Two Former G-Stros Homer For Different Teams In Same Game

In the Atlantic League match up between the Long Island Ducks and the Sugarland Skeeters. Two former G-Stros accounted for all of the runs scored. Both players were from the 2005 edition of the Greeneville Astros. Ralph Henriquez hit a solo home run in the seventh to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead. But Koby Clemens powered a two run homer in the eighth to secure the victory for the Skeeters. Both Henriquez and Clemens were drafted by the Astros in 2005 and were sent to Greeneville to start their pro careers. This is the first full season in independent ball for both players.

Former G-Stros in Indy Ball

Indy ball is an option for players who aren't ready to hang up the spikes and occasionally you will hear of a player being signed from Indy ball back into affiliated ball.  This year, there are 11 former Greeneville Astros playing in four different Independent Leagues.  Here is the list:

American Association:
Mitch Einertson (2004) El Paso
Ryan Mitchell (2005,2006) Amarillo
Colton Pitkin (2007,2008) Winnipeg

In addition to these three, former G-Stro Beau Torbert (2004) works in the front office of the Sioux Falls team as the coordinator of baseball outreach.

Frontier League
Garrett Bullock (2009, 2010) Evansville
Marcus Nidiffer (2010) Travers City
Brad Propst (2011, 2012) River City
Bubby Williams (2009, 2010) Normal

Atlantic League
Ralph Henriquez (2005, 2006) Long Island
Koby Clemens (2005) Sugarland
Wlad Sutil (2004) South Maryland Blue Crabs

Can/Am League
Kyle Greenwalt (2007,2008) New Jersey
Bryce Lane (2010) Newark

When checking these rosters, I came across a few other Astros farm hands who are active in Indy ball.  They are: Neiko Johnson (Gateway - Frontier), Kirk Clark (Sioux Falls - American), Jon Gaston (Rockland - Can/Am).

Koby Clemens A Skeeter

Koby Clemens, who played for the Greeneville Astros in 2005, has signed to play indy ball with the Sugar Land Skeeters.  Clemens, who has played multiple positions over his minor league career, is reported to be catching for the Skeeters. 

Former G-Stros Playing Indy Ball 2012

With independent leagues starting to get underway, I thought we would take a peak at their rosters and see if there are any former Greeneville Astros still playing unaffiliated ball.  I found 10 that are on current rosters, one who has moved to coaching and one who has been naughty and is on the suspended list. I also located at least 12 other guys who played in the Astros farm system on the rosters.  I might have missed one as there are a bunch of indy leagues and teams. 

American Association:
Ole Sheldon (2004) - St. Paul Saints
Bubby Williams (2009/10) - Kansas City T-Bones
Beau Torbert (2004)- Hitting Coach - Lincoln Salt Dogs
Mitch Einertson (2004)- Wichita Wingnuts
Ryan Mitchell (2006)- Amarillo Sox

Other former Astros farm hands in this league: Jon Gaston - Fargo, Chris Salamida - Winnipeg, Matt Cusick - Winnipeg, and Lee Cruz - Kansas City

Atlantic League

Douglas Arguello (2004) - Somerset Patriots

Other former Astros farm hands in this league: Raymar Diaz - Blueport, Collin DeLome- Bridgeport, Lou Santangelo - Somerset, Ryan McKeller - Sugarland, Jimmy Van Ostrand - Sugarland, Drew Locke - Sugarland.

Canadian American League
Bryce Lane (2010) - Newark Bears
Kyle Greenwalt  (2007/08)- New Jersey Jackals
Steve Brown (2006)- Qubec Capitals

Other former Astros farm hands in this league: Anthony Pluta - Newark

Frontier League:
Garrett Bullock (2009/10)- Evansville Otters
Marcus Nidiffer (2010)- Travers City Beach Bums
Josh Flores (2005) - On suspended list of Joliet Slammers

Other former Astros farm hands in this league: Justin Gill - River City Rascals

BA says Santo Luis "had maybe the best arm in independent ball"

Former G-Stro Santo Luis was released by the Red Sox this season and latched on to Lincoln of the American Association.  Baseball American had this to say about the big righty in their write up of those indy players who might get a shot at affiliated  ball next season. 

(Luis) had maybe the best arm in independent ball....Luis has a true plus fastball. It consistently sits at 92-94 mph, and he pairs it with a short slider and a split. His delivery has a lot of effort to it, which explains why he's had trouble with consistency throughout his affiliated minor league career. But at his best, Luis can be dominating, and he's struck out 11.3 batters per nine innings for his minor league career.

At 27, Luis' career chances are getting shorter but here's hoping he can get a look in spring training with an affiliated team and maybe a chance to get a call up for some major league time. 

Indy Ball Alumni Update

Occationally I will get a question from someone out and about about a former player. The question builds my curiosity and I google the players name and find they are playing independent baseball. Indy ball is professional ball but it is not affiliated with a MLB team. The talent level is all over the map when it comes to indy ball and you can often find interesting connections on rosters. Here are some former G-Stros who are playing indy ball this season. If you know of more, let me know.

North American Baseball League
Mitch Einertson - Mitch made a big splash on the G-Ville scene in 2004 when he tied the Appy League home run record as a 18 year old. Off field issues kept derailing him and he was released after he had climbed as far as AA and was suspended for drugs. This year he is playing for the Mighty Warriors of Maui (Na Koa Ikaika Maui) in the North American Baseball League. Mitch is hitting .322 with 6 home runs in 43 games. His manager there is former MLB star shortstop Garry Templeton.

David Dinelli - is actually on the roster with Einertson in Maui. David was the 6th round pick of the Astros in 2007. He never advanced any higher than Greeneville and was playing indy ball starting in 2009. He has a 3.10 ERA in 20 appearances (29 IP) with Maui.

While playing in the NABL, they run across former Astro farmhands Justin Tellem, Rory Shortell, and Lou Santagello who are all still playing in the league.

American Association
Ole Shