Which Independent Players Will Make It to Opening Day? 51 Have Been in Major League Camps
March 6, 2014 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
One year it was Chris Coste, another Jon Weber and last season Scott Rice and Chris Colabello. The names change, but the stories are similar. Players who have devoted years of determination and grit to beat the odds of climbing all the way from Independent Baseball leagues, through the affiliated minors and perhaps…just perhaps…squeezing their […]
How Is This as Handsome Reward for 19 Indy Grads? They Are on Pace to Top $37 Million in Majors
April 4, 2013 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
Does it pay for an aspiring major leaguer who goes undrafted or needs to re-energize his career to play in an Independent league? And how! Think about earning salaries totaling more than $37 million for the regular 2013 season. Pay is prorated for most everyone, of course, so if a player is only in the […]
Scheppers, Coello Added to Indy Roster in Majors While Stu Pomeranz’s Season Is Interrupted
June 8, 2012 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
It was just a week ago when we projected that Tanner Scheppers, who started his professional career with the St. Paul Saints in the American Association, could well be one of the next Independent players to reach the major leagues. It happened Thursday when the Texas Rangers added the right-hander to their roster. Scheppers was […]
It Is Nail-Biting Time for Several Independent Players Although ’11 Standout Jerome Williams Is ‘On Track’
March 30, 2012 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
It appears 2011 Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers (Atlantic League) starter Jerome Williams could win that fifth starting job with the Los Angeles Angels after all even though his hamstring strain forced him to miss some 24 days of spring training. The 30-year-old, who also at one time hurled for Long Beach, CA in the Golden League, […]
With Another 84 Contracts Sold and Some Postseason Players, Indy Game Continues to Produce for Majors
October 1, 2011 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
While the next few months before most Independent teams throw a pitch that counts is certain to bring a ton of headlines about franchises struggling and some welcome news on emerging markets, league executives can continue to boast about what a strong source the non-affiliated operations are in providing talent for major league organizations. At […]
Independents May Have Most Major Leaguers Ever in ’11
Well-Traveled Hurler DeLaRosa Helps Independents Edge Closer to All-Time High for Most Major Leaguers The door has swung completely open for Independent Baseball to claim perhaps its most important achievement before the season ends. This could go down as the summer when the greatest number of players made it to the major leagues. After all, […]
Another Independent Player Gets to Major Leagues
September 2, 2010 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
     It was not such usual candidates as Michael Ryan or Scott Richmond or John Lindsey or Randy Williams, but Independent Baseball has had one interesting promotion in the first couple of days since major league teams started taking advantage of the opportunity to expand rosters in September. This ranks right up the excitement level […]
Weber and Young Arms of Crow, Scheppers and Parise Making Their Mark in Spring Training
March 11, 2010 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
It would be much like splitting hairs if we tried to give a definitive answer as to who among the former Independent players hopeful of becoming a first time major leaguer is having the best spring training up to this point. Jon Weber, Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers certainly have offered up their work. Pete […]