AFTER RECORD-TYING YEAR, MORE INDEPENDENT PLAYERS EARN NEW OPPORTUNITIES

Independent Baseball's contributions to the major leagues continue to impress as evidenced by a second consecutive season in 2022 of equaling the record number of the players who were in The Show during the season.  Two recent stories give a head start for more of the same for next season.

Before getting into the newest stories, a review seems appropriate.  IndyBaseballChatter.com recorded 58 players who either started their professional career in an Independent league or got a second chance after playing somewhere in the Indy universe and wore the uniform of one of the 30 major league teams in '22.  That equaled the count in '21, which stomped on the previous high of 45 in both 2016 and 2017.

While most of those who were in the majors last season are still around, Oakland and Washington have inked players out of the limelight of late.

The biggest of the new old faces is right-hander Drew Rucinski who got a major league contract from the Athletics after four seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization.  Rucinski, who had a full year in the Frontier League (Rockford, IL) a decade earlier (2012), was so stout in the KBO that Oakland seems likely to give the soon-to-be 34-year-old (December 30) some opportunity to be in its starting rotation when the '23 campaign starts.

Rucinski went 53-36 in Korea with a 3.06 ERA in 121 starts and struck out 194 batters in 193.2 innings last season. He has worked in 41 major league games in his career (4-4, 5.33), the most recent with Miami in 2018.

Washington is bringing back another 34-year-old, first baseman-designated hitter Matt Adams, as a non-roster invitee.  Adams pounded 27 home runs and drove in 85 runs in only 80 games for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association last season.  The lefty hitter, who started his major league career with St. Louis in 2012, was a key bench player for the Nationals in their '19 World Series championship season when he hit 20 homers in only 333 plate appearances.  He has had only brief major league opportunities since with Atlanta and Colorado.

SOME PLAYERS ARE MAKING NEWS DESPITE THE LOCKOUT

News about established major league baseball players is not easy to find these days because of the lockout, but when one digs, especially in the ranks of former Independent players, stories are plentiful.  Transactions at the Indy level are not taboo, as IndyBaseballChatter will prove with this writing.

Promotions to major league rosters, spring training invitations, free agent signings and departures for such destinations as Japan and Korea all have transpired in recent times.

Nothing can be much more exciting for a onetime Independent player than being notified his contract has been added to the parent club's 40-man roster.  It sends a clear signal the player is considered a legitimate future major league talent, as well as guaranteeing a spot in a major league spring training camp. 

This action took place for two former Indy stars recently.  All they need now is for the labor issues between ownership and Players Association to be settled, thereby certifying there will be spring training in both Arizona and Florida.

The fortunate duo is second baseman Kody Clemens, yes, the son of former major league standout Roger, and right-handed pitcher Adam Oller.  Clemens's non-affiliated time was in the Constellation Energy League which was created two summers ago after COVID-19 first reared its ugly head and shut down all of the regular professional leagues.  Clemens is with the Detroit Tigers while Oller, who came out of Windy City in the Frontier League, will get his shot with another newly-energized franchise, the New York Mets.

Precious Non-Roster Invitations

While we probably won't see a great many non-roster invitations identified until the lockout ends, we can pass along a few of these cherished opportunities to be a part of major league spring training and prove a player is on his organization's radar for a possible major league job at some point during the season.

Righty Andrew Balletti (Sugar Land, Atlantic League), who got some time with Miami last season, was signed off the free agent list and invited to spring training with Philadelphia.  The Phils also have issued an invitation to another right-hander, Michael Kelly, who played in the Atlantic for Southern Maryland.  Outfielder Dillon Thomas (Texas, American Association), who got some playing time with Seattle, has a new opportunity with the Los Angeles Angels including a spring training invitation.

It seems logical first baseman John Nogowski (Sioux City, American Association) will get an invitation after signing with the World Champion Braves.  The same for infielder Ildemaro Vargas (Bridgeport, Atlantic) who is back with the Chicago Cubs.

Back in the Bigs

Numerous onetime Independent players, including several with extensive major league time, remain unsigned during the work stoppage, but Boston hopes to get value out of free agent starters Rich Hill (Long Island, Atlantic) and James Paxton (Grand Prairie, American Association).  Veteran reliever Luis Garcia (Newark, Can-Am League) signed as a free agent with San Diego.

New Minor League Pacts

Among minor league free agents who have signed new agreements are RHP Zack Weiss (Kansas City, American Association, and Long Island and Sugar Land) who is now with the Angels as is lefty Brian Moran (Bridgeport) while first baseman Ryan Casteel (Lancaster, Atlantic) is in the Atlanta system.

Making Money Abroad

A trio of right-handers with some major league experience have landed jobs overseas, where the pay is better for them than the uncertainty of opportunities at home.  Drew Rucinski is wonderful example.

He threw his first professional pitch in the Frontier League, and spent the equivalent of two full seasons with the Rockford (IL) RiverHawks before landing a regular opportunity with a major league organization.  That led to 54 innings and one start in the majors spread among three teams.  He will be starting his fourth season in Korea (NC Dinos) where he has won 43 games (43-24), and now has a $1.9 million deal plus incentives for 2022.

Jee-ho Yoo of South Korea's Yonhap News Agency says the guaranteed deal ties Rucinski for the second largest salary of any foreign player in the KBO and brings his four-year take in the league to $5.7 million, not including any incentive payouts.

 Robert Stock (Normal, Frontier, and New Jersey, Can-Am) is headed to Korea (Doosan Bears) where he is said to be receiving $500,000 plus incentives.  Aaron Wilkerson (Grand Prairie plus Florence of the Frontier and Fort Worth of the United League) will get his first experience abroad in Japan (Hanshin).

Bob Wirz, onetime chief spokesman for Baseball Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth, has been writing about Independent Baseball since 2003.  This post is from his blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com.  He has published a book ("The Passion of Baseball") about his life.  It is available at www.Amazon.com or with an autographed from www.WirzandAssociates.com.

AMAZING MATZEK, MARTIN GIVE INDEPENDENTS BRAGGING RIGHTS IN WORLD SERIES

This has been an incredible year for Independent Baseball in that a record number of players--record by far, we should say--have had the distinction of wearing major league uniforms.

The jubilation continues right into the World Series with two of these bright lights as key members of the Atlanta Braves bullpen.  Lefty Tyler Matzek has been brilliant, and 6-foot-8 right-hander Chris Martin brings a separate distinction for the Indy crowd in that he played his very first professional games in a non-affiliated league, an accomplishment matched by only 56 others since this brand of baseball emerged in 1993.

The American Association can take a separate bow in that this was the league where both pitchers got their Independent training.  Martin was with the Grand Prairie AirHogs in 2010 and Matzek toiled for the Texas AirHogs--yes, same nickname but separate organization-- for all of 2018 and most of the next season trying to regain his control and confidence after flaming out as a member of the Colorado Rockies when he walked 19 hitters in 22 innings in 2015.

Matzek, who turned 31 one week ago, spent the final couple of weeks in the Atlanta farm system after the Braves purchased his contract late in the '19 season and has been a new pitcher for the National League champions the last two years.

He was nothing short of brilliant in the National League Championship Series, capped by striking out the side of Los Angeles Dodgers in the deciding Game 6.  He entered the game with runners at second and third and no one out with Atlanta leading 4-2 in the top of the seventh innings and whiffed future first ballot Hall of Famer Albert Pujols followed by Steven Souza Jr. and onetime American League MVP Mookie Betts.

Matzek struck out Corey Seager, then got two grounders in the eighth, needing only 17 pitches (15 strikes) to record the six critical outs.  He worked in nine postseason games leading into the World Series with 17 strikeouts in 10.1 innings, following an equally impressive regular season.

Martin, now 35, had to overcome injuries to be activated during the NLCS.  He was 4-0, 1.96 as a 24-year-old when he started at Grand Prairie, then spent three seasons in the Boston farm system before first reaching the majors with Colorado in 2014.  He also pitched for the New York Yankees and Texas before joining the Braves for the last two months of '19.

Major League Count Reached 58

The final count, as researched by IndyBaseballChatter.com, of onetime Independent players who played in the major leagues during 2021 was a whopping 58, 13 more than the previous record set in 2016 and tied one year later.

Six of the 58 were on postseason rosters, including pitchers Max Scherzer (Fort Worth, American Association) with the Dodgers, David Robertson of Tampa Bay (High Point, Atlantic League), Jake Cousins of Milwaukee (Schaumburg, Frontier League, and Chicago, American Association) and Luis Garcia of St. Louis (Newark, Can-Am League). 

CAN YOU BELIEVE? RECORD 54 INDEPENDENT PLAYERS IN MAJORS IN 2021

 The 2021 season is going down in history with regard to the involvement of players who have played in at least one Independent league during their career and have later earned major league time.  

In both 2016 and 2017 an all-time high 45 Indy players appeared with one of the 30 major league teams.  The total was obliterated--destroyed or wiped out also would work--in the season ending this week.  In records compiled exclusively by IndyBaseballChatter.com, a whopping 54 players made it to the majors.

Some of them will be in the post-season starting next week.

The count jumped somewhat this year because a strange sequence of events during COVID-19-infested 2020 when some one-time-only Independent leagues sprung to life.  Otherwise, the depth of talent in Independent circuits today and the current MLB mindset of constantly shuffling of roster spots between the majors and handy Triple-A teams both contributed to the growth.

Regardless of the reasons, for 54 players from non-affiliated leagues to play in the major leagues in one summer shows just how far the Indy circuits have come from their early days in the 1990s when the leagues were often put down or made fun of by those in baseball's top tier operations.

Thirteen of the 54 made their major league debut this season, with pitchers Tommy Nance of the Chicago Cubs and Kaleb Ort of the Boston Red Sox perhaps the most prized duo since their first professional games were in Independent leagues.  Both emerged from the Frontier League.  Nance played at Windy City, not far from Wrigley Field, and gave up only two hits and no runs in his first 12 big league appearances covering 11.1 innings.  It has not been as easy of late and Nance has a 1-0 record and a 7.07 earned run average heading into the final week.  Ort, also starting near Chicago at Joliet, got only a brief look for the contending Red Sox.

Thirty-five onetime Indy players were on major league rosters as of September 28 although 10 of them were on the injured list.  This includes veteran first baseman-outfielder Jose Martinez who has been on the New York Mets' IL the entire season, which kept him from increasing the season's active count to 55.     

 

INDEPENDENT LEAGUES WELL REPRESENTED IN OLYMPICS

Travel anywhere that baseball is played at a high level, and the Independent leagues will be represented.

This includes the resumption of the sport in the Japan Olympics starting this week.  Our list most likely is incomplete, yet 11 Indy vets, some from this season, have been identified on Olympic rosters.  Israel and the Dominican Republic have the heaviest representation.  The United States and Mexico also have former Independent players.  Japan and Korean rosters have not been reviewed.

Israel has three infielders and an outfielder who played in non-affiliated leagues this season.  The outfielder is Blake Gailen, who started his extensive minor league career at Anderson in the South Coast League in 2007.  He was in 47 games for Lancaster of the Atlantic League this season (.273-9-47) before joining his Olympic teammates.  Gailen hit a robust .406 in 69 American Association games (Lincoln) in 2011 after also being at Chico of the former Golden League the two previous years.  He is well known in Lancaster, also playing there at least part of every season from '12-'18.

Israel's infielders include Mitch Glasser of Sioux Falls, who hit .345 while playing five different positions in 39 games in the American Association this campaign; Zach Penprase (.254-1-15, 14 stolen bases in 21 contests for New York of the Frontier League and major league veteran Danny Valencia, who went 3-for-18 in six games for Long Island of the Atlantic League.  Glasser's other Indy stops have included Joplin '15-'16, Cleburne '17, Gary '18, Sioux Falls '18-'19 all in the American Association and Joliet of the City of Champions Cup one year ago.  Penprase was a fixture at Fargo-Moorhead of the American Association for eight years ('08-'15).  Israel's Jeremy Bleich pitched in the Atlantic League (Somerset) in both '16 and '17.

The Dominican team includes catcher Charlie Valerio, who hit .263 in 11 games at Sioux Falls this season.  A career minor leaguer, Valerio also played at Fargo-Moorhead from '15-'18 and at Southern Maryland of the Atlantic League two years ago.  Infielder-outfielder Emilio Bonifacio, a longtime major leaguer, hit .348 in 70 games at Long Island in '18.  Southpaw Raul Valdes, now 43, won nine of 13 decisions combined between Nashua and New Jersey of the Can-Am League back in 2006. 

Mexico is represented by outfielder Jonathan Jones, who played in the American Association (Gary) in 2015 and the Atlantic League (New Britain) one year later.

The United States players with Independent time are veteran major league pitchers Scott Kazmir and David Robertson.  Kazmir, who was in three games with San Francisco this year, was at Sugar Land (Atlantic League) in '12 and spent some time with Eastern of the Constellation Energy League last season.

Newest Major Leaguers

Lefty Zac Rosscup, who was with the Lighning of the CEL for a time last season, is the newest name among Indy players to don a major league uniform.  He is with Colorado.

Outfielder Dillon Thomas (Texas, American Association) is enjoying a second stint of his rookie major league career with Seattle while hurlers Chris Mazza (Southern Maryland and San Rafael, Pacific Association) and Robert Stock (New Jersey, Can-Am, and Normal, Frontier League) are back up with Tampa Bay and the New York Mets, respectively.

     

Seven make majors after indy time, led by Cubs' Tommy Nance

Major league roster changes are made at such a furious pace these days if one blinks someone else is in the news.

One thing is certain, especially in these times when the big-league guys have trimmed their farm systems:  The majors need the Independent Leagues more than ever as proven by the fact more than 100 players have been purchased--many at escalated prices--already in 2021.  It also appears more of these onetime non-affiliated players are getting opportunities at baseball's highest level.

No less than seven Independent grads have made their major league debut already in 2021, only two below the final count in 2019, baseball's last full season.

The biggest story probably belongs to right-handed pitcher Tommy Nance even though the Chicago Cubs have sent the 30-year-old back to Triple-A Iowa for the time being.  Nance began his professional career in the Frontier League in 2015.  Ironically, it was at Windy City in Crestwood, IL which is not far from Wrigley Field.

The Santa Clara University product was exceptional for the major league Cubs when he appeared out of the bullpen 13 times without being charged with an earned run.  Nance had a 40-day stint with the Northsiders, then a brief recall and has a season log for 20 games of one victory, 23 strikeouts in 21.1 innings and a 5.06 earned run average which would be much lower except for a five-run outburst against him in only 1.2 innings at Milwaukee.

It seems likely he will be back.

THE OTHER SIX

Joining Tommy Nance with their major league debut this season are pitchers Anthony Bender (Sioux City and Milwaukee, American Association) with Miami, Mickey Jannis (Long Island, Southern Maryland and Bridgeport of the Atlantic League and Lake Erie in the Frontier) and Konner Wade (Sugar Land, Atlantic) with Baltimore, Vinny Nittoli (St. Paul, American Association) with Seattle, and Jack Cousins (Schaumburg, Frontier, and Chicago, American Association) with Milwaukee plus outfielder Dillon Thomas (Texas, American Association) with the Mariners.

Bender and Cousins still are in the majors.

PAIR OF PIRATES

Some of the best new opportunities this season for former Indy players belong to pitcher Chase DeJong and first baseman John Nogowski.

Nogowski is making the most of his new opportunity since St. Louis sent him to Pittsburgh days ago.  After facing a backlog at first base with the Cardinals, the onetime Sioux City (American Association) slugger has gone 7-for-12 (.583) with an RBI and three runs scored in his first three games for the Bucs.  He had one four-hit game.

DeJong (Sugar Land, Atlantic League, and Team Skeeters, Constellation Energy League) is taking a regular turn in the Pittsburgh rotation with a 1-3 record and 5.08 ERA for seven starts.

15 IN MAJORS PLUS 7 ON INJURED LIST

Other recent additions to major league rosters are hurlers D. J. Johnson (Traverse City, Frontier) with Cleveland and Ian Krol (Nerds Herd, City of Champions Cup League) with Detroit.  Righty Trevor Richards (Gateway, Frontier) has changed uniforms, going from Tampa Bay to Toronto.

Thirty-one former Independent players have had time in the majors or on injured lists this season with 15 active heading into the weekend before the All-Star Game and another seven out with injuries.

Perhaps Not Another Mercedes, But Anthony Bender a New Major Leaguer

            While it seems totally safe to say nothing is going to top Yermin Mercedes's amazing production for the Chicago White Sox in terms of contributions from Independent Baseball graduates during the 2021 season, it always will be a Red Letter Day when another name is added for the very first time to an active major league roster.

            Anthony Bender became the 274th Independent player since 1993 (Source: IndyBaseballChatter) to pull on a major league uniform this week.  The right-handed pitcher, whose sinker averaged more than 97 miles per hour during spring training according to Statcast, joined the Miami Marlins.  At the age of 24, Bender pitched two games for Sioux City in the American Association in 2019 after four years in the Kansas City and Milwaukee farm systems, then spent two months last summer with that league's Milwaukee Milkmen (2-1, 5.48 for 22 appearances).

            Twenty-five other players with Independent experience have experienced major league time (or been on injured lists) so far this young season, but Bender is the first to get his initial opportunity at baseball's top level.

            Meanwhile, Mercedes, the catcher-DH who came out of the unheralded Pecos League (Douglas and White Sands) and the onetime United League (San Angelo) and became the American League's Rookie Position Player of the Month for April, saw his imposing season average drop to .386--roughly 150 points above the major league average--when he pinch hit Wednesday afternoon in Chicago's 10-inning, 1-0 loss at Cincinnati.

            Mercedes started the season with hits in his first eight times at bat, a feat the Elias Sports Bureau reported has not been accomplished in the majors since at least 1900.  He made his major league debut with a single at bat last season.

            "I think he was upset when he made the out (ninth at bat),” said White Sox manager Tony La Russa, who has been in the game for 60 years, told MLB.com at the time.  “And it’s clutch. That’s the thing, it’s not just for show. He’s putting us in a great position to win."

            Two other Indy grads who have been called back up to the majors recently are righty James Hoyt (American Association and North American League) by the Los Angeles Angels and infielder Ildemaro Vargas (Atlantic League) by the Chicago Cubs.

Other Moves

            One of the Independent game's best recent finds, hurler Tanner Roark (Southern Illinois, Frontier League), is a free agent after being let go by Toronto.  He has won 10 or more games five times since his major league debut nine years ago, compiling a 76-68, 3.85 record mostly in starting roles for the Blue Jays and three other teams. 

            Former major league pitcher Tim Adleman (Lincoln and El Paso, American Association; New Jersey, Can-Am League; Long Island, Atlantic) came off the free agent roles and is listed in Cincinnati's alternate training site.  Shortstop Peter Mooney, another New Jersey Jackals product, has a new minor league contract from Miami.   

INDEPENDENT BASEBALL CLAIMS 16 SPOTS ON MAJOR LEAGUE ROSTERS; 4 OTHERS INJURED

            Two players with a single game of major league experience are among the 16 onetime Independent Baseball graduates who have opened the regular season with big-league jobs, the annual review by IndyBaseballChatter.com has revealed.  Another four are on the injured list.

            First baseman John Nogowski, who played at Sioux City in the American Association in 2017, hit a robust .333 (11-for-33) with a .477 on-base percentage this spring to land a bench job with St. Louis.  Yermin Mercedes is one of the trio of catchers on the Chicago White Sox 26-man active list after he hit .277 (13-for-51) in spring training.  Mercedes spent all of 2014 in the Pecos (Douglas and White Sands) and United (San Angelo) Leagues for a renewed start on his pro career after three seasons in the Dominican Summer League under the Washington Nationals banner.

            Nogowski went 1-for-4 in his only game with the Cardinals last season while Mercedes got a single at bat (0-for-1) in his initial major league contest.

            Thirteen of the 16 major leaguers are pitchers, and the American Association dominates with 10 players out of its circuit, eight more than from any other league.

            Pitchers (13)--Ross Detwiler, Miami (York, Atlantic League);  *Randy Dobnak, Minnesota (Utica, United Shore League);  Junior Guerra, Los Angeles-AL (Wichita, American Association);  Rich Hill, Tampa Bay  (Long Island, Atlantic);   Brandon Kintzler, Philadelphia (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg, when in the Northern League); *Chris Martin, Atlanta (Grand Prairie, American Association); Tyler Matzek, Atlanta (Texas, American Association);   *James Paxton, Seattle (Grand Prairie);  *Tanner Roark, Toronto (Southern Illinois, Frontier League);  Chaz Roe, Tampa Bay (Laredo, American Association);  *Max Scherzer, Washington (Fort Worth, American Association);  Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota (St. Paul);  *Eric Yardley, Milwaukee (Trinidad and Taos, Pecos League).

                Position Players (3)--C Yermin Mercedes, Chicago-AL (Douglas and White Sands, Pecos, and San Angelo, United League);  1B John Nogowski, St. Louis (Sioux City, American Association);  OF David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and Wichita, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American League).         

                Injured List (4)--RHP*Nick Anderson, Tampa Bay (Rockford and Frontier Greys, Frontier); RHP John Brebbia, San Francisco (Sioux Falls and Laredo, American Association);  OF Jose Martinez, New York-NL (Rockford, Frontier);  RHP Justin Topa, Milwaukee (Rockland, Can-Am League).

                *Started career in an Independent league

Nogowski, Dobnak, Thielbar Have Majors Jobs, Others Still Hopeful

        It is still about 72 hours until the cry of Play Ball becomes real so much can happen as major league teams juggle their rosters to get to the 26-man Opening Day limit.

        But considerable positive news already is known for some of the former Independent Baseball players who started spring training last month hoping to survive all of the painful cuts before April 1.

        --Onetime Sioux City (American Association) first baseman John Nogowski has officially landed a bench job with St. Louis after a terrific spring.  He will be a pinch hitter as well as a backup at first base and the corner outfield positions.

       --The United Shore League's No. 1 find, right-hander Randy Dobnak, has given the Independent ranks another bragging point by not only sticking with Minnesota but garnering a five-year contract extension that reportedly could amount to nearly $30 million.  He pitched for Utica in the Michigan-based league.

            --Southpaw Caleb Thielbar's persistence has paid off with a second consecutive time in the Twins' bullpen at age 34, but only after he returned to St. Paul (American Association) for two seasons (2016-17) after his first stint of two-plus years with the American Association team had ended.  He tried to make it with two other organizations after his second time in St. Paul.

       --All signs point to veteran reliever Brandon Kintzler (St. Paul plus Winnipeg when it was still in the Northern League) being in Philadelphia's bullpen although the team has not officially promoted him from his non-roster status in spring training.

       Some of the decisions still to be made are whether righty Chase DeJong (Sugar Land, Atlantic League) will stick with Pittsburgh despite a solid spring, will lefty Scott Kazmir (Sugar Land) land a comeback role with San Francisco and can veteran Luis Garcia (Newark, Can-Am League) squeeze his way onto the New York Yankees bullpen.  Miami seems ready to keep both James Hoyt and Ross Detwiler in the bullpen with first-timer Anthony Bender, another Sioux City product, still in the picture.

       There have been disappointments, of course, with No. 1 probably being Tampa Bay's shelving Indy native Nick Anderson (Rockford and Frontier Greys, Frontier League) for at least 60 days because of elbow problems.  Marcus Walden of Boston, Andrew Albers of Minnesota and Mike Kickham of the Los Angeles Dodgers had some excellent outings this spring, but could not nail down jobs, at least to start the season.

       Still others decisions loom prior to Thursday's openers, and IndyBaseballChatter.com will track those as part of our annual list of all Independent players who will open in the majors.

              

GUERRA BACK IN BIGS AS VARIOUS OTHER SPRING TRAINING BATTLES CONTINUE

             The first sure thing--if there is such a thing for non-poster boys in spring training--is that veteran right-hander Junior Guerra, a onetime starting pitcher in the American Association, will open the season in the major leagues with the Los Angeles Angels.

            Although a regular on major league pitching staffs since 2017, the 36-year-old, who went 18-7 in two seasons at Wichita ('11, '13), entered the Angels' camp this spring as a non-roster player.  The native Venezuelan won a promotion to the 40-man roster this week, and seems certain to be on Joe Maddon's 26-man opening day roster.

            While Guerra's immediate future seems settled, the intrigue remains for many of the 30 non-roster players as well as a few of the other former Independent Baseball players with 40-man roster status who started the spring in major league camps.  Opening day is little more than two weeks away so the palms are likely to be sweating each time one of these players gets into an exhibition game.

            Prime examples can be found in the Chicago White Sox camp in Arizona and at Tampa Bay's base in Florida.

            Pecos and United League grad Yermin Mercedes, who got into his only major league game last season, could be the second or third catcher for the Chisox, or he could be back in the minor leagues if Tony LaRussa and company decide two backstops are sufficient.

            The debate between two and three has heightened by the fact vet Yasmani Grandal has been slowed by a knee injury.  Mercedes and Zach Collins seem to be next in the picture.

            “Competition is good right now,” Mercedes told MLB.com. “Just working hard here with the coaches.  They are giving their support for everybody here.  Just believe in everybody and give them the chance.  Doing the best we can do.  We are feeling good with the coaches and Tony.” The 28-year-old has hit .273 (6-for-22) in 11 Cactus League appearances with three doubles and six runs batted.

            The Tampa Bay competition is heightened by the fact the defending American League champions had 15 members of its extremely deep pitching staff with 0.00 earned run averages this spring entering Grapefruit League play Wednesday.  That group included Indy grads Chris Mazza (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League, and San Rafael, Pacific Association) and non-roster Brian Moran (Bridgeport, Atlantic).  Both have made three appearances.  Also seemingly in the picture are Dietrich Enns (2.70 ERA) and returning free agent Chaz Roe.  Enns worked in the City of Champions Cup league in Joliet, IL last summer while Roe has spent time in the American Association.  Nick Anderson, who started his career in the Frontier League (Rockford and Frontier Greys), is anchored in a relief job, likely as a closer.

            This 'n That--Sioux City product (American Association) John Nogowski is making a stiff bid to stick on St. Louis's bench by hitting .333 (6-for-18) with a homer and eight RBI.  The first baseman had one four-hit contest...It may be too much of an uphill battle this spring, but onetime Fargo (American Association) catcher Nick Kahle has a double and homer among three hits and only five official plate appearances.  He also has four RBI in four games for Milwaukee...lefty Zac Rosscup, re-signed by Colorado and a product of the Constellation Energy League in Sugar Land, TX last summer, has made two scoreless appearances (1.1 IP) for the Rockies...Tim Dillard has called it quits after 18 pro seasons, including several major league stints and Indy time with Lancaster (Atlantic League) and Milwaukee (American Association)...Toronto signed free agent right-hander James Dykstra once again.  His Independent experience was in the Atlantic League (Southern Maryland and Sugar Land) as well as with Sioux City.

Kazmir, Roe Help Lift Indy Count in MLB Camps Past One Year Ago

    With veterans Scott Kazmir and Chaz Roe leading the way, four more pitchers have jumped the count of former Independent league players in major league spring training camps to 52.  That is one more than last spring, with 44 of them being mound hopefuls.

    The addition of the left-handed Kazmir, who was at Sugar Land, TX of the Atlantic League in 2012, as a non-roster player with San Francisco is somewhat of a surprise in that he is now 37 and has not pitched in the majors since 2016 (Dodgers).  He has dazzled with all-star talent during his career.  On his side is that Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and Kazmir have had time together with both Oakland the Los Angeles.

    Once one of the game's most promising talents before a variety of injuries slowed him, Kazmir has a career record of 108-96 for nearly 300 major league starts.

