David Peralta, Jason Lane Debuts Highlight Busy Week of Indy Players Getting to Major Leagues

David Peraltawould seem to have the greatest upside of four former Independent players promoted to the major leagues since the left-handed outfielder, who was playing in the American Association (Amarillo, TX)only 11 months prior to his major league debut with Arizona, has not even reached what normally is prime time for a baseball player.  He will turn 27 in two more months.

“See, I told you I wouldn’t let you down,” the Venezuelannative chided Chris Carminucciin a text message.  Carminucci, the onetime Indy investor and manager now the Diamondbacks’independent leagues coordinator, who has brought six non-affiliated players into the Arizona organization already this season, was headed to Grand Prairie, TX(American Association) to search for even more players to obtain when I tracked him down.

“I fill needs”, was Carminucci’s description of his job, and he had invited Peralta, a pitcher in the St. Louis Cardinalssystem until two shoulder surgeries led to his release five years ago, to work out in St. Petersburg, FLduring one of Nick Belmonte’stryout camps.

Mike Bell(Arizona’s Director of Player Development) read my report, and he had a need,” creating the opportunity to purchase the contract of Peralta, who had already hit .392 (81 RBI) in 2011 for Rio Grande Valley (Harlingen, TX)and .332 (70 RBI) the next season for Wichita, KS(American Association).  “That guy looks like a big leaguer,” Special Assistant to the General Manager Bill Brykcommented during this past spring training, according to Carminucci, and General Manager Kevin Towerschimed in that Peralta “runs better than I remembered.”

After collecting 24 extra-base hits, hitting .297 and driving in 46 runs in 53 games for Class AA Mobile, AL(he struck out only 21 times in 202 at-bats) this springand center fielder A. J. Pollockgoing down with a fractured hand Peralta debuted this week, getting hits in three of his first five plate appearances and going 4-for-10 with a double and two runs scored in his first three games.

Record-Breaking Return as Hurler for Jason Lane

Jason Lane’scontract also was sold to a major league organization last July, leaving Sugar Land, TX (Atlantic League)for San Diego,and the former outfielder, one of the heroes of Houston’s National League Championship Seriesclincher in 2005, returned to the major leagues in brilliant fashion Tuesday night when he pitched his way out of a jam he inherited in the fourth inning and retired all 10 Pittsburghhitters he faced although the Padresstill lost, 4-1.

The southpaw was so outstanding he only needed 36 pitches (26 strikes) to get the 10 outs and set a franchise record by becoming the first hurler making his major league mound debut to retire that many hitters without allowing anyone to get on base.

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Much More Money Lures Likes of Blake Gailen to Mexico

We hear so often in the Independent Baseball world about players jumping to a Mexican Leagueteam or perhaps one in Japan, Koreaor Taiwan.  Writer Burt Wilsonof LancasterOnLine.com answered very clearly recently why this happens.

Using Lancasterstar Blake Gailenas the example since the 2012 Atlantic LeagueMVP and Baseball America Independent Player of the Year just left the Pennsylvaniacity to play for Tijuana,Wilson pointed out the outfielder will make about $8,000 more each month in Mexico.  “A Japan deal would be in the six-figure range,” the writer reported.

The 5-foot-10 Gailen, 29, who also has pounded Independent pitching in the American Association (Wichita, KSand Lincoln, NE)and the former Golden League,  has only gotten 37 games spread over two stints in major league-affiliated leagues.

(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.)