Lefty James Paxton (pictured), who some feel could jump to the parent Seattle Mariners roster this season, has officially been invited to the team's major league spring training camp in Arizona. Paxton broke into the professional ranks with Grand Prairie, TX in the American Association, and recently was placed at No. 77 on a list of best major league prospects.

The non-roster count for onetime Independent players is up to 32.

The American Association currently has 30 former players that are participating in winter league baseball. The league is represented in seven different countries with alumni playing in Australia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. All of the winter leagues are currently in the postseason.

Rafael Alvarez (Lincoln Saltdogs) - .348, 13 RBI, 16 Hits [LaGuaira Tiburones - Pictured]

The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball has 15 current players that are participating in winter league baseball. There are six players in Venezuela, two players each in Colombia, Nicaragua and Puerto Rico and one apiece in Australia, the Dominican Republic and Mexico. All of the winter leagues are currently in the postseason.

Justin Justice (Winnipeg Goldeyes) – .268, 38 Hits, 5 HR, 6 Doubles [Sincelejo Toros - Pictured]

Miami continues to be active in grabbing both players and coaches. The Marlins' recent signees include power-hitting Ryan Patterson (pictured), whose late-season acquisition nearly propelled St. Paul, MN to the American Association title.

The 28-year-old outfielder, who was singled out for the Pointstreak Star of Stars Award for producing the best statistical season in the league, banged 20 homers, drove in 90 runs and hit .325 in 99 combined games with Wichita, KS, Fort Worth, TX and finally the Saints. He was among the league leaders in most every offensive category, and even stole 16 bases. Patterson drove in 13 runs in only 11 games with St. Paul to help get the Saints into the playoffs, then drove in nine more runs in 10 postseason games.

Non-roster invitations to major league spring training camps for players who have been in Independent leagues have doubled, from 13 to our exclusive count of 26 in the last two weeks, with more to come since about a dozen of the 30 American and National League teams have yet to reveal the bulk of their invitees.


It is easy to make an argument that the most intriguing players to watch this spring will be five players, including one 40-man roster hurler, who were in Independent leagues as recently as this past summer, and now will train with the best the sport has to offer.

The contract of Lincoln Saltdogs RHP PJ Zocchi has been purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers, as announced by the American Association. Zocchi is the second league player sold to the Dodgers during this offseason (Maikol Gonzalez – El Paso Diablos).

Zocchi (pictured) had a solid campaign for the Saltdogs in 2011. The Anderson, SC closer went 0-2 with a 1.95 ERA and 21 saves. He struck out 41 batters and walked only 14 in 37 innings pitched. The 21 saves were good for second best in the American Association.