One More Independent Star Gets Big Pact in Far East; Colabello Gets Fresh Start With Toronto

Add one more acclaimed Independent grad to those heading to the Far Eastfor a nice payday.

Left-hander Ryan Feierabend (York, PA, Atlantic League)has signed with the Nexen Heroesin Korea for what The Korean Herald reports is $300,000, including a $30,000 signing bonus, with another $80,000 possible in options.

Like southpaw Kris Johnsonand corner infielder Andy Marte(Japan and Korea, respectively) ,Feierabend has gotten only limited major league opportunities.  The 29-year-old has been in 31 major league games, including six (7.1 innings) for Texaslast season.  He will be a teammate to another left-handed hurler, Andy Van Hekken, who is making a nice living in Korea, with his fourth season coming up after a 20-6 campaign which lifted him to 43-24 in that league.  Van Hekken pitched in three seasons (’06-08) under Sparky Lylewith the Atlantic League’s Somerset (NJ) Patriots.

Colabello ‘Excited’ for New Chance With Toronto

Chris Colabellowas given a fresh start during the this week’s Winter Meetingswhen re-building Torontograbbed the first baseman-outfielder off waivers from Minnesota,where he homered 13 times in 401 plate appearances in his first two partial major league seasons.  Indications are the 31-year-old will compete for playing time with Justin Smoakand possibly others at first base, although the right-handed hitter could return to Triple-A since he still has an option year.

“I’m excited that somebody else is happy to give me an opportunity, and I’m happy to contribute in any way I can,” Colabello told MLB. com.  The Can-Am Leaguerecord-holder in several categories including hits, runs and runs batted in because of seven seasons of trying to get signed by a major league organization had been rumored as possibly heading to Korea.

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202 PLAYERS HAVE GRADUATED FROM INDY BASEBALL TO MAJORS

Complete List Available at www.WirzandAssociates.com

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Green, Godwin, DePaula Get Affiliated Calls

Two of the more intriguing recent signings of veteran Independent leaguers to major league organizations are those of right-handed starter Nick Greenby Bostonand fleet outfielder Adam Godwinby Pittsburgh. Both are on Double-A rosters,  and neither has a single major league game to his credit.

Green, 30, has been in Indy leagues the last four summers, Southern Marylandand York, PAof the Atlantic Leaguefrom 2011-13 and at Lincoln, NEof the American Associationlast season.  He has gone 27-26 in that span.  Godwin, who turns 32 on Saturday, will be getting his first affiliated opportunity since ’09, but he has stolen 156 bases in 205 attempts (.761) in that span, including 50 at Sugar Land, TX(Atlantic) two years ago.

Somewhat earlier, Julio DePaula, the right-hander who made the meteoric jump from York to the parent Baltimore Oriolesin a matter of days this summer, was picked up as a free agent by Arizona, where it seems likely he will get some top-level exposure during spring training.

New Bosox Signee ‘Learned So Much’ in Three Indy Seasons

Playing in Australiaafter three seasons in Independent leagues has given Jorge Marbana new affiliated chance in the Bostonfarm system, and the 25-year-old knows how to spread praise.  “It is pretty crazy it took going halfway around the world to get an opportunity,” the right-hander told MiLB.com.  “I’ve learned so much throughout those three years in Independent ball (Southern Maryland, Atlantic League,after lengthy time at Florence, KY, Frontier League), and developed so much as a pitcher.”  Marban has given up only six hits and four earned runs while striking out in 18 innings spread over 11 outings although he continues to fight wildness (14 walks).

Pair Taken in Rule 5 Draft

This week’s Winter Meetings,which had lots of juicy offseason news for baseball-starved fans, produced a bit of Independent information during Thursday’s Rule 5 Draft when the Los Angelesfarm systems selected two infielders at the Triple-A level.  The Dodgerstabbed shortstop Nate Samson,who played in the American Association (Sioux City, IAand Winnipeg), and the Angelspicked up three-position infielder Chris Curley (Florence, KY, Frontier League)out of the Chicago White Soxfarm system.  Samson hit .335 in 43 games with Sioux City this season and .274 in 46 contests for Arizona’sDouble-A franchise.

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes on Independent Baseball.  Thirty-six columns are scheduled during 2014.  Fans may 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.)