Joplin, Mo. — The Joplin Blasters have tabbed former major-leaguer and veteran skipper Carlos Lezcano as the club’s skipper in its inaugural 2015 season. Lezcano, a native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, comes to the Blasters with an extensive background in baseball. He starred at Florida State University before being signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1977. A career outfielder, he...Read More

Sioux Falls, S.D. – On Friday, the Sioux Falls Canaries introduced Chris Paterson as the organization’s new field manager. Paterson spent the previous three seasons with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the United League, earning United League Manager of the Year honors in 2014 after guiding the club to a 51-27 record and a league championship. He also managed...Read More

Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The Kansas City Royals must be happy with their recent signing of Balbino Fuenmayor (Laredo 2013) because the corner infielder is not only putting up great numbers in Venezuela, but they look even more impressive when compared to Arizona outfielder David Peralta (Wichita 2012, Amarillo 2013), who made a...Read More

Durham, N.C. — The San Francisco Giants have purchased the contract of Winnipeg Goldeyes RHP Nestor Molina, the American Association announced on Wednesday. Molina was acquired by Winnipeg from the Joplin Blasters earlier in December. In 2015, his first season with Joplin, Molina led the club with 17 games started and 7 wins to go along...Read More

Featured in Independent Baseball Chatter By Bob Wirz American Association grad Mark Hamburger has a major league invitation. The righty is only one year removed from starting for the St. Paul (MN) Saints (6-8, 3.26), and Minnesota obviously liked what it saw in the 27-year-old during his one season, mostly in the bullpen, for their...Read More

Independent Baseball Insider Vol. 12, No. 36,  December 18, 2014 By Bob Wirz The American Association had five of its current or former players in this week’s Australian League All-Star Game, led by Aussie strikeout leader Ryan Searle (Grand Prairie ’14, 40 strikeouts in 32.2 innings to go with a 2.76 ERA), who was the starting...Read More

In Venezuelan Winter League action, 3B Abel Nieves (Wichita) rapped a two-run single in the La Guaira Tiburones’ 7-4 victory last night. Nieves, the American Association’s all-star third baseman in 2014, is one of several AA players in the Caribbean winter leagues this season. Others include: Mexico Navojoa: OF Reggie Abercrombie (Winnipeg) Obregon: LHP Cesar Carrillo...Read More

Independent Baseball Insider – Vol. 12, No. 35, December 11, 2014 By Bob Wirz Dennis Raben’s name has been part of this column numerous times the last two years because of his 10 homers in only 23 games for Lincoln in ’13 and 31 dingers and 94 RBI this past season for the Los Angeles...Read More

Australian Baseball League hitters haven’t had much luck against Brisbane Bandits RHP Ryan Searle (pictured, Grand Prairie ’14) so far this season, as he leads the ABL with 31 strikeouts in 25.2 innings pitched so far this season. The native of Canberra, Australia, is 2-0 with one save a 2.81 ERA in six outings for the Bandits, who...Read More

Amarillo, TX – After public input and careful research, Amarillo Pro Baseball management has opted to change the name of the team to the Amarillo Thunderheads. “There were some great submissions from the fans,” said Thunderheads Executive VP and General Manager Stephanie Tucker. In choosing the name Amarillo Thunderheads, Tucker says fans have a name...Read More