Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The count of former American Association players with coveted invitations to major league spring training camps has climbed by two more to 15 with about one-third of the 30 teams yet to announce additions beyond their 40-man roster. Right-handed pitchers Chris Smith and Angel Castro, both with some...Read More

Courtesy Lincoln Saltdogs Media Relations Lincoln, Neb. – The Lincoln Saltdogs promoted recently-hired hitting coach Bobby Brown to manager and hired former Los Angeles Dodgers first-round draft pick Jim Haller as pitching coach. Brown, who managed Amarillo from 2013–15, was hired in November as hitting coach for the Saltdogs. Former manager Ken Oberkfell stepped down for...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The contract of St. Paul Saints SS Anthony Phillips was purchased by the Los Angeles Angels organization, the American Association announced on Monday. In his first season with the Saints, Phillips put together an outstanding season in the field, leading the league with 307 assists and tying Wichita’s Ryan Khoury (2014) for the best fielding...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The more one studies it the more convincing it would seem are James Hoyt‘s chances of breaking into the major leagues this season even though his team, Houston, was in the playoffs last season.  Hoyt’s success would give the American Association one more graduate on baseball’s greatest stage. In less...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The contract of St. Paul Saints catcher and 2015 American Association Player of the Year Vinny DiFazio was purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the league announced on Tuesday. DiFazio is the second Saints player in two weeks to have his contract sold to the Dodgers, and the third from the team to join...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz One of the fortunate 13 counting the days until pitchers and catchers report to major league camps is Texas’s right-handed reliever Tanner Scheppers, who started his professional career with St. Paul in 2009. “I’d rather be pretty silent about my mission, ” he told The Fort Worth Star-Telegram...Read More

Wichita, Kan. — At a press conference held by the club on Tuesday afternoon, the Wichita Wingnuts announced that Hooper has accepted the position of Minor League Infield Coordinator with the San Diego Padres. Since taking over in 2009, Hooper managed his team to 51 more victories (422) than any other skipper in the American Association. ...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The contract of St. Paul Saints 1B Angelo Songco was purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the American Association announced on Monday. Songco had a dominant season for St. Paul in 2015, tying teammate Vinny DeFazio for the league lead with 82 RBI to go along with 17 home runs, tied for third,...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Right-hander James Hoyt (Wichita ’12) is the latest American Association grad to be invited to a major league spring training camp.  Houston has given the 29-year-old his second consecutive invitation, and he should be very well equipped after posting a perfect earned run average for nine appearances one year ago...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The American Association announced on Thursday that the Toronto Blue Jays organization has purchased the contract of Kansas City T-Bones RHP Bobby Doran. Doran was the workhorse of the Kansas City staff in 2015, leading the club in wins (8), innings pitched (113.2), starts (20) and strikeouts (71), to go along with a 4.43...Read More