American Association of Professional Baseball - FORMER T-BONES PLAY-BY-PLAY MAN TOMMY THRALL JOINING CINCINNATI REDS BROADCAST TEAM

Tommy Thrall is living the dream of every baseball intern.

The Smithville, MO native is a legitimate major leaguer, making the long climb from an internship with the Kansas City T-Bones back in 2004.

Now 34, Thrall is the newest member of the Cincinnati Reds’ radio broadcast team alongside regulars Marty Brennaman, who will retire after 46 years at the end of this season, and onetime major league relief standout Jeff Brantley. His first broadcast will be a spring training game with Brantley on February 27.

“It has been an amazing journey, and I’m excited about the future,” said Thrall, who moved up after his intern season to be part of the T-Bones’ broadcast team for two years then become the team’s top radio man for two more years. His first major league-affiliated season was at Myrtle Beach, SC followed by two summers with Quad Cities (Davenport, IA) and the last seven in Pensacola, FL where he also was media relations coordinator.

The Northwest Missouri State graduate also has called football and basketball games for the University of Western Florida.

Schultz, Scott Headed to Major League Camps

Two more major league spring training invitations along with at least three former American Association players being named to rosters for the Caribbean Series starting this weekend give the league added recognition.

Former major leaguer Bo Schultz (Grand Prairie) has been officially invited to Baltimore’s major league camp while Tayler Scott, who got his first taste of Triple-A in Texas’s farm system last season, will train with Seattle. Scott had a standout stint at Sioux City three years ago, posting a 1.88 ERA in 28.2 innings spread over 17 bullpen outings.

Caribbean Series players who have been in the American Association include Mexico second baseman Amadeo Zazueta (Lincoln) and outfielder Alonzo Harris (St. Paul) and Puerto Rico pitcher Tyler Herron (Fargo-Moorhead, Lincoln and Winnipeg). Some rosters are not yet complete.

Previously the chief spokesman for Baseball Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth, Bob Wirz has been writing extensively about Independent Baseball since 2003. He is a frequent contributor to this site, has a blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com, and a book about his life, “The Passion of Baseball”, is available at Amazon.com or at www.WirzandAssociates.com.