AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ALUMS ENJOYING SUCCESS IN MLB SPRING TRAINING
By Bob Wirz It was less than three years ago–the 2017 baseball season–when Ryan Fitzgerald was the all-star shortstop in the American Association and first baseman John Nogowski looked like the next Mookie Betts as he peppered league pitching so effectively that it only took about five weeks before the St. Louis Cardinals gobbled up […]
KANSAS CITY T-BONES INTRODUCE NEW OWNER AND NEW LOOK AT PRESS CONFERENCE
Kansas City, Kan. — At a press conference at T-Bones Ballpark, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas announced that they have approved a final agreement with Max Fun Entertainment LLC and introduced new team owner Mark Brandmeyer on February 25. “We are excited for the opportunity to continue to bring T-Bones baseball to Kansas […]
FROM CANARIES TO CARDINALS: FORMER SIOUX FALLS HURLER BREBBIA IN RUNNING FOR MLB CLOSER JOB
By Bob Wirz John Brebbia’s days in the American Association gave the right-hander a major career boost, and now after three full seasons and more than 160 appearances out of St. Louis’s bullpen he is in contention to become the Cardinals’ closer. Current league pitchers might want to pay attention to what this onetime Sioux […]
McKINNEY AMONG 20 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION GRADS IN MAJOR LEAGUE SPRING CAMPS
By Bob Wirz The story continues to get better. When Seattle announced it was bringing former Sioux City southpaw Ian McKinney to its major league spring training camp the total of onetime American Association players due to train with American and National League teams climbed to 20. That is three more than one year ago […]
NOGOWSKI, THIELBAR LATEST AMERICAN ASSOCIATION ALUMS HEADED TO MLB SPRING TRAINING
By Bob Wirz One is in his prime with a strong bat and glove while the other is veteran trying for a fresh opportunity. This describes the American Association’s two latest non-roster invitees to major league spring training camps that open the doors one week from now. First baseman John Nogowski, who continued to build […]
SIOUX CITY’S SERMO NABS TWO MAJOR AWARDS TO HIGHLIGHT WINTER SEASON
By Bob Wirz It is no small feat that the American Association is going to be so well represented when the prestigious Caribbean Series kicks off its week-long festival featuring champions from six countries on Saturday. Even though current and former major leaguers take up many of the roster spots, more than 20 players with […]
SNELTEN MAKES QUICK LEAP FROM CHICAGO DOGS TO MLB SPRING TRAINING WITH TAMPA BAY
By Bob Wirz It is not often when a player gets invited to a major league spring training camp right after spending a season in an Independent league unless he has some type of high profile history. The Chicago Dogs‘ D. J. Snelten, who had four brief relief appearances (4.1 innings) with San Francisco early […]
FORMER CANARIES BACKSTOP EDDY RODRIGUEZ LANDS MLB COACHING JOB WITH MARLINS
By Bob Wirz It does not matter where Eddy Rodriguez’s baseball career takes him in the future, the one highlight from the Cuban native’s 12-year playing career that everyone will want to talk about is the home run he hit off of Johnny Cueto in Cincinnati August 2, 2012. Rodriguez, the sturdy catcher already pretty […]
RED SOX FINDING SUCCESS WITH RAILCATS STARS
By Bob Wirz Call it whatever you want. Threesome. Triumvirate. Triad. Regardless of the choice, it is more than a little bit intriguing to notice that a trio–yes, that number–of former Gary SouthShore RailCats position players have gone on to the Boston Red Sox organization in recent times. All three are drawing some attention, too. […]
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION GRADS JOINING MLB ORGS; INDY PLAYER OF YEAR NOT YET AMONG THEM
By Bob Wirz While the steady tick of American Association players getting opportunities in major league organizations has been impressive the list has one noticeable omission. Where is Chicago Dogs first baseman Keon Barnum? All the young slugger has done within the last few months is break the league’s home run record with 31 bombs […]
