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IL1 Rochester Red Wings

From Indy Ball To... One Step from the Show

June 27, 2016 - International League (IL1)
Rochester Red Wings News Release


Rochester, N.Y. - Logan Schafer looks at the Rochester local media and knows how fortunate he is to be here.

He has taken advantage of his opportunity. There is no question about that.

On this particular night Schafer went 3-for-5 with a double, solo home run and two runs scored in a 6-2 win against Thruway foe Buffalo.

Life is good in the Wings' clubhouse as the team boasts the best record in the International League at night's end thanks to guys like Schafer.

He is one of four players who have taken the path less traveled to return to the pinnacle of minor league baseball.

Schafer spent parts of the last five seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, but after batting .221 in 69 games for the Brew Crew last season he was not brought back.

He began in Spring Training with the Washington Nationals before signing with Lancaster in the Independent Atlantic League on May 10. After 17 games he was signed to a minor league deal with the Twins on June 2.

His path, like other current Wings, has weaved and wove through independent baseball.

Andrew Albers, Marcus Walden, Buddy Boshers and Schafer have all spent time in the Independent leagues in the past 12 months and now all are one step away from the major leagues (Boshers is currently in Minnesota).

Schafer, Albers, and Boshers have all been to The Show before while Walden spent parts of two seasons in Triple-A with the Sacramento Rivercats (Oakland) and now with Rochester.

Independent baseball is another world away from Triple-A.

The pay is not comparable. Fans come and go with the promotions for most clubs. The ballparks are hit or miss. The promotions. Oh, the zany promotions.

The zaniest.

Clubs like the St. Paul Saints of the American Association, who are partly owned by actor and comedian Bill Murray, are revered for their sometimes over-the-top tactics that draw fans to their beautiful yard in lower town St. Paul.

The Saints have a piglet that delivers the game balls to the umpires before the start of every game. To honor beloved musician and Minnesota native Prince the team had a Purple Rain game and dressed the pig in purple.

Zany.

The Bridgeport Bluefish recently had U.S.A. softball icon Jennie Finch guest manage their game on May 29 against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs that made her the first female to manage a professional baseball team.

For the average Joe baseball fan Indy leagues are viewed as guys that are too good to play slow pitch softball but not good enough to make it.

That could not be further from the truth.

Independent baseball is an avenue for guys that did not get drafted. Many players in indy leagues are guys that have been in organized baseball and for some even the major leagues.

Take Marcus Walden, for example.

After opening last season with Double-A Pensacola (Cincinnati Reds) and being released after just one start, he signed with Lancaster and pitched his way to a 2.95 ERA in 48 games.

Buddy Boshers is yet another Atlantic League product.

Boshers spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim before making his big-league debut with the club in 2013. He returned to the organization in 2014. He split time between Triple-A Salt Lake and Double-A Arkansas, going 4-4 with a 3.28 ERA in 40 combined appearances and was no resigned at season's end.

Boshers spent all of 2015 with the Somerset Patriots and was named the Atlantic League Reliever of the Year after going 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA (6 ER, 54.0 IP) in 52 games.

Now he has a 1.64 ERA in 13 games with Minnesota after going 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 15 outings for the Wings.

Andrew Albers began this season in the Atlantic League. After spending a majority of last season with Buffalo and making one appearance with the Blue Jays his contract was not renewed and he signed with Lancaster.

He tossed seven innings of shutout ball with just one hit and nine strikeouts to one walk and was signed by Minnesota to a minor league deal after the one start.

Currently, Albers is 6-2 with a 3.48 ERA in eleven starts.

Brandon Kintzler is another Wing with Independent experience who is excelling in the show. Kintzler started his career in the Padres organization but signed on and pitched for the Winnipeg Goldeyes and the Saints in the American Association from 2007-09. He has been with the big-league club since the beginning of May and has a 2.61 ERA in 21 games.

Still think independent baseball isn't worth paying attention to?

Well, it is. The club with the best record in the IL has four former independent league players on their roster. Your Red Wings.

Keep these guys coming.

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International League Stories from June 27, 2016


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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