Patrick Johnson has gotten most of the attention during the offseason because of being grabbed early by a major league organization after his brilliant 15-1 season at Sioux City when he was selected as the top starting pitcher on the postseason all-star team. Now Explorers teammate Rob Wort, an 11-game winner as a reliever (11-3,...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The Baltimore Orioles have purchased the contract of Wichita Wingnuts LHP Alex Sogard, the American Association announced on Tuesday. Sogard, 28, had an excellent season out of the bullpen in 2015, assembling a 3.49 ERA in 36 relief appearances, including one save. The Phoenix, Ariz., native made his first 33 appearances with St....Read More

It is almost impossible to identify any 29-year-old non-drafted rookie as a certainty to make an Opening Day roster in the major leagues two weeks before the season starts, but Houston relief pitcher James Hoyt has to be on the brink of making it. The 6-foot-5 righthander, who flirted with the major leagues all of...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz While those 18 onetime American Association players in major league spring training camps fulltime receive most of the attention, a worthy alternate headline goes to those who are brought up from minor league diamonds for at least one game in uniform for Grapefruit and Cactus League games. If they...Read More

Courtesy Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks media relations FARGO, N.D. – The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks have sold the contract of CF Drew Muren to the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Muren, 27, will report to Diamondback spring training this week. But it will not be as the fleet-footed centerfielder RedHawks fans enjoyed in 2015. Muren is attempting to join the Diamondbacks organization...Read More

Outfielder David Peralta (pictured), who wielded a potent bat at Wichita only four years ago and is already an established major leaguer, is getting rave praise from his Arizona Diamondbacks manager, and relief pitcher James Hoyt is receiving special attention from the Houston Astros even though he has yet to throw a single pitch in...Read More