Independent Baseball Insider – Vol. 12, No. 33, November 6, 2014
By Bob Wirz
It is more commonplace for former Independent pitchers to get picked up by major league organizations, but shortstop Nate Samson has been rewarded with a new deal. Samson, whose contract was purchased by Arizona after he had hit .335 in 43 games for Sioux City, has received a second contract at the Double-A level. He hit .274 in 46 games at Mobile, AL.
Pitchers Bobby Korecky (Winnipeg 2010) and Chris Smith (Wichita 2013) have new minor league contracts with Toronto and San Diego, respectively. Both are pitching in Venezuela at present, Korecky has two saves (6.75 ERA) and Smith is 1-1 (2.78) as a starter.
Lefty Kris Johnson (Kansas City 2011), who pitched briefly for Minnesota this summer and was 10-7, 3.48 in Triple-A, also is a free agent.
(Fans not yet getting the complete Independent Baseball Insider column, which will be published 36 times in 2014, may do so for as little as $6.99 at www.WirzandAssociates.com. Bob Wirz provides supplemental stories about Independent Baseball on his blog, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com. The author has 16 years of major league baseball experience with Kansas City and as chief spokesman for two Commissioners, and lives in Stratford, CT.)
