Major Leagues Still Grabbing Independent Talent With Arizona and Atlanta the Busiest

This week’s tip to Independent Baseball players hoping to attract a major league organization:  Reach out to the first Arizona Diamondbacksscout you can find.

While all 30 major league organizations have at least one player who has been in an Independent league, the D-Backs are the most active in trying to utilize such talent.  In fact, it is not even close.  Arizona has 18 players who have played in non-affiliated leagues including current major league relief pitchers Joe Thatcherand Brad Ziegler. The team also has three Indy vets with its top farm club, Reno, NV,in former American Associationpitchers Bo Schultzand Mark Serranoand Atlantic Leaguecorner infielder Andy Marte.

Atlanta, which has been busier than usual of late, ranks second with 14 Independent players, including prized rookie southpaw Ian Thomas,who started his professional career with a current American Association city (Winnipeg), and not only shocked many an onlooker by sticking with the parent Bravesin spring training but picked up his first major league victory this week and has a 1.59 ERA for eight games.

The New York Yankeesrank third with 11 onetime Indy players, followed by the Chicago White Sox, San Diegoand Washingtonwith nine apiece and the Los Angeles Angelsand New York Metsbothwith eight.  St. Louis, Clevelandand the Chicago Cubsonly have one player apiece.

J. R. Towles Starts Fast in Proving He Is Healthy

Former major leaguers, perhaps more than ever, are gladly accepting Independent Baseball offers these days to keep their career going.  One such example is catcher J. R. Towles, voted the top prospect with Houstonprior to the ’08 season, and now coming back from a torn ligament in his left hand.

The sandy-haired Towles, who set the Astros’record with an eight-RBI game (a single, two doubles, and his first major league home run) in St. LouisSeptember 20, 2007 in only his sixth major league game, was in 155 games with Houston from ’07-11 but has not been at that level since.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity,” the now 30-year-old with Bridgeport, CT (Atlantic League)told me.  “If you’re out of sight you’re out of mind.”  Towles was sitting home in Tomball, TXuntil February when the Bluefish’sDirector of Baseball Operations, Paul Herrmann, called.  “I came here to show I am healthy,” Towles said.  “I’m going to make the most of it.”

He has certainly started off on the right foot for Bridgeport, going 4-for-10 with two doubles, a homer and team-leading five runs batted in for his first three games.

American Association’s Kris Johnson Gets a Start for Twins

Another onetime Independent star is in line for his 2014 major league debut this very night (Thursday) when left-hander Kris Johnsonbecomes Minnesota’s26th player and starts the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Johnson, 6-3, 3.23 in 16 starts for Kansas City, KS (American Association)three years ago, has had a sharp early-season performance for Triple-A Rochester, NY,most recently being charged with only an unearned run in six innings as he lowered his earned run average to 2.86.  The lanky 29-year-old, whose only previous major league start came in a short trial with Pittsburghlast season, is 2-2 for four starts.

When Will Tracy McGrady Take the Mound?

It is difficult to get a read on when we might finally see former NBAstar Tracy McGradyon the pitcher’s mound in a regular season Atlantic Leaguegame.

First came the announcement that he had made the Sugar Land, TX roster, then he was moved to the league’s inactive list after two games.  The Skeeterssay he is day to day, and the website UltimateAstros.com quotes the 6-foot-8 McGrady, who is traveling with the team, as saying:  “I’m trying to get through some soreness that I experienced in spring training.  Once that goes away, you’ll probably see me out there soon.”

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes on Independent Baseball.  Thirty-six columns are planned during 2014.  Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com , enjoy added stories on the blog www.IndyBaseballChatter.com , or comment to RWirz@aol.com .  The authorhas 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)