MARK PRIOR COULD JOIN JAKUBAUSKAS, RICHMOND WITH MAJOR LEAGUE TIME

     It is good to see that two of Independent Baseball’s brightest “finds” of recent seasons have not gotten lost in the shuffle because injuries interrupted their time in the major leagues.

      Chris Jakubauskas has joined the parent Baltimore Orioles and fellow right-handed pitcher Scott Richmond got a brief return call to the Toronto Blue Jays which shows he remains on their radar even though he is now back at Triple-A Las Vegas.

       The pair had somewhat similar paths by coming out of the Big 12 Conference—Jakubauskas was at Oklahoma, Richmond at Oklahoma State—then spending a lengthy time in Independent leagues before having their contracts purchased by major league organizations.  They also logged their first significant major league time in ’09 (Richmond won eight times for the Jays; Jakubauskas six for Seattle), then were sidelined for much of last season, Jakubauskas after being struck by a line drive in his first appearance for Pittsburgh and Richmond with a shoulder impingement.

       Jakubauskas, now 32, had four seasons and part of a fifth in the Indy game, peaking with Fullerton, CA (Golden League) and Lincoln, NE (American Association) before signing with Seattle.  Richmond, 31, spent three entire seasons with Edmonton, Alberta before that franchise, which now is in the North American League,  moved from the Northern League.

       Jakubauskas threw 3.1 decent relief innings Wednesday night in his second appearance since his recall, limiting the New York Yankees to two hits and a run.  Richmond got the only hitter he faced out in a quick stop with Toronto a few days ago, and allowed three runs in a four-inning start two nights ago for Las Vegas. 

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Mark Prior Could Be Next

      The next player to step back onto a major league diamond could well be Mark Prior, the onetime Chicago Cubs ace who started the road back from shoulder miseries with Orange County (Golden League) last summer.

      The New York Yankees, not as loaded with pitching as in recent years, have the 30-year-old in their sights, watching his every step since spring training.  The most recent milestone was pitching in back-to-back games for the first time.  “That’s when the secondary pitches come into play,” Prior told The Associated Press.  “It was a step forward.  My arm feels fine.”

47 Major League Players Add Luster to Atlantic League Start

       The sweet smell of freshly mowed grass in Independent Baseball stadiums is nearly here, with Atlantic League teams ready to report to camp beginning this weekend and the start of its 14^th season only two weeks (April 29) away.

      Anyone who likes to watch players with major league experience battle their way back for another opportunity will find plenty to like in the Atlantic League.  Veteran York (PA) Daily Record reporter Jim Seip’s research shows 47 such players on the eight rosters, with 11 at Long Island, NY, nine with Bridgeport, CT and eight at Lancaster, PA.  The count increases almost daily. 

Wily Mo Pena, Corey Smith Off to Fast Start

      Wily Mo Pena, who had a hot spring with Arizona less than a year removed from his comeback bid via the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish in the Atlantic League, has to be getting some attention from the Diamondbacks by ripping three homers and driving in eight runs in his first eight games (7-for-17, .412) for Triple-A Reno, NV.  Corey Smith, who played third base when Newark, NJ won the Atlantic League title in 2007, also is off to a hot start at Double-A Chattanooga, TN, where he was a Southern League all-star last summer.  Smith is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three homers and 10 RBI in six games.  He was not even a fulltime participant in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring training camp, but I still believe he had to open some eyes by going 7-for-12 (.583) with a pair of doubles, three four-baggers and nine RBI in his 10 appearances.

     (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Fans may subscribe at www.WirzandAssociates.com, enjoy his blogs, www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com and www.IndyBaseballChatter.com, or comment to RWirz@aol.com.  The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)