\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 It is good to see that two of Independent Baseball\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brightest \u00e2\u20ac\u0153finds\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of recent seasons have not gotten lost in the shuffle because injuries interrupted their time in the major leagues.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Chris Jakubauskas <\/strong>has joined the parent Baltimore Orioles<\/strong> and fellow right-handed pitcher Scott Richmond <\/strong>got a brief return call to the Toronto Blue Jays <\/strong>which shows he remains on their radar even though he is now back at Triple-A Las Vegas.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/strong>The pair had somewhat similar paths by coming out of the Big 12 Conference<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u201dJakubauskas was at Oklahoma, <\/strong>Richmond at Oklahoma State<\/strong>\u00e2\u20ac\u201dthen spending a lengthy time in Independent leagues before having their contracts purchased by major league organizations.\u00c2\u00a0 They also logged their first significant major league time in \u00e2\u20ac\u212209 (Richmond won eight times for the Jays; Jakubauskas six for Seattle)<\/strong>, then were sidelined for much of last season, Jakubauskas after being struck by a line drive in his first appearance for Pittsburgh <\/strong>and Richmond with a shoulder impingement.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Jakubauskas, now 32, had four seasons and part of a fifth in the Indy game, peaking with Fullerton, CA (Golden League)<\/strong> and Lincoln, NE (American Association) <\/strong>before signing with Seattle.\u00c2\u00a0 Richmond, 31, spent three entire seasons with Edmonton, Alberta <\/strong>before that franchise, which now is in the North American League, <\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0moved from the Northern League.<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Jakubauskas threw 3.1 decent relief innings Wednesday night in his second appearance since his recall, limiting the New York Yankees <\/strong>to two hits and a run.\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0* * * *<\/p>\n FOR ADDITIONAL INDEPENDENT BASEBALL COVERAGE<\/strong><\/p>\n VISIT www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com<\/a> AND www.IndyBaseballChatter.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n * * * *<\/p>\n Mark Prior Could Be Next<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The next player to step back onto a major league diamond could well be Mark Prior, <\/strong>the onetime Chicago Cubs <\/strong>ace who started the road back from shoulder miseries with Orange County (Golden League) <\/strong>last summer.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The New York Yankees<\/strong>, not as loaded with pitching as in recent years, <\/strong>have the 30-year-old in their sights, watching his every step since spring training.\u00c2\u00a0 The most recent milestone was pitching in back-to-back games for the first time.\u00c2\u00a0 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s when the secondary pitches come into play,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Prior told The Associated Press.\u00c2\u00a0 <\/em>\u00e2\u20ac\u0153It was a step forward.\u00c2\u00a0 My arm feels fine.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n 47 Major League Players Add Luster to Atlantic League Start<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The sweet smell of freshly mowed grass in Independent Baseball stadiums is nearly here, with Atlantic League <\/strong>teams ready to report to camp beginning this weekend and the start of its 14th<\/sup> season only two weeks (April 29) away.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 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.\u00c2\u00a0 Veteran York (PA) Daily Record <\/em>reporter Jim Seip\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <\/strong>research shows 47 such players on the eight rosters, with 11 at Long Island, NY, <\/strong>nine with Bridgeport, CT <\/strong>and eight at Lancaster, PA.<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0 The count increases almost daily.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n Wily Mo Pena, Corey Smith Off to Fast Start<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Wily Mo Pena<\/strong>, who had a hot spring with Arizona<\/strong> less than a year removed from his comeback bid via the Bridgeport (CT) Bluefish <\/strong>in the Atlantic League<\/strong>, has to be getting some attention from the Diamondbacks <\/strong>by ripping three homers and driving in eight runs in his first eight games (7-for-17, .412) for Triple-A Reno, NV.\u00c2\u00a0 Corey Smith, <\/strong>who played third base when Newark, NJ <\/strong>won the Atlantic League title in 2007, also is off to a hot start at Double-A Chattanooga, TN<\/strong>, where he was a Southern League <\/strong>all-star last summer.\u00c2\u00a0 Smith is hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three homers and 10 RBI in six games.\u00c2\u00a0 He was not even a fulltime participant in the Los Angeles Dodgers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.\u00c2\u00a0 Fans may subscribe at <\/em><\/a>www.WirzandAssociates.com<\/em><\/a>, enjoy his blogs, <\/em>www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>www.IndyBaseballChatter.com<\/em><\/a>, or comment to <\/em>RWirz@aol.com<\/em><\/a>.\u00c2\u00a0 The author <\/strong>has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 It is good to see that two of Independent Baseball\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s brightest \u00e2\u20ac\u0153finds\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of recent seasons have not gotten lost in the shuffle because injuries interrupted their time in the major leagues. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Chris Jakubauskas has joined the parent Baltimore Orioles and fellow right-handed pitcher Scott Richmond got a brief return call to the Toronto 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