    Roe, 34, threw for a number of major league organizations recently before leaving free agency for another turn with Tampa Bay's strong bullpen.  The right-hander, whose Indy experience came in the American Association, will be in his ninth major league campaign and his fifth in a row with the Rays, for whom he has compiled a 3.54 ERA with 139 strikeouts in 119.1 innings spread over 151 appearances.  He was limited to 10 outings last season before elbow problems popped up, costing him of being with the team as Tampa Bay won the American League championship.

    Roe's presence with Tampa Bay gives the Rays one more reason Independent fans will be following the team.  They recently signed Rich Hill as a potential starter, and have standout reliever Nick Anderson along with talented Trevor Richards, former Boston Red Sox Chris Mazza and have invited southpaws Dietrich Enns and Ian Krol to camp.  The latter pair kept their careers moving last summer when they pitched in the quickly-organized City of Champions Cup league in Joliet, IL.

   The Rays also recently purchased righty Stetson Allie from the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association although he is not in the big-league camp.  The Monarchs had signed him during the offseason.

Long Island's Travis Snider Joins Braves Organization

    It would not be much of a surprise if outfielder Travis Snider found his way into an Atlanta Braves game this spring even though he is not currently listed among those in the major league camp.  He inked a minor league deal, and was with current General Manager Alex Anthopoulos when both were with Toronto.  Snider has spent time with the Long Island Ducks (Atlantic League) since he hit the last of his 54 major league home runs.

WITH TINY DROP, 48 ONETIME INDEPENDENT PLAYERS IN MLB CAMPS

     Since last year's minor league season was a near total loss because of the pandemic and Independent Baseball players were not being purchased by major league organizations one might have expected a sizable drop in the number former unaffiliated players in major league spring training camps this time around.

    It is not so.  The annual research by IndyBaseballChatter.com reveals the decrease has only been from 51 players one year ago to 48 now, and it is not out of the question for others still to be added.

    Twenty-two of the players, including 18 of the 40 pitchers on the entire list, are on major league 40-man rosters while the other 26 are non-roster invitees.

    One of the more interesting invitees is southpaw hurler Andrew Albers, now 35, who has spent the last three seasons with the Orix Buffaloes organization in Japan.  Albers, who got his major league opportunity after a stunning 3-0, 17-save, 1.40 ERA for Quebec in the Can-Am League more than a decade ago (2010), is back with Minnesota.  He broke into the majors with the Twins in 2013 and now is in his third stint with the team.  He also has pitched for Toronto and Seattle, compiling a 7-6, 4.10 record with 18 of his 26 appearances in starting roles.

    Two interesting players hoping to get their initial major league opportunity are pitchers Jacob Condra-Bogan (Washington Nationals) and Kaleb Ort (Boston Red Sox), both of whom started their professional career in the Independent Frontier League.  Condra-Bogan started with another Washington, the Wild Things of Washington, PA while Ort was with Joliet, IL.

    The entire lineup of former Independent players, including both their current major league and onetime unaffiliated clubs:

    Pitchers (40)--#Fernando Abad, Baltimore (Long Island, Atlantic League);  #Andrew Albers, Minnesota (Quebec, Can-Am League, and Lancaster, Atlantic);   *Nick Anderson, Tampa Bay (Rockford and Frontier Greys, Frontier League);  #Anthony Bender, Miami (Sioux City, American Associaton);  #Ben Bracewell, Oakland (River City, Frontier);  +John Brebbia, San Francisco (Sioux Falls and Laredo, American Association);   #*Jacob Condra-Bogan, Washington (Washington, Frontier);  #Jake Cousins, Milwaukee (Schaumburg, Frontier);  #Chase DeJong, Pittsburgh (Sugar Land, Atlantic, and Team Skeeters, Constellation Energy League);  Ross Detwiler, Miami (York, Atlantic);  *Randy Dobnak, Minnesota (Utica, United Shore League);  #Nick Duron, Seattle (Southern Illinois, Frontier);  #Luis Garcia, New York-AL (Newark, Can-Am);  #Zac Grotz, Boston (York and Bridgeport, Atlantic, and Washington);  #Junior Guerra, Los Angeles-AL (Wichita, American Association);  Rich Hill, Tampa Bay, (Long Island);  *James Hoyt, Miami (Wichita, American Association, and Yuma and Edinburg, North American League);   #D. J. Johnson, Cleveland (Traverse City, Frontier);  #Mike Kickham, Los Angeles-NL (Kansas City, American Association);  #Brandon Kintzler, Philadelphia (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg, when it was in the Northern League);  #Parker Markel, San Diego (Sioux City); *Chris Martin, Atlanta (Grand Prairie, American Association); Tyler Matzek, Atlanta (Texas, American Association);  Chris Mazza, Tampa Bay (Southern Maryland, Atlantic, and San Rafael, Pacific Association);   #Ian McKinney, Seattle (Sioux City);  #Brian Moran, Tampa Bay (Bridgeport);  *#Kaleb Ort, Boston (Joliet, Frontier);  *James Paxton, Seattle (Grand Prairie);  *Trevor Richards, Tampa Bay (Gateway, Frontier);  *Tanner Roark, Toronto (Southern Illinois, Frontier); *Max Scherzer, Washington (Fort Worth, American Association); #D. J. Snelten, Chicago-NL (Chicago, American Association);  Robert Stock, Chicago-NL (New Jersey, Can-Am, and Normal, Frontier);  Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota (St. Paul);  #Matt Tomshaw, Chicago-AL (Fargo-Moorhead, American Association);  Justin Topa, Milwaukee (Rockland, Can-Am);  Nik Turley, Oakland (Somerset, Atlantic);  Marcus Walden, Boston (Lancaster);   #Austin Warner, St. Louis (River City);  *Eric Yardley, Milwaukee (Trinidad and Taos, Pecos).

            Catcher (1)--Yermin Mercedes, Chicago-AL (Douglas and White Sands, Pecos League, and San Angelo, United League).

            Infielders (5)--#Kody Clemens, Detroit (Texas, CEL);  Jose Martinez, New York-NL (Rockford); John Nogowski, St. Louis (Sioux City);  #Brandon Snyder, Washington (Southern Maryland); Ildemaro Vargas, Chicago-NL (Bridgeport).

             Outfielders (2)--David Peralta, Arizona (Amarillo and Wichita, American Association, and Rio Grande Valley, North American);  #Dillon Thomas, Seattle (Texas).

            *Started career in an Independent league;  +Is on 60-day injured list.

 Jannis Gets Look From Orioles

    Several other Independent grads may get attention from major league teams via the new stipulation of organizations being allowed to have up to 75 players in their spring training camps since full minor league operations will not open because of COVID-19 until the American and National League teams have broken camp.

    The first such player IndyBaseballChatter has identified is right-hander Mickey Jannis, now in the Baltimore chain.  The veteran hurler has seen Indy duty with Long Island, Southern Maryland and Bridgeport in the Atlantic League as well as Lake Erie in the Frontier League.

Don't Look Now

    Recent free agent signings have seen lefties Rich Hill and James Paxton move to new organizations.  Hill is with Tampa Bay and Indy original Paxton with Seattle.  Another joining the Rays is righty Chris Mazza, who was traded from Boston.

