although many of the others would not be wearing major league uniforms without the experience gained outside of the 30 big-league organizations, often taking advantage of a second-chance opportunity after being drafted but failing to advance with their original team. Approximately another 165 former Independent players are currently in major league farm systems.
Those in major league camps with their current organization followed by their stop(s) in Independent leagues:
Pitchers (39)--NR-Tyler Alexander, Oakland (Fargo-Moorhead,
American Association, and Sussex, Can-Am League); *Nick Anderson, Miami
(Frontier Greys and Rockford, Frontier League); NR*Ryan Atkinson, Arizona
(Evansville, Frontier); NR-Jeremy Bleich, Philadelphia (Somerset, Atlantic
League); NR-Ryan Bollinger, San Diego (Windy City, Frontier; Trois-Rivieres,
Can-Am; St. Paul and Winnipeg, American Association); NR-Buddy Boshers,
Cincinnati (Somerset); John Brebbia,
St. Louis (Sioux Falls and Laredo, American Association); NR-Hunter Cervenka,
St. Louis (Sugar Land, Atlantic); NR-Tim Dillard, Texas (Lancaster, Atlantic);
Jon Edwards, Cleveland (Alpine, Pecos League, and San Angelo, North American
League); Wilmer Font, Tampa Bay (Ottawa, Can-Am); Luis Garcia, Los Angeles-AL
(Newark, Can-Am); Junior Guerra, Milwaukee (Wichita, American Association);
NR-Ariel Hernandez, Texas (Frontier Greys); NR-Tyler Higgins, San Diego (New
Britain, Atlantic); Rich Hill, Los Angeles-NL (Long Island, Atlantic); NR*James
Hoyt, Cleveland (Wichita; Edinburg and Yuma, North American League); D. J.
Johnson, Colorado (Traverse City, Frontier); NR-Mike Kickham, Miami (Kansas
City, American Association); Brandon Kintzler, Chicago-NL (St. Paul and
Winnipeg, then Northern League); *Chris Martin, Texas (Grand Prairie, American
Association); NR-Brian Moran, Miami (Bridgeport, Atlantic); NR-Vidal Nuno,
Washington (Washington, Frontier);
NR-Edward Paredes, Philadelphia (York, Atlantic); *James Paxton, New
York-AL (Grand Prairie); NR-Alex Powers, Cincinnati (New Jersey, Can-Am);
*Trevor Richards, Miami (Gateway, Frontier); *Tanner Roark, Cincinnati
(Southern Illinois, Frontier); Chaz Roe, Tampa Bay (Laredo); *Max Scherzer,
Washington (Fort Worth, American Association); NR-Bo Schultz, Baltimore (Grand
Prairie); Robby Scott, Arizona (Yuma, North American); NR-Tayler Scott, Seattle
(Sioux City, American Association); NR*Chris Smith, Detroit (Lake Erie,
Traverse City and Washington, Frontier; White Sands, Pecos League); NR-Josh
Smoker, Los Angeles-NL (Rockford); Robert Stock, San Diego (New Jersey); Marcus
Walden, Boston (Lancaster); *Aaron Wilkerson, Milwaukee (Grand Prairie;
Florence, Frontier; and Fort Worth, United League); NR-Eric Yardley, San Diego
(Trinidad and Taos, Pecos).
Catchers (3)--Rafael
Lopez, Atlanta (Bridgeport); NR-Rene Rivera, San Francisco (Camden, Atlantic); NR-Josh
Thole, Los Angeles-NL (New Britain).
Infielders
(5)--NR-Emilio Bonifacio, Tampa Bay (Long Island); NR-Ryan Court, Chicago-NL
(Sioux City); NR-Peter Mooney, Colorado (New Jersey); NR-Brandon Snyder,
Washington (Southern Maryland, Atlantic); Ildemaro Vargas, Arizona
(Bridgeport).
Outfielders
(2)--Jose Martinez, St. Louis (Rockford); David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and
Wichita, American Association; Rio Grande Valley, North American).
*First
professional game was in an Independent league.
NR-Non-roster
invitee.
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