Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Four more former American Association players have had a day or more in major league uniforms recently lifting that count this spring to 10 in addition to the 18 who have trained daily at baseball’s highest level as 40-man roster players or non-roster invitees. The latest group is...Read More
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz With only one week before the major leagues fire up the official “Play Ball” call, the attention normally falls to the tension of players awaiting final word whether they have made a major league roster or will be going back to the minors. The American Association has had...Read More
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Tayler Scott‘s first major league spring training is over because the Texas Rangers have sent the non-roster pitcher who was playing in Sioux City a mere two years ago down to their minor league camp. But the 25-year-old has made an indelible mark, and still has the very...Read More
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz It is very difficult for a non-roster player, especially one without previous major league experience, to break through to baseball’s top level. If the player is beyond the mid-20s and his team is one of the game’s best, well, the odds get even tougher. Not impossible, though. Just...Read More
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Texas Rangers RHP Chris Martin would be a good resource for another onetime American Association reliever, who is admitting to some culture shock as he trains in Japan in preparation for his initial season in Korea. “I’ve been to many first days of school in my life, but...Read More
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Big Chris Martin is the type of player every American Association team should be pulling for as he bids for a spot on the Texas Rangers’ pitching staff since it is possible the 6-foot-8 native Texan would not even be playing baseball without a Grand Prairie tryout camp...Read More
Franklin, Wis. — American Association commissioner Miles Wolff formally announced the acceptance of Milwaukee as a league member on Tuesday at a press conference at Franklin City Hall. The club will play in a new 4,000-seat stadium beginning with the 2019 season. The yet-to-be-named team will be operated by ROC Ventures, which also operates three...Read More
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz With 18 of their former players in major league spring training camps, American Association teams can give themselves a giant round of applause. Perhaps even more impressive, two of them were in the league as recently as last season. Cleburne catcher Shawn Zarraga (pictured) is in the Los Angeles...Read More
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Junior Guerra and James Russell throw from different sides, and their track record in the major leagues varies a great deal. But these are two former American Association hurlers appear worth watching in the new baseball season that starts in one week when battery mates report to spring...Read More
Durham, N.C. — The contract of Cleburne Railroaders RHPÂ Cortland Cox has been purchased by the Los Angeles Angels organization, the American Association announced on Thursday. Cox was superb in his first season in independent baseball in 2017, going 4-2 with a 2.96 ERA in 37 relief appearances, striking out 66 hitters in 51.2 innings of...Read More