Independent Baseball Insider – Vol. 12, No. 31, October 16, 2014
By Bob Wirz
We all know that not every player who pulls on a baseball uniform is going to be rewarded with an opportunity to play in the major leagues. Dennis Raben has been in this category so far, but his organization is heaping praise on him,after paying his dues in independent leagues.
Raben punished American Association pitchers with 10 home runs in only 23 games at Lincoln, NE in 2013, then started last season in the Atlantic League (Somerset, NJ) before the Los Angeles Angels purchased his contract and he pounded 31 homers and drove in 94 runs in the California League.
Director of Player Development Bobby Scales praised the 27-year-old for both his leadership (with younger players) and his bat, and Inland Empire Manager Denny Hocking told MiLB.com “when he finally started to hit the ball and get comfortable, he did some amazing things.”
(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.)
