NOW WITH DODGERS, FORMER DOG CROSBY HITS 100
Independent Baseball Chatter – by Bob Wirz The coronavirus has placed every baseball player’s season–perhaps their career–on hold, but think about what it does when a pitcher in his early 30s seems to finally be healthy after years of arm issues and could be edging close to the major leagues where he got a taste […]
PENPRASE TO RETURN FROM RETIREMENT FOR ISRAEL
It was the fifth inning of Team Israel’s second game in Bulgaria a few months ago along the unlikely path of qualifying for the Olympic games to be played in Japan when Zach Penprase found himself standing out at shortstop in tears. They were actual tears, this now 35-year-old previously “retired” Fargo-Moorhead infielder recalled from […]
CORONAVIRUS PUTS HOLD ON A.A. ALUMS SPRING TRAINING ASPIRATIONS
By Bob Wirz With baseball shut down indefinitely because of the coronavirus one cannot help but think what is going through the mind of the countless professional players throughout the game, with perhaps a little extra attention to those in major league camps who were on the bubble of a $563,500 payday if they were […]
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION STATEMENT REGARDING COVID-19
MARCH 13, 2020 MOORHEAD, MN – The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball continues to monitor the COVID-19 virus outbreak (Novel Coronavirus) and will take all necessary steps to protect our fans, players, umpires, and staffs in the 2020 season. The 2020 American Association season remains scheduled to begin on May 19. League officials will […]
FORMER AIRHOG MATZEK GETTING ATTENTION IN BRAVES CAMP
By Bob Wirz To say that Tyler Matzek has done it all is not really understating the situation. He was a very high draft choice (11th in the country), was considered among the top 25 pitching prospects in the game, threw a shutout in the major leagues, had physical and mental issues which once cost […]
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 […]
