After spending the last two seasons with the Kansas City T-Bones, RHP Sean Toler has been a key cog for the second-place Canberra Cavalry of the Australian Baseball League this off-season. In 14 appearances for Canberra, Toler is tied for the league lead with seven saves to go along with a 2.57 ERA and 12...Read More
Independent Baseball Insider Vol. 11, No. 40, December 19, 2013           Give credit to the Sioux City (IA) Explorers for an exhaustive search for a new manager to help end that community’s 21-year drought without a championship in Independent Baseball. After all, Sioux City is one of three remaining franchises from the Northern League’s startup...Read More
(Courtesy Sioux City Explorers) Sioux City, Iowa – The Sioux City Explorers announced on Wednesday that they have hired Steve Montgomery as the teams new field manager for the 2014 campaign, which will mark the organization’s 22nd season in Sioux City. Steve Montgomery comes to the Sioux City Explorers in 2014 after spending the last...Read More
Durham, N.C. – The American Association has announced that the contract of Laredo Lemurs RHP Bradley Blanks was sold to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization on Thursday. Blanks was dominant out of the bullpen for Laredo over the last two seasons, going a combined 8-2 with a 1.49 ERA in 56 appearances, all in relief. The...Read More
(Courtesy Wichita Wingnuts) Wichita, Kansas – The contract of Wichita Wingnuts slugger C.J. Ziegler was sold to the Minnesota Twins’ organization on Wednesday. Ziegler will report to spring training with the organization in February. The 28- year old infielder enjoyed a record-breaking 2013 campaign. Playing in all 107 regular-season and playoff games at first base,...Read More
American Association Winter Baseball Update Mexicali Aguilas LHP Edgar Osuna (Winnipeg ’13) has had a superb start to the 2013 winter baseball season, picking up his league-leading seventh victory of the season after limiting Culiacan to a run on three hits in five and one-third innings of work Friday evening. The native of Mazatlan, Mexico,...Read More
Independent Baseball Insider by Bob Wirz Vol. 11, No. 39, Â December 5, 2013 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Chris Martin does not have to be protected on Boston’s 40-man roster for another season although if his rapid rise continues the 6-foot-7 righty with a mid-90s fastball would not be a complete shock to get a call to Fenway...Read More
One of the hidden gems to emerge from the American Association last season and earn praise from his new major league organization is left-handed-hitting outfielder David Peralta, a 26-year-old who originally was a pitcher. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Venezuelan hit .332 at Wichita, KS one year ago, .352 in 42 games at Amarillo, TX early this...Read More
Detroit, Mich. – Detroit Tigers righthanded pitcher Max Scherzer was named the 2013 American League Cy Young Award recipient on Wednesday, receiving 28 of 30 first-place votes. Scherzer was the major leagues’ only 20-game winner this season, going 21-3 after starting the season 13-0. In his sixth season in the big leagues, the St. Louis...Read More
Several 2013 American Association players, including Wichita’s Abel Nieves (pictured), are continuing their seasons in the winter leagues of Latin America. Among them, Sioux City’s Edgar Osuna has been superb for the Mexicali Aguilas of the Mexican Pacific League, going 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA in five starts. Meanwhile, Fargo-Moorhead’s C.J. Retherford is tied for the...Read More