Courtesy Gary SouthShore RailCats Media Relations Gary, Ind. — 2017 Gary SouthShore RailCats left-handed pitcher Carlos Diaz was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round (29th overall) of the Triple-A Phase of the MLB Rule 5 Draft on Thursday. Diaz became the 31st player in franchise history to sign with an MLB Affiliate...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Veteran major league reliever Brandon Kintzler (St. Paul ’09) stole the show for the American Association during baseball’s winter meetings by inking a new contract with the Washington Nationals that will net him between $10 and $15 million dollars over the next two seasons although two other hurlers out...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Tim Adleman has been a pleasant story in recent years highlighted by the fact the onetime Lincoln and El Paso relief pitcher has spent much of the last two seasons with Cincinnati, leading the Reds in both innings pitched (122.1) and strikeouts (108) in 2017. The 6-foot-5 right-hander...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Southpaw Tyler Alexander has already made a name for himself in the American Association by posting a 25-16 record in three seasons at Fargo, and the 26-year-old is continuing his effectiveness in the Mexican Winter League. With seven strong shutout innings in which he allowed only four hits...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Ryan Kussmaul has logged a great many miles since starting his professional career in the Independent Frontier League nine years ago in his quest to reach the major leagues.  Now 31, the right-hander has done more relieving than starting and doing both for the Wichita Wingnuts last season...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Next to being called up to the major leagues during the season, the best thing that can happen to a player coming out of the American Association is to be added to a team’s 40-man roster.  This assures a player of being in the big-league spring training camp...Read More

Courtesy Wichita Wingnuts Media Relations Wichita, Kan. — One of the greatest outfielders in Wichita Wingnuts history will be back in the dugout in 2018, but not as a player. Former Major Leaguer Brent Clevlen has been named the fourth manager in franchise history for the upcoming season, the Wingnuts and General Manager Josh Robertson announced Friday....Read More

Speaking up for the belief he had in himself as a baseball player was the big step a frustrated Michael Rizzitello took last December, and now the youthful catcher has earned  Rookie of the Year honors in one Independent league and is looking forward to continuing his quest for an eventual opportunity in the major...Read More

Washington Nationals RHP Max Scherzer earned his third Cy Young Award on Wednesday. Scherzer went 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA over 200 2/3 innings, while recording league bests in strikeouts (268), WHIP (0.90) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.7). The WHIP and hits-per-nine marks were career bests for Scherzer, as was his rate of 12 strikeouts...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Can you picture a 6-foot-6, 230-pound baseball player crying like a baby? It has not happened yet, but 26-year-old James Needy, a Miami Marlins prospect by way of Sioux City, admits if he reaches the major leagues “I’d probably bawl like a little girl” when he makes that...Read More