Laredo’s Travis Denker Putting Up Stunning Numbers; Pete Rose Luring the Media for One-Day Managerial Role

Travis Denker is putting up such gaudy offensive numbers this season as if there is no tomorrow.

He won’t turn 29 until August, not exactly ancient the way major league organizations are snapping up 30-somethiing Independent players these days, nevertheless, if you have only had 37 big-league at-bats in a 12-year pro career it probably is time to put the foot well onto the gas pedal if you have any chance of reaping some of the major money in the game these days.

Denker is a second baseman-third baseman listed at 5-foot-11 and around 200 pounds, and he is really putting muscle into his swings for the Laredo (TX) Lemurs.  The right-hander’s numbers jump off  the page.  I first noticed his 12 home runs, which are shocking since the American Association season is only four weeks old today (Thursday).  And how about 33 runs batted in for only 26 games.  Both lead the league as does his .374 batting average which jumped several points last night when he singled, doubled, homered and walked in five plate appearances during an 8-6 win at Amarillo, TX.  The Brea, CA product gets on base 48.7 per cent of the time (with the help of 20 walks and only 19 strikeouts) and he is slugging at an .857 pace, meaning his OPS (on-base plus slugging) is a stunning 1.344.

Denker’s career high in homers were the 25 he registered in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system in 2011, and he cracked 22 bombs to share third place in the Atlantic League last season while finishing a two-year stint with the Lancaster (PA) Barnstormers.

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Media Requests, Ticket Sales Growing for Pete Rose Event

The Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish have had less than a week to promote Pete Rose’s one-game appearance as guest manager for next Monday’s (June 16)game against Lancaster, PA, and media requests for credentials to cover the major league hits king’s first time to lead a professional team in almost 25 years has reached 30, including Sports Illustrated, The New York Daily News, NBC and Fox Sports and Getty Images.  If that does not sound so high, realize the Bluefish sometimes do not have any reporters in their press box for Atlantic League games.

Ticket sales have been “very brisk” General Manager Ken Shepard told us today (Thursday), “but are far from a sellout” at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard, where capacity is listed at 5,300.  The Bluefish, who have had supportive dialogue from Major League Baseball where Rose has been banned for years because of gambling while managing the Cincinnati Reds, have assertively organized a $150-per-person luncheon to hear Rose, a $250 meet-and-great prior to the game which includes both a photo and autograph and developed several merchandise items ranging from $20-375, many including autographs.  Shepard believes the luncheon at nearby Housatonic Community College is going to draw a crowd that will approach 200 people.

Indy Leaguers Tabbed for All-Star Games

Two relievers stand out among the seven former Independent players chosen to be part of affiliated minor league all-star games in the next 12 days.  James Hoyt (Wichita, KS,  American Association; Edinburg, TX and Yuma, AZ, North American League) is highest on the ladder, putting his 38-strikeout, 27.2-inning record and 1.30 earned run average on the line in the Double-A Southern League.  He represents Atlanta.

Can-Am League grad Nick Mutz (New Jersey Jackals), who doesn’t turn 24 until Sunday, has a 1.61 ERA for the San Diego club at Fort Wayne, IN of the Midwest League.

Four former Frontier League players were selected for all-star games.  Outfielder Josh Richmond will represent the Chicago White Sox in the Southern League game while right-handers Mark Pope (Los Angeles Dodgers) will be in the Midwest League contest and Jake Sanchez (White Sox) will be in the South Atlantic League game.  Outfielder Jonathan Roof (Boston) was selected to represent the Carolina League, but is currently inactive and outfielder David Peralta (Arizona) is with the parent Diamondbacks, continuing to hit at a .333 pace.

(This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes on Independent Baseball.  Thirty-six columns are planned during 2014.  Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com, enjoy added stories on the blog www.IndyBaseballChatter.com, or comment to RWirz@aol.com.  The authorhas 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)