Independent Baseball Insider – by Bob Wirz It won’t be long now (February 2) when the winter baseball season wraps up with the start of the eagerly-awaited Caribbean Series, and it appears almost certain the American Association will have considerable representation. In some cases, it might even be a final showcase for players who still are...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The American Association, already assured of strong representation in major league spring training camps, keeps getting good news, and I am not just talking about the fact that Max Scherzer (Ft. Worth 2007) is joining Washington with his rich new contract. Right-handers Cody Satterwhite (pictured, Sioux City 2013) and James Hoyt...Read More

For the second consecutive day, the Baltimore Orioles have purchased the contract of an American Association player, this time adding Wichita Wingnuts OF Jake Luce. After joining the Wingnuts in July from the United League, Luce was outstanding in 34 games for Wichita, hitting .341 with 16 RBI, two home runs and nine doubles. Previously,...Read More

Winnipeg, Manitoba – The Winnipeg Goldeyes announced on Thursday that the contract of infielder Casey Haerther has been purchased by the Baltimore Orioles. Haerther, 27, hit .360 last season, which tied him with teammate Tyler Kuhn for second in the American Association. He also hit a career-high 13 home runs and added 72 RBI in 98...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz RHP Chris Martin (Grand Prairie ’10) ranks among the most recent crop of players who started their professional journey in the American Association to reach the major leagues, and now he has a new opportunity, this time with the New York Yankees. Martin, 28, broke into the majors last season...Read More

Joplin, Mo. — The Joplin Blasters have tabbed former major-leaguer and veteran skipper Carlos Lezcano as the club’s skipper in its inaugural 2015 season. Lezcano, a native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, comes to the Blasters with an extensive background in baseball. He starred at Florida State University before being signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1977. A career outfielder, he...Read More

Sioux Falls, S.D. – On Friday, the Sioux Falls Canaries introduced Chris Paterson as the organization’s new field manager. Paterson spent the previous three seasons with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the United League, earning United League Manager of the Year honors in 2014 after guiding the club to a 51-27 record and a league championship. He also managed...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The Kansas City Royals must be happy with their recent signing of Balbino Fuenmayor (Laredo 2013) because the corner infielder is not only putting up great numbers in Venezuela, but they look even more impressive when compared to Arizona outfielder David Peralta (Wichita 2012, Amarillo 2013), who made a...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The San Francisco Giants have purchased the contract of Winnipeg Goldeyes RHP Nestor Molina, the American Association announced on Wednesday. Molina was acquired by Winnipeg from the Joplin Blasters earlier in December. In 2015, his first season with Joplin, Molina led the club with 17 games started and 7 wins to go along...Read More

Featured in Independent Baseball Chatter By Bob Wirz American Association grad Mark Hamburger has a major league invitation. The righty is only one year removed from starting for the St. Paul (MN) Saints (6-8, 3.26), and Minnesota obviously liked what it saw in the 27-year-old during his one season, mostly in the bullpen, for their...Read More