Independent Leagues

Alumni Playing in Independent Leagues: 17
Most Numerous Team: Chico Outlaws (2), Lincoln Saltdogs (2), Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (2)

Cody Walden (Aces '09) was one of 17 Ripken League alumni to sign Independent professional contracts in 2010, but the splash he made was perhaps the largest. Walden earned Rookie Pitcher of the Year honors in the Golden Baseball League after a stellar campaign with the Tucson Toros (he was later traded to the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association).

The award for the most travelled Ripken League alum goes to James LoPresti (Big Train '0), who pitched for a grand total of four different Independent League teams in 2010. You'll find LoPresti on 2010 rosters in the American Association, the Golden Baseball League, and the CanAm League.

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Bodenchuk got one at-bat with the St. George Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League in 2010 and made the most of it, hitting an RBI double and later scoring.

Colmenarez made just one appearance for the Independent Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings of the United League in 2010. He allowed three runs on a hit and three walks in a third of an inning. He logged one strikeout.

Cullen pitched for the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association in 2010, going 5-6, 4.74 in 16 starts and eight relief appearances. He struck out 53 batters in 106.1 innings and walked 38. He also made one start in the playoffs, but was no-decisioned.

Cullen’s contract was purchased from the Independent Lincoln Saltdogs by the Pittsburgh Pirates and he played all of the 2009 season with the Class-A Lynchburg. He went 4-4, 5.01 in 39 relief appearances, with two saves. Cullen struck out 36 batters in 64.2 innings and walked 18. He allowed 39 runs (36 earned) on 64 hits, including six home runs.

Cullen began his professional career with the Independent Edmonton Capitols of the Golden Baseball League in 2008. Following the season, Cullen was traded twice in a span of five days, first to the Reno, then to the Lincoln Saltdogs.

DeLazzer signed with the Independent Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League in 2010. He appeared in ten games, finishing four. DeLazzer allowed ten runs (nine earned) on 25 hits and just four walks in 23.1 innings. He struck out eight batters and did not record a decision.

Edgecombe signed on with the Independent Victoria Seals of the Golden Baseball League in 2010 and later played for the rival Calgary Vipers. He hit .262/.323/.283 for the Seals, with three doubles in 38 hits. He drove in 13 runs and scored 15. For the Vipers, Edgecombe hit .321/.375/.453 in 34 games. He collected 34 base-hits, including six doubles, a triple, and two home runs. Edgecombe drove in 17 runs and scored 17. He walked nine times to 20 strikeouts.

Edgecombe hit .303/.357/.383 as a rookie for the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League in 2009. He collected 79 hits, including 13 doubles, a triple, and two home runs. Edgecombe drove in 39 runs, third most on the team, and scored 30. He walked 23 times and struck out just 33. He was successful on two of four stolen base attempts.

Hinkle went 0-2, 5.76 in 29 relief appearances for the Independent Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League after spending the previous three seasons in affiliated baseball. He struck out 33 batters in 45.1 innings and walked 24. Hinkle allowed 36 runs (29 earned) on 62 hits.

Hinkle worked out of the bullpen for the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League for the majority of the 2009 season, although he also made three spot starts. He went 2-6, 3.53 with seven saves and 65 strikeouts in 74 innings. He allowed 34 runs on 61 hits and 36 walks and held opponents to a .228 batting average.

Hinkle found a niche as the closer for the Columbus Catfish of the South Atlantic League in 2008. He went 3-4, 2.51 with 13 saves in 33 appearances with 67 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 46.2 innings-pitched. He allowed just 15 runs (13 earned) on 32 hits and opposing batters hit just .189 off of him.

Hinkle went 4-2 with a 1.64 ERA in 10 appearances (two starts) for the Princeton Devil Rays of the Rookie-Level Appalachian League in 2007. Hinkle struck out 27 batters in 33 innings and walked just eight. He did not allow a home run and held opposing batters to a meager .186 batting average. He picked up a save in his final appearance of the season, striking out six batters over four shutout innings.

