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

Durham, N.C. — The contract of Winnipeg Goldeyes RHP Nestor Molina was purchased by the San Francisco Giants organization, the American Association announced on Wednesday. Molina was acquired by Winnipeg in December from the Joplin Blasters, where he was the club’s most consistent starter in 2015. The native of Valencia, Venezuela, led the Blasters with 17...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The contract of Wichita Wingnuts RHP Derek Eitel has been purchased by the San Diego Padres organization, the American Association announced on Tuesday. Eitel joined Wichita late in the 2015 season and made three regular-season and three postseason appearances out of the bullpen, striking out nine hitters in 5 2/3 innings of work. Previously, the Marshall,...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – By Bob Wirz While it is still about six weeks until spring training camps open, American Association fans can start thinking about the news that will be coming out of Florida and Arizona because no less than a dozen of the league’s former players will be in major league camps. Ten...Read More

St. Paul, Minn. – The 2015 season wrapped up three months ago, but the accolades continue to pour in for Ballpark Digest’s New Ballpark of the Year Award winner, CHS Field in Lowertown.  Prior to its opening, CHS Field was touted as The Greenest Ballpark in America.  That bold prediction came to fruition when CHS Field...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz John Holdzkom, who authored one of the American Association’s great stories in 2014 when he went from the league to the bullpen of the Pittsburgh Pirates in a matter of weeks, has been looking forward to a healthy start in the new season, but now must deal with...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The contract of Wichita Wingnuts RHP Paul Smyth was purchased by the Arizona Diamondbacks organization on Tuesday, the American Association announced. Smyth joined the Wingnuts in August 2015 from Somerset of the Atlantic League; in 12 relief appearances with Wichita, the 28-year-old earned 7 saves, going 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 12...Read More