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.