Indy Players On Major Rosters

[kahunakats]

Anyone out there seeing former independent league players on major league rosters? What, if any, are their individual chances of seeing Opening Day?

[Shootmaster_44]

The only one I know of is Kerry Lightenburg (sp?) he's on the Blue Jays roster. He played Indy ball with the Minneapolis Loons of the North Central League and the Prairie League. A player who might one day crack the majors is Ben Van Iderstine. He's playing with Milwaukee's AA affiliate in Huntsville. He played last season in the Northern League and before that saw time with the Saskatoon Legends of the Canadian League. (Although the Canadian League didn't see itself as Indy ball but rather in the same category as the Japanese leagues.)

Does anyone know what other former Canadian Leaguers are kicking around in the minor leagues still?

[khalldog]

There have been several more. I can think of Bobby Madritsch and Jeff Zimmerman right now. I'm sure if you search the web there are several stories about players that have gone from Indy ball to MLB.

[HeadFirst]

Let's not forget about Brendan Donnelly, who now pitches for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Orange County off of I-5 between Fullerton and Irvine. I believe he pitched for the original Ohio Valley Redcoats in the Frontier League once upon a time.

Also, I spied with my little eye a Tollberg toiling in the Atlantic League. Is this Brian, the former Chillicothe Paint and San Diego Padre?

And where oh where has Jason Simontacchi (sp) gone?

George Sherrill, former Frontier Leaguer, is up with the Mariners at the moment, if I'm not mistaken -- and considering I've put no research into this post and am merely typing off-the-cuff, I could be.

And as for former Atlantic Leaguers in the bigs, there are quite a few. Ruben Sierra, Carlos Baerga, etc.

[oldfatguy]

Lightenberg is with the Diamondbacks, as a mop-up reliever.

[nlfan]

A couple more NoL alumni (not already mentioned) are seeing everyday action this season:

Kevin Millar, Boston ('93 Saints)
J. D. Drew, LA ('97-'98 Saints)

[oldfatguy]

Update... the D-backs have replaced the old and finished Lightenberg with the old and finished Matt Herges.

[Shootmaster_44]

Ok here's the list I came up with:

Kerry Lightenburg - '94-'95 Minneapolis Loons (Prairie League)

Shawn Wooten - '95-'96 Moose Jaw Diamond Dogs (Prairie League)

JD Drew - '96 St. Paul Saints (Northern League)

Rey Ordonez - '93 St. Paul Saints (Northern League)

Carlos Baegra - '01 Long Island Ducks (Atlantic League)

Eddie Oropesa - '93 St. Paul Saints (Northern League)

Bobby Madritsch - '02 Winnipeg Goldeyes (Northern League)

Kevin Millar - '93 St. Paul Saints (Northern League)

Matt Miller - '96-'98 Greenville (Big South League)

Curtis Pride - '99 Nashua Pride (Atlantic League)

Howie Clark - '01 Chico (Western League)

Joey Eischen - '99-'00 Adirondack (Atlantic League)

Nate Field - '00 Sioux City Explorers (Northern League)

Ricardo Rodriguez - '97, '99 Santo Domingo (Inter-American League)
I've never heard of this one, does any one know anything about it?

Ruben Sierra - '99 Atlantic City (Atlantic League)

Am I missing anybody?

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

Tim Brydak ('03 Gary Southshore Railcats, Northern League) is currently pitching for the Baltimore Orioles.

[wildcat000]

Your missing the Frontier League alumini.

4 are on Major League rosters:

D.J. Carrasco - Johnstown 1999- Kansas City Royals (American League)
Brendan Donnelly- Ohio Valley 1994 - Los Angeles Angels (American League)
George Sherrill - Evansville 1999- 2000 - Seattle Mariners (American League)
Jason Simontacchi St. Louis Cardinals.

There are also dozens of Frontier League alumni in the minors, here's the link:
http://216.235.79.242/alumni_update.html

[oldfatguy]

I think Morgan Burkhart also made the majors breifly in 2003, he's a FL alum.

[wildcat000]

I know, he did get a few ABs. He's now in AAA for the Red Sox, in the Mexican league.

[Rob4FWCats]

Jermaine Van Buren, who pitched for the Fort Worth Cats of the Central Baseball League two seasons before this one, was called up to the Chicago Cubs early last week. He was the AAA PCL Relief Pitcher of the Year with 25 saves this season.