Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz
Ryan Kussmaul has logged a great many miles since starting his professional career in the Independent Frontier League nine years ago in his quest to reach the major leagues. Now 31, the right-hander has done more relieving than starting and doing both for the Wichita Wingnuts last season (12 starts, 11 relief appearances). Since that time he has been enjoying a very strong season in Mexico.
Kussmaul shares third place in the league with 11 saves (17 games) with a tidy 1.62 ERA plus 20 strikeouts in 16.2 innings for Mexicali. The fact he issued only two walks in this span may help get the attention of some major league organization.
Several Promoted by MLB Organizations
A number of former American Association players have been promoted within their major league organizations lately. This includes:
To Triple-A–RHP Lindsey Caughel (Lincoln) by Seattle, OF Edgar Corcino (El Paso) by Minnesota, OF Blake Gailen (Wichita and Lincoln) by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 1B-OF John Nogowski (Sioux City) by St. Louis, SS-2B Anthony Phillips (St. Paul) by Colorado, RHP Dylan Rheault (Winnipeg and Sioux City) by San Francisco, INF Kevin Taylor (Laredo) by the New York Mets.
To Double-A–LHP Carlos Diaz (Gary) by Miami, RHP Connor Overton (Sioux City) by San Francisco, INF Jose Sermo (Gary) by Boston.
Diaz, Gailen and Nogowski all joined the affiliated ranks since last spring training.
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.