As Can-Am League Opens Season, A Former MVP Breaks Up No-Hit Bid

Perhaps it was an omen with the Can-Am Leaguestarting its season less than 24 hours later (Thursday) that a onetime Most Valuable Player in the league made news by breaking up a no-hitter in its companion league, the American Association.

Nick Giarraputo, who won MVP honors while with the New Jersey Jackals (Little Falls)in 2012 and was an everyday infielder in the league four consecutive years (’10-13), singled on Anthony Capra’s139th and last pitch when the southpaw was only two outs shy of a 2-0, no-hit gem for Wichita. Giarraputo, who now plays for in-state rival Kansas City, KS, had been a strikeout victim to Capra in each of his first three times at the plate.

Majors Buy 14 Contracts in Last Two Weeks

A note of hope for every Independent player wanting an opportunity in a major league organization.  We know of at least 14 such player sales in the last two weeks, with a lion’s share coming out of the Atlantic League. Most of the players have reported to Class AAA or AA teams.

Johnson, Smith in Position for Major League Calls

Chris Martinwas the most recent Independent Baseball product to get a break-through promotion to the major leagues about four weeks ago, and it seems to these eyes that two other American Associationproducts, left-handers Kris Johnsonand Greg Smith,could make the jump any day now.

Johnson got a one-day call to start in a doubleheader for Minnesotarecently (4.1 scoreless innings although he walked six), but the 29-year-old went back to Triple-A Rochester, NYand has continued to put up great numbers.  The 2011 starter at Kansas City, KShas allowed only two earned runs in his last four starts, giving him a 3-2, 2.08 log for the International Leagueseason.  He has allowed only 34 hits in 39 innings while striking out 40, and might give the Twinsanother solid rotation guy if they can give him two or three starts to allow the nerves to settle down.

While his numbers are not quite as great, Smith has just been honored as International League Pitcher of the Week, and the PhiladelphiaTriple-A hurler (Lehigh Valley,  Allentown, PA)has cut his walks down to 13 in 48.1 innings as he has built a 4-1, 3.72 record.  The loss was last time out when Buffalo (Toronto)got to him for five runs in as many innings.  The 30-year-old, who was at Grand Prairie, TXfor six starts three years ago, already has 40 major league starts (8-18, 4.52) although he has not been at that level since 2010.

Martin (Grand Prairie) has been sent back to Colorado’stop farm club in Colorado Springsalthough it seems likely he will get a second major league shot since his first one resulted in a 4.15 ERA for his nine appearances covering 8.2 innings.

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York’s Shawn Hill Has Huge Start

Shawn Hill, who was scheduled to be back at York, PA (Atlantic League)until Torontosigned him for a second time shortly before the season, had a standout effort last time out for Buffalo, pitching seven innings of four-hit, one-run baseball, to square his record at 1-1, 5.21.  Hill, 33, was in Double-A for a time before being promoted to the Jays’top minor league club.

Corner infielder Andy Marte, another former York standout, has cooled off, but only slightly and still has a .309-6-27 season going in 41 games at Reno (Arizona).

(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.)