Laber led the Independent Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the Northern League with eleven wins in 2010. He went 11-4, 3.90 in a team-high 19 starts with a team-high three complete games. Laber struck out 75 batters in 131.2 innings and walked 32. He allowed 63 runs (57 earned) on 140 hits. Laber was the Pitcher of the Week in the Northern League for the week ending June 13.

Laber was one of the top pitchers on the staff of the River City Rascals of the Frontier League in 2009. He went 9-4 (tied for most wins on the team) with a 4.48 ERA in a team-high 21 starts and was a Frontier League All-Star Team selection. The lefty tossed one complete game and led the team with 130.2 innings-pitched. Laber allowed 75 runs on 142 hits and 45 walks and he struck out a team-best 115 batters (fourth most in the league).

Lane moved to the American Association in 2010 after spending 2009 in the Can-Am League, and was then traded to the Normal CornBelters of the Frontier League. First, he signed with the Independent Lincoln Saltdogs and went 2-0, 4.50 in 13 relief appearances. Lane struck out 14 batters in 20 innings and walked just three. He allowed 26 hits. With Normal, Lane went 0-4, 3.99 with one save in 23 appearances. He allowed 16 runs (13 earned) on 35 hits and eight walks in 29.1 innings. He struck out 13 batters in the Frontier League.

Lane impressed with the Sussex SkyHawks of the CanAm League in 2009 and Baseball America labeled him as one to watch from the Independent Leagues. Lane went 1-2, 3.48 with two saves in 21 relief appearances. He struck out 22 batters and walked 11 in 33.2 innings. Lane allowed 13 earned runs on 40 hits.

LoPresti pitched for four Independent League teams in 2010. For the El Paso Diablos of the American Association, he appeared in two games and allowed eight runs on ten hits and three walks. LoPresti struck out two batters in two innings. He also pitched for the Calgary Vipers and Yuma Scorpions of the Golden Baseball League. LoPresti allowed six runs on four hits and six walks in seven innings over six appearances for Calgary, and struck out two batters. For Yuma, LoPresti went 0-1, 3.65 in five games (two starts). He allowed nine runs (five earned) on ten hits and eight walks while striking out eight in 12.1 innings. He also appeared in one game for the Schaumburg Flyers of the Northern League, going two thirds of an inning and allowing a run on a hit and a walk. Both outs were strikeouts.

Lowe went 7-4, 4.34 for the Independent Amarillo Dillas of the United League in 2010. He struck out a team-high 114 batters in 110 innings and allowed 81 runs (53 earned) on 127 hits and 49 walks. Lowe made 18 starts and threw one seven-inning shutout on July 7.

In 2009, Lowe signed with the Independent Shreveport-Bossier XX of the American Association and went 7-11, 5.70 in 19 starts, with one complete game. He struck out 60 batters in 102.2 innings and allowed 83 runs (65 earned) on 130 hits and 46 walks. Lowe allowed just four home runs in 2009.

Lowe had a stellar season for the Independent Amarillo Dillas of the United Baseball League in 2008 after two seasons in affiliated baseball. He went 6-1, 3.90 in 14 starts and two relief appearances. Lowe struck out 84 batters in 87.2 innings, and allowed just 48 runs (38 earned) on 96 hits and 38 walks.

Lowe began the 2007 season with the Auburn Doubledays of the Class-A Short Season New York-Penn League and appeared in eight games out of the bullpen before earning a promotion to the Lansing Lugnuts of the Class-A Midwest League. For Auburn, Lowe went 1-0, 2.19 with six saves. He struck out ten batters in 12.1 innings and walked just two. Lowe allowed three runs on seven hits and posted a WHIP of 0.73. For Lansing, Lowe went 3-1, 3.90 in 18 appearances, with two saves. He struck 28 batters in 32.1 innings and walked 15. He allowed 14 runs on 37 hits, including one home run.

Making his professional debut for the Auburn Doubledays of the Class-A Short Season New York-Penn League in 2006, Lowe went 4-2, 4.21 in three starts and 19 relief appearances. He struck out 26 batters in 36.1 innings and allowed 22 runs (17 earned) on 35 hits and 11 walks.

Obal played one game for the Independent St. George Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League in 2010, going 1-for-4. He then played in four games for the rival Chico Outlaws. He collected two hits in six at-bats and drove in two runs.

Obal played three games for the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League in 2009. He collected a pair of hits in 11 at-bats with one walk. Obal drove in one run and scored another.

Overbey signed with the Independent Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association in 2010. He led the Pelicans with nine saves, and went 0-3, 3.09 in 29 relief appearances. Overbey allowed 15 runs (11 earned) on 27 hits and 21 walks and struck out 30 batters in 32 innings. He made four appearances and collected two saves for the Pelicans in the postseason. Prior to signing with the Pelicans, Overbey made four appearances for the Independent New Jersey Jackals of the CanAm League. He allowed five runs on eleven hits and two walks in four innings.

Overbey joined the New Jersey Jackals of the CanAm League in 2009 after reaching Double-A in affiliated baseball the season before. He went 4-4, 3.80 with two saves in a team-high 41 relief appearances. Overbey struck out 30 batters in 45 innings to just 11 walks. He allowed 22 runs on 46 hits and opponents hit .264 off of him.

Overbey went 4-3, 4.12 with one save in 53 relief appearances for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Class-AA Eastern League in 2008. The righty allowed 38 runs on 81 hits and 38 walks in 74.1 innings and he struck out 53 batters.

In 2007, Overbey went 2-4 with two saves in 30 appearances for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Class-AA Eastern League. He struck out 32 batters in 50.2 innings-pitched, allowing 55 hits and 15 walks. He also spent time with the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Class-A Advanced Florida State League and the Lansing Lugnuts of the Class-A Midwest League before earning the promotion to the Fisher Cats. For Dunedin, Overbey went 0-1 in 9 appearances with two saves and eight strikeouts in 10 innings. He was dominant at Lansing, where he did not allow a run in 24.2 innings-pitched over 16 appearances and collected seven saves and 21 strikeouts. Opponents there hit just .146 off of him.

In 2006, Seth appeared in 23 games out of the bullpen for the Auburn Doubledays of the Class-A Short-Season New York-Penn League. He went 4-2 with a 2.42 ERA and 4 saves, and struck out 29 batters in 44.2 innings pitched. He walked just 12 batters.

Pease impressed with the Independent Wichita Wingnuts of the American Assocation before being traded to the Independent York Revolution of the Atlantic League. He went 6-2, 2.46 in 54 games out of the bullpen, striking out 64 batters in 55 innings for Wichita. Pease walked just 19 batters and allowed 45 hits before his trade. Pease allowed seven runs on nine hits and six walks in ten innings for York. He struck out six batters.

Pease went 12-7, 3.85 for the Windy City Thunderbolts of the Frontier League in 2009. His 12 wins were second most on the team and fourth most in the league. He made 21 starts (tied for most on the league) and nine relief appearances. Pease tossed four complete games and struck out 106 batters in 133.1 innings-pitched. He allowed 69 runs on 127 hits and walked 38.

Pease spent the prior two seasons with the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Northern League. In 2008 he went 3-3, 3.16 with one save in 37 games (including six starts). He struck out 80 batters in 79.2 innings and allowed 39 runs (28 earned) on 75 hits and 26 walks. Pease held opponents to a .244 batting average.

He went 1-2 in 29 relief appearances for the Goldeyes in 2007. Pease posted a 3.26 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 30.1 innings-pitched. He allowed 23 hits and 18 walks. Opponents hit just .217 off of Pease in '07.

Robert was traded from the Independent Kalamazoo Kings to the Oakland County Cruisers of the Frontier League in 2010. For Oakland County, Robert went 3-3, 4.39 in five starts and two relief appearances. He struck out 30 batters and walked just 16 in 39 innings, and allowed 24 runs (19 earned) on 44 hits. He tossed a complete game on August 19, allowing just one run on five hits and two walks with six strikeouts. For Kalamazoo, Robert went 2-6, 3.81 in 12 starts and two relief appearances. There, he struck out 63 batters and walked 28 in 73.1 innings, allowing 62 hits.

Robert went 6-7, 4.44 in a team-high 21 starts for the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League in 2009. He tossed three complete games, including one shutout, and struck out a team-best 118 batters (third most in the league) in 140 innings. He allowed 80 runs on 156 hits and 37 walks. The first-ever Ripken League Most Outstanding Pitcher was prone to the longball in 2009, allowing 19 home runs, most among Kings pitchers.

Robert also pitched for the Kings in 2008, going 4-2, 3.79 in nine starts with one complete game. Robert allowed 28 runs (24 earned) on 41 hits and 29 walks in 57 innings-pitched and struck out 37 batters. Opponents hit just .204 off of him in 2008.

Robert went 3-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 20 appearances (one start) for the Bluefield Orioles of the Rookie-Level Appalachian League in 2007. Robert struck out 37 batters in 35.1 innings-pitched. He allowed 39 hits, including four home runs, and 21 walks.

Segal starred for the Independent Chico Outlaws of the Golden Baseball League in 2010. He went 3-2, 0.92 with five saves, allowing just five earned runs in 49 innings. Segal struck out 48 batters and walked just 12. Opponents collected just 34 hits off of him, hitting a meager .189 for the year.

In his second season with the club, Segal led the Long Beach Armada of the Golden Baseball League with 31 relief appearances in 2009. He went 2-1, 1.23 with 27 strikeouts and just seven walks in 44 innings-pitched. Segal allowed just six earned runs on 32 hits and opponents hit just .211 off of him. He collected two saves.

Segal went 1-3, 6.38 with two saves in 27 relief appearances for the Armada in 2008. He allowed 33 runs (26 earned) on 54 hits and 12 walks in 36.2 innings-pitched. Segal struck out 30 batters and allowed just one home run.

In 2007, Segal went 1-0 in eight appearances for the Yankees of the Rookie-Level Gulf Coast League after being drafted by the parent club that June. He struck out 10 batters in 8.2 innings-pitched and worked to a 3.12 ERA. Opponents hit just .219 off of him. Segal earned a brief three-game stint with the Staten Island Yankees of the Class-A Short-Season New York-Penn League but he struggled, allowing five runs in three innings-pitched with two strikeouts.

After signing with the Independent Tucson Toros of the Golden Baseball League in 2010, Walden went on to win the Golden League’s Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award. He went 4-1, 3.44 in nine starts and eight relief appearances. He struck out 41 batters and walked just 13 in 65.1 innings, allowing 33 runs (25 earned) on 72 hits. Walden was then traded to the Lincoln Saltdogs of the American Association, where he started two games, going 0-1. Walden allowed nine earned runs on 16 hits and six walks while striking out six batters in ten innings for Lincoln.

Worthington signed with the Independent Evansville Otters of the Frontier League in 2010, and went 1-1, 3.60 in eight relief appearances and one start. He allowed eight runs on 14 hits and 15 walks with 23 strikeouts in 20 innings.

Yecker made seven appearances for the Independent Sussex Skyhawks of the CanAm League in 2010 after spending the previous two seasons in affiliated baseball. He allowed 11 runs (eight earned) on 13 hits and seven walks in 9.2 innings. Yecker struck out six batters.

In 2009, Yecker went 3-4, 5.57 with four saves in 40 relief appearances for the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League. He allowed 45 runs (40 earned) on 71 hits and 31 walks, and struck out 79 batters in 64 innings.

Yecker had a strong professional debut in 2008 for the Jamestown Jammers of the Class-A Short Season New York-Penn League. He went 2-1, 0.91 in 21 relief appearances, finishing 18 games and collecting nine saves. He allowed just three runs on just nine hits and nine walks in 29 innings, and struck out 36 batters. His WHIP was a stellar 0.61.

Zoltak signed with the Independent Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the Northern League in 2010 and made three starts. He went 1-2, allowing 13 runs on 16 hits and eight walks in 16.2 innings. Zoltak struck out 15 batters. He tossed one complete game.