Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz
Southpaw Tyler Alexander has already made a name for himself in the American Association by posting a 25-16 record in three seasons at Fargo, and the 26-year-old is continuing his effectiveness in the Mexican Winter League.
With seven strong shutout innings in which he allowed only four hits (no walks) for Jalisco earlier this week, the onetime Florida International product now has a 2-1 record and 3.20 earned run average for 10 starts. It would seem major league organizations would be showing interest since he also has struck out 51 hitters in 56.1 innings while only walking 12 and allowing 52 hits. In Alexander’s only loss, he pitched a complete game (eight innings), giving up only one run and striking out eight.
Still on the RedHawks’ roster, the Tampa native had a nifty 2.07 earned run average last season while striking out 167 in 148 innings.
Nestor Molina is remembered for his 7-5 record and 3.12 ERA when Joplin was in the American Association in 2015, and the 28-year-old right-hander continues to do well with a 12-3, 1.89 log in the Mexican League last summer and currently is 4-4, 5.40 as a starter in Venezuela.
Still Grateful Many Years Later
Chris Coste will long be remembered for his lengthy career with hometown Fargo (’96-99) before giving non-affiliated baseball a major story when at the age of 33 and after 11 minor league seasons he finally broke into the major leagues as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006. He was part of the Phils’ World Series champion team two years later.
“Independent baseball has had a huge impact on my life and career,” Coste said this week when the RedHawks announced he will serve as hitting coach next season, 22 years after his playing debut with the team.
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 traditional book-buying sites, or at www.WirzandAssociates.com.