INDY TEAM COUNT AT 71 FOR '21; MLB NON-ROSTER INVITATIONS GROWING

             After all of the shakedown because of the major leagues reducing their number of minor league affiliates, Independent Baseball has seen a significant increase for the new season.  www.independentbaseball.net, which tracks all of the current leagues as well as projected startups, lists 71 teams expected to play this season at this point.

            The most prominent leagues are the holdover American Association, Atlantic League and Frontier League.  They are to be joined by the Pecos League, United Shore League, Empire League and two circuits that have emerged because of MLB's restructuring, the Pioneer and Mavericks leagues.

Non-Roster Invitations Up to 16 So Far

            Veteran pitchers Brandon Kintzler and D. J. Johnson spice up the list of onetime Independent Baseball players added recently as non-roster invitees to major league spring training camps.

            Kintzler, 36, has joined Philadelphia's re-worked bullpen after turning down a $2 million guarantee from Miami.  He is officially on a minor league contract but has the chance to make up to twice that much (including $1 million in incentives) if he earns a roster spot.  That seems a given based on his long career in the major leagues.  He closed for the Marlins last season, saving 12 games in 14 opportunities with a 2.22 earned run average.

            Johnson will train with Cleveland as he returns to this country after spending last season in Japan.

            While two non-roster players were revealed by IndyBaseballChatter.com earlier, 14 more have received invitations recently and many of the 30 teams still have not revealed who they are bringing to camp in Florida or Arizona in addition to their regular 40-man roster players.  Twenty-two more with Independent experience have automatic invitations to major league camps by virtue of being on 40-man rosters, and veteran southpaws Rich Hill and James Paxton still are free agents.

            The recent non-roster invitees with their major league team and their previous ties to Indy leagues and teams (#indicates not officially announced):

            Pitchers--#Fernando Abad, Baltimore (Long Island, Atlantic League); Ben Bracewell, Oakland (River City, Frontier League); #Hunter Cervenka, Baltimore (Sugar Land, Atlantic);  Chase DeJong, Pittsburgh (Sugar Land and Team Skeeters, Constellation Energy League); Nick Duron, Seattle (Southern Illinois, Frontier); #Junior Guerra, Los Angeles-AL (Wichita, American Association);  D. J. Johnson, Cleveland (Traverse City, Frontier); Brandon Kintzler, Philadelphia (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg, when it was in the Northern League); Ian McKinney, Seattle (Sioux City, American Association); Matt Tomshaw, Chicago-AL (Fargo-Moorhead, American Association);  Austin Warner, St. Louis (River City).

            Infielders--Kody Clemens, Detroit (Texas, CEL); Brandon Snyder, Washington (Southern Maryland, Atlantic).

             Outfielder--Dillon Thomas, Seattle (Texas, American Association).

This 'n That

            With spring training fast approaching, several players on Independent rosters have had their contracts purchased by major league organizations.  The interruption of last season because of COVID-19 had virtually stopped these opportunities for several months.

            In recent free agent signings, Konner Wade, a right-handed pitcher in the Boston farm system, has joined the Baltimore system.  His Indy time was with Sugar Land in the Atlantic League.  Another righty, Connor Overton, re-signed with the Toronto farm system.  He previously played for Sioux City in the American Association and Lancaster in the Atlantic League.

MLB TEAMS NOT BUYING PLAYERS, BUT INDEPENDENT VETS STILL PROSPERING

 After a year without a great many games and with the major leagues streamlining their minor league systems starting in 2021, the purchasing of Independent Baseball players is nearly at a standstill (temporarily, we hope), but for those who entered the affiliated ranks prior to COVID-19 the opportunities with the 30 big-league organizations continue to be available.

IndyBaseballChatter.com has tracked many interesting--and mostly positive--transactions in recent weeks.  We're doing some grouping here by category with the player's Independent team(s) and league(s) in parenthesis.  *Indicates player started his professional career in an Independent league:

Moving from one major league organization to another:  Pitchers John Brebbia (Sioux Falls and Laredo, American Association) from St. Louis to San Francisco, Ross Detwiler (York, Atlantic League) from Chicago-AL to Miami, and Nik Turley (Somerset, Atlantic) from Pittsburgh to Oakland and outfielder-first baseman Jose Martinez (Rockford, Frontier League) from Chicago-NL to New York-NL. 

Non-40-man roster players invited to major league spring training camps: Pitchers Anthony Bender (Sioux City, American Association) from Milwaukee to Miami, and Zac Grotz (Washington, Frontier, and York and Bridgeport, Atlantic) from Seattle to Boston.

Promoted to a higher minor league level: Pitchers Jordan Brink (Southern Illinois and River City, Frontier, and Pittsburg, Pacific Association) from AA to AAA and from St. Louis to Tampa Bay, *Luis Contreras (Eastside, United Shore League, and Puerto Rico, Empire League) from Class A to AA by Milwaukee, Alec Kisena (Gateway, Frontier) from A to AA by New York-NL, Adam Oller (Windy City, Frontier) from AA to AAA by New York-NL, and *Austin Warner (River City) from AA to AAA by St. Louis, and outfielder Matt Hearn (Gateway) from AA to AAA by Colorado.

Free Agents Newly Signed: Pitchers Fernando Abad (Long Island, Atlantic) from New York-AL to Baltimore, Chase DeJong (Sugar Land, Atlantic, and Team Skeeters, Constellation Energy League) from Houston to Pittsburgh, Tim Dillard (Lancaster, Atlantic) re-signed by Texas and Kevin Munson (Lancaster and Southern Maryland, Atlantic) re-signed by Seattle, and D. J. Snelten (Chicago, American Association) from Tampa Bay to Chicago-NL.

Joining a foreign league: Pitchers Matt Dermody (Sugar Land and Team Skeeters) from Chicago-NL to Seibu Lions, Japan, and Drew Rucinski (Rockford) returns to NC Dinos, Korea.  

TRIO OF ONETIME INDEPENDENT PLAYERS CHOSEN IN RULE 5 DRAFT

While so much still is to be determined before the (presumed) 2021 Independent Baseball season unfolds, two right-handed pitchers who started their professional career in the Frontier League and a third who also played in that circuit have new major league organizations to look forward to joining in the year ahead as the result of being selected in Thursday's Rule 5 draft.

Matt Wivinis, who started at Evansville in the Frontier League, was the second of 56 players whose name was called in the Triple-A phase of the draft, which was held in virtual fashion since the annual Winter Meetings were not held in the normal way because of COVID-19.

Wivinis moves from the New York Yankees farm system to that of Tampa Bay for the Triple-A price of $24,000.

Boston selected Kaleb Ort, who started at Joliet, also from the Yankees.  The third onetime Independent player who changed uniforms is Jordan Brink, who went from St. Louis to Tampa Bay.  He had pitched for both River City and Southern Illinois in the Frontier League as well as with Pittsburg of the Pacific Association.

It would have cost $100,000 for any team to select a former Indy player in the major league portion of the draft.

New Contracts for Several

The shrinking of the major league-affiliated minors has taken its toll on any number of players, including quite a few former Independent league guys, in recent months, but some of those who have escaped the pink slip have actually been rewarded with new contracts.

This group includes the following, with their affiliation and their previous Indy locations:  Pitchers Kevin McCanna of Arizona (Sioux City, American Association, and Lightning, Constellation Energy League); Mickey Jannis, Baltimore (Long Island, Southern Maryland and Bridgeport, Atlantic League, and Lake Erie, Frontier); Nick Duron, Seattle (Southern Illinois, Frontier); Ian McKinney, Seattle (Sioux City); Jayson McKinney, Seattle (Southern Maryland and Lightning); and third baseman Brandon Snyder, Washington (Southern Maryland).

Right-hander Jason Creasy came off the free agent list by re-signing with Atlanta.  He has pitched for Long Island and Southern Maryland along with St. Paul of the American Association.

Players released in recent weeks have included former major league hurlers Aaron Wilkerson of Milwaukee (Grand Prairie, American Association; Florence, Frontier; and Fort Worth, United League) and Parker Markel of San Diego (Sioux City).  Righty Ben Bracewell, who like Wilkerson had started pitching professionally in an Independent circuit and was a non-roster invitee with Oakland last spring training, was released by the Athletics.  His first pro play was with River City in the Frontier League. 

 

NICK ANDERSON CARRIES THE LOAD, AND DOES SO ADMIRABLY

Tampa Bay reliever Nick Anderson is the only player with Independent Baseball experience in the World Series. He would have been joined by two other pitchers, Chris Martin and Tyler Matzek, had Atlanta been able to get past the Dodgers in the final game of the NLCS. 

Anderson is a more than worthy candidate to carry the flag for the 270 other Indy grads (Source: IndyBaseballChatter) who have made it to active major league rosters.  

The 6-foot-4 bearded right-hander was declared the winning pitcher Wednesday night when the Rays evened the World Series against Los Angeles at one win apiece for stopping a potentially devestating fifth inning rally. 

But his standing on behalf of all those who toiled before him in non-affiliated league play is greater because Minnesota native truly came up through the ranks. He spent his first three seasons as a professional after coming out of unheralded Mayville (ND) State and dealing with alcohol and anger-management issues in the longest-tenured active Independent League. 

He was a struggling 6-14 with earned run averages of 7.71 and 6.42 at Rockford, IL of the Frontier League in 2012 and 2013. After a summer of only amateur baseball play, he re-emerged in '15 and proved himself as a reliever (2-0, 13 saves and a 0.65 ERA plus well over a strikeout per inning) for the road-only Frontier Greys so well that the Minnesota Twins purchased his contract for the last month of the season even though he had already turned 25 and had dealt with his personal issues. 

Anderson barely started a game after that (four times with Triple-A Rochester in '18) as he worked his way through the Twins farm system as a big-time strikeout artist, topping it off with 88 K's and only 49 hits allowed in 60 innings for the Red Wings. 

He was traded in the offseason and broke into the majors with the Miami Marlins when the 2019 campaign started, then really started drawing raves after moving to the Rays in a trade-deadline deal. His ERA with Miami was a decent 3.92, but it dipped to 2.11 with Tampa Bay, followed by a tiny 0.55 in 19 regular-season outings this year. By season's end, he had struck out 136 batters and only walked 21 in 81.1 career major league innings. 

Anderson did surrender a solo homer in the sixth to Will Smith, but by that time Tampa Bay had a 6-2 lead and the now 30-year-old had more than earned his keep by striking out Justin Turner to end the previous inning when the Dodgers power guy represented the tying run. That inning had started with what appeared to be a giant 5-0 lead the Rays could not afford to get away and dump them into a two-game deficit. 

From all indications, Anderson will continue to be one of the main keys--if not THE primary one--in Tampa's deep bullpen for the remainder of the World Series. 

The story has a nice ring to it, especially for the Independent Baseball world.

OH, THOSE (INDEPENDENT) RELIEVERS DAZZLING IN MLB POSTSEASON

Both the NL Division Series between Atlanta and Miami and the ALDS tussle featuring Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees are terrific showcases for the type of relief pitchers Independent Baseball can brag about these days. 

The Braves and Marlins both have a pair of bullpen stars with Indy experience. With Atlanta holding the upper hand entering play Wednesday, southpaw Tyler Matzek and righty Chris Martin are key pieces for getting crucial outs. Matzek was with the Texas AirHogs in the American Association as recently as last season, harnessing his control and preparing for a comeback in the majors after a five-year absence. He struck out three in a row in a key spot for Atlanta in its Game 1 win after being among baseball's busiest relievers during the regular season. 

The same is true for the 6-foot-8 Martin, who started his professional career in the same location although the team was known in those days as the Grand Prairie AirHogs. 

On the suddenly impressive Marlins, Brandon Kintzler (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg when the Goldeyes still were in the Northern League) is the closer. Another right-hander, James Hoyt, has finally started earning important innings after previously struggling to get enough outings during stints with Houston and Cleveland. He also pitched in the American Association (Wichita) although his pro career started in another Indy circuit, the North American League. 

The third reliever in the postseason who got his very first professional opportunity in a non-major league-affiliated league is looking like he could become the best of the group. Right-hander Nick Anderson is being called on whenever the Tampa Bay Rays face their toughest challenges regardless of the inning. Such was the case in Tuesday's second game against the Yankees when the Rays virtually had to win. 

Anderson entered the game with the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh and promptly struck out Gary Sanchez, DJ LeMahieu and Aaron Judge. He also pitched a 1-2-3 eighth in the 7-4 victory. 

He was a Frontier League find, pitching for the road-only Frontier Greys as well as Rockford, IL.  

Umpire, Broadcaster Also Step Up 

The Independent Leagues have contributed others to the postseason including umpire Will Little and TV broadcaster Adam Amin. The latter, who gets important play-by-play roles regularly in both football and basketball for ESPN, spent years learning his trade with the Somerset (NJ) Patriots of the Atlantic League. He called Game 1 between Atlanta and Miami.

AT LEAST 9 ONETIME INDEPENDENT LEAGUE PLAYERS APPEAR HEADED TO THE POSTSEASON

This is truly a moving target because several teams are on the edge toward earning major league baseball postseason berths and roster changes are still being made daily. But as of late Friday, IndyBaseballChatteris tabbing nine former Independent Baseball players as likely eligibles for next week's first round of the 16-team playoffs. Here are those most likely participants by team with the Independent connections in parenthesis: 

ATLANTA--RHP Chris Martin (Grand Prairie, American Association) and LHP Tyler Matzek (Texas, American Association). Note: Matzek was in the American Association last season. 

MIAMI--RHPs Brandon Kintzler (St. Paul, American Association, and Winnipeg, when it was in the Northern League) and James Hoyt (Yuma and Edinburg, North American League, and Wichita, American Association. RHP Brett Eibner was designated for assignment earlier this week. 

MINNESOTA--LHP Rich Hill (Long Island, Atlantic League) and Caleb Thielbar (St. Paul). RHP Randy Dobnak (Utica, United Shore League) has been a starter most of the season, but currently is in the alternate training site. 

TAMPA BAY--RHP Nick Anderson (Frontier Greys and Rockford, Frontier League). RHP Trevor Richards (Gateway, Frontier League) has been shuttling between the Rays and their alternate training site, where he is at present. RHP Chaz Roe is on the disabled list. 

CHICAGO-NL--1B Jose Martinez (Rockford). INF Ildemaro Vargas is on the injured list, but could return. 

 TORONTO--RHP Tanner Roark (Southern Illinois, Frontier League). RHP Wilmer Font was designated for assignment earlier this week.   

Other Possibilities--RHP Chase DeLong (Sugar Land, Atlantic League, and Team Skeeters, Constellation Energy League, was returned to Houston's alternate training site recently. If Milwaukee slips into the playoffs, it should bring RHPs Eric Yardley (Trinidad and Taos, Pecos League) and Justin Topa (Rockland, Can-Am League) into action. 

The Chicago White Sox designated LHP Ross Detwiler for assignment this week after being with the team all season. Another lefty, James Paxton, is on the New York Yankees' 60-day injured list. 

Anderson, Hoyt, Martin, Paxton, Roark, Richards and Yardley all started their professional career in Indy leagues. 

Among the nine most likely postseason eligibles five played in the American Association and three in the Frontier League.

JOHN NOGOWSKI JOINS ST. LOUIS, EARNS SOME ATTENTION FOR INDEPENDENT LEAGUE POSITION PLAYERS

Pitchers almost always seem to dominate when discussing the former Independent Baseball players who have made it to the major leagues.  That could easily be the case today, too, but the hurlers must step aside for moment because the newest player to reach baseball's pinnacle is a hitter.

The new man in the spotlight--the 266th on the distinguished list maintained by IndyBaseballChatter--is St. Louis Cardinals first baseman John Nogowski.  The 27-year-old, a combo who throws left but hits right-handed and debuted with a 1-for-4 game in the Cards' 7-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox Sunday, dominated the American Association (Sioux City) in May and June of 2017 to get St. Louis's attention.  He hit .402 and had a .482 on-base percentage in 34 games for the Explorers, driving in 28 runs in that span.

Nogowski, who played in college at Florida State, hit .295 in Double-A the rest of '17 season, .309 one year later and .295 for Triple-A Memphis one year ago.

In the meantime, Indy grads have been posting some very imposing numbers on the mound in the majors.  Randy Dobnak broke into the pro ranks in the United Shore League (Utica), and he has won four of five decisions for Minnesota with a 1.42 earned run average for his first five starts of the season.  Among relievers, Ross Detwiler (York, Atlantic League) has not allowed an earned run in 11.1 innings for the Chicago White Sox (1-0, only 4 hits), the Pecos League's Eric Yardley (Trinidad and Taos) has a win and a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings for Milwaukee and Tyler Matzek (Texas, American Association) has won 2 of 3 decisions for Atlanta and had not given up any runs in spring training or the regular season until the New York Yankees got him for two tallies last week.  His ERA is 1.64. 

Detwiler and Matzek were in their Independent leagues for part of the last two seasons.

Recent Promotions

Three pitchers were promoted back to the majors in recent days.  Chris Mazza (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League) started for Boston Sunday night at Yankee Stadium, Brian Moran (Bridgeport, Atlantic) is with Miami and Trevor Richards (Gateway, Frontier League) is with Tampa Bay.

Summer League Signees

The newly-created leagues that are filling gaps during this COVID-19 time period while some of the regular Independent leagues are not operating are producing new opportunities with major league organizations.

The most recent of at least five players who have gotten fresh opportunities is former major league hurler Dietrich Enns.  Tampa Bay inked Enns Sunday and sent him directly to the Rays' alternate training team, from which he could be promoted to the American League team.

Emms had gone 2-0 with a 0.72 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 25 innings while doubling as pitching coach for the Tully Monster team managed by onetime major leaguer Scott Spiezio in the City of Champions Cup organized by the Frontier League's Joliet (IL) Slammers.

For more baseball chatter take a look at https://sportsdomainlab.com or the site's Twitter or Facebook pages of the same name.

INDY GRADS BENEFIT FROM MARLINS' VIRUS ISSUES

While the COVID-19 surge that shut down the Miami Marlins for more than a week was a devastating blow for Don Mattingly's young team it has proven to be a fortunate break for two former Independent Baseball pitchers and could help still others.

Hard-throwing James Hoyt and southpaw Brian Moran have new baseball lives with the Marlins organization that may well not have happened without the pandemic which stopped nearly 20 Miami players in their tracks.

In these fluid times in the major leagues hardly a day goes by without transactions that involve those who have been in Indy leagues at some time, with intriguing recent stories involving Caleb Thielbar's first major league opportunity in five years and United League/Pecos League find Yermin Mercedes debut, if only for a day.

Hoyt, who started his professional career in the North American League and American Association back in 2012, did not make Cleveland's Opening Day roster and shortly after was designated for assignment by the Indians.  He seems to have gotten a break in that he was sold to Miami and is on the Marlins' active roster.  Moran, who has pitched in the Atlantic League (Bridgeport), had a similar fate after opening the season with Toronto.  He has not been added to Miami's active roster as yet, but he is on the team's 40-man roster and at the alternate training site and seems likely to get the opportunity.

Thielbar, now 33, has had a long career jumping back and forth between the American Association's St. Paul Saints and the Minnesota Twins, and the left-hander was promoted from the American League team's alternate training site team to the parent club Monday.  He appeared in 109 games for Minnesota during the period 2013-15 (5-3, 2.74), but has been back with the Saints since ('16-'17) as well as spending time in the Detroit and Atlanta farm systems.

The Mercedes story is one of the rare ones in that the catcher started out with three seasons in the Dominican Summer League followed by 2014 in lower level Independent leagues (United and Pecos).  He earned three seasons in the Baltimore farm system and joined the Chicago White Sox chain in '18, but he did not even reach Triple-A until last season.  The White Sox had him on the 40-man roster and with their alternate training team until Sunday when the 5-foot-11, 235-pound hopeful finally got a call to the majors.  Mercedes got one time at bat, then was sent back to the alternate group.  Hopefully, more opportunities will come along.

Some Other Moves

Boston called up Chris Mazza (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League, and San Rafael, Pacific Association) to join its struggling mound corps and another right-hander, Justin Topa (Rockland, Can-Am League), has been promoted to Milwaukee's alternate training team.  Pitcher Wilmer Font (Ottawa, Can-Am) has been activated from the injured list by Toronto while catcher Rene Rivera (Camden, Atlantic) and lefty Rich Hill (Long Island, Atlantic) have gone on 10-day lists of the New York Mets and Minnesota, respectively.

Two players who were in the newly-created Constellation Energy League in Sugar Land, TX, have been obtained by major league organizations. Veteran major league reliever Fernando Rodney has joined Houston's alternate training team and pitcher-outfielder Brett Eibner has done the same with Miami.  Eibner, who has played the outfield for three major league teams, was a two-way player for Texas of the American Association and the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League last season.

Tampa Bay dropped hurler Trevor Richards (Gateway, Frontier League) from its active roster, sending him to the alternate training squad.

Stay tuned.  More moves are inevitable.