Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz While free agency always creates a major change in scenery for many players, it appears onetime American Association (Grand Prairie ’11) hurler Bo Schultz will be given the opportunity to bounce back from the surgery to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament which cost him all of...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Twenty-four years with the same organization does not happen very often in the minor leagues. Andrew Collier, who joined the Winnipeg Goldeyes in 1994 and has been general manager since ’01 while earning Executive of the Year honors six times, is an exception and has been inducted into...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Pitching is so precious to major league organizations that just a few outings can earn a prospect renewed opportunities. This appears to be the case for James Needy, who measures 6-foot-6 and is only 26, because the right-hander who has missed two entire seasons since San Diego drafted...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The American Association released its complete 2018 regular-season schedule on Friday. Each team will play a balanced 100-game slate, with two series home and away against the five other teams in its division, and one series home and away against the six teams in the other division. The top two teams in...Read More

Chicago, Ill. – The Chicago Dogs announced Butch Hobson as the club’s field manager for the team’s 2018 inaugural season on Wednesday. Hobson joins the Dogs with more than 30 years of experience in major and minor league baseball, including three seasons as manager of the Boston Red Sox. Hobson most recently served as the manager...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The contract of Lincoln Saltdogs 3B/OF Joe Robbins has been purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization, the American Association announced on Monday. Robbins, 23, was stellar for the Saltdogs in his first professional campaign, hitting .302 with 7 home runs, 12 doubles and 23 RBI in 49 games. Nine of the home runs were...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The torrid bat 1B John Nogowski showed during his five weeks in Sioux City early this season has carried over to the 24-year-old’s first few at-bats in the Arizona Fall League. Nogowski cracked three doubles–one per game appearance–among his four hits in his first 10 official times at the...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz It was only two years ago when relief pitcher John Brebbia finished a two-season stint blitzing American Association hitters with his fastball and slider that resulted in well over a strikeout per inning. The lanky righthander also dazzled major league hitters virtually from the day he debuted May...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Onetime Wichita relief pitcher James Hoyt is visiting New York City this week and hanging out in the visitor’s dugout as the Houston Astros try to eliminate the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series and get back to the World Series. Hoyt is not on...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz Today’s crop of former American Association players in the major leagues brought satisfaction to everyone associated with the league because it spelled success. This extremely productive season ended early Friday morning when the hopes of advancing further in the postseason were dashed for the Washington Nationals’ Brandon Kintzler...Read More