They May Not All Be Like Scott Kasmir, But Independent Baseball Has Another Crop Within Reach of Majors

Not everyone will end up with a $22 million contract as Scott Kazmir has only a year removed from working his way back through Independent Baseball and the winter leagues, but a new crop of players who have taken the same route over the last nine months is making it appear others could follow the rejuvenated southpaw to the major leagues before long.

The strong emergence of Kazmir, Daniel Nava, Scott Rice and the Minnesota trio of Andrew Albers, Chris Colabello and Caleb Thielbar as decent–or better–major leaguers makes for a great recruiting statement for the non-affiliated leagues.

The newest class proving their worthiness in winter baseball right now may be topped by pitchers Mitch Lively of the San Francisco farm system and Chris Martin of Boston although they are far from being alone among those produced recently from the Independent leagues.

Lively, who needed some time in the United League (San Angelo, TX) back in ’08 to get his career cranking, has already had two springs as a non-roster invitee with San Francisco , and he is setting a torrid pace in Venezuela to give the Giants further proof of his ability.  The 6-foot-5 right-hander, who had the second best punting average in Sacramento State history (40.83 yards), leads the Venezuelan League in wins (6-1), earned run average (1.46) and innings (55.1) and is fourth in strikeouts (39).  This comes after his second winning season at Triple-A Fresno , with most of 2013 in a starting role for the first time since early in his two-sport college career.

Chris Martin does not have to be protected on Boston’s 40-man roster for another season although if his rapid rise continues the 6-foot-7 righty with a mid-90s fastball would not be a complete shock to get a call to Fenway Park before he becomes draft eligible.

It is somewhat surprising to see the 27-year-old Arkansas native playing at all since he went nearly five years without pitching after shoulder surgery while in college.  Then, he found his health was sufficiently restored and he worked professionally for the first time at Grand Prairie, TX (American Association) in 2010 (4-0, 1.96 in 13 appearances, including four starts).

He buzz-sawed the Eastern League (Class AA) for 21 innings without allowing a run early this season, then was promoted from Portland, ME to the Red Sox’s top farm club in Pawtucket, RI, where he was 3-3 (two saves) and a 3.18 ERA in 30 relief outings.  That may have only been a warmup for the Dominican Republic this fall where Martin has six saves in eight outings in which he has allowed only two hits, no walks and an unearned run while fanning eight.

Hurlers Tyler Herron and John Brownell as well as outfielder Brandon Tripp are among others also making statements in winter leagues.

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Kazmir Still Praising ‘Great Venue’ of Sugar Land

Scott Kazmir returned to major league prominence first with Cleveland and for at least the next two years with that $22 million pact with Oakland , but he has not forgotten the 2012 season which he spent getting his confidence back while toiling for Sugar Land, TX in the Atlantic League.

“Sugar Land was a lot of fun,” the southpaw told Bay Area media during a conference call after his signing with the Athletics became official Wednesday.  “It was 20 minutes from my house, and it was a great venue to get back into the game.”  He told The Bay Area News Group:   “Now I have a lot more velocity again and a lot more control.”

Can-Am Plans to Retain Its Identity

As I dug deeper into the announcement of the Can-Am League becoming the fourth division for the American Association for 2014 the more obvious it is that this is likely to be a one-year arrangement to help the Can-Am out since the Newark (NJ) Bears kept asking for more time before deciding whether they could continue to operate in the league.  They will not, leaving the league with only four teams for now, but the Can-Am plans to retain its own identity for the future.  “Absolutely” was the way Miles Wolff , the commissioner of both leagues, put it.

The two leagues will continue inter-league play for a third year in a row for all Can-Am teams and most of those in the 12-team Association.  In addition, each of the Can-Am teams will send one player to the first Association All-Star Game already planned for this season in Winnipeg .

Both leagues seem likely to add teams starting in ’15 with Ottawa already ticketed to re-join the Can-Am League–three of the five teams will be Canadian –and Joplin, MO a possible new entry in the Association.  “I think Joplin is looking to become the 13th team,” Wolff said.

           (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Forty columns are planned during 2013.  Fans may subscribe at reduced rates at www.WirzandAssociates.com , enjoy added stories on the blog www.IndyBaseballChatter.com , or comment to RWirz@aol.com .  The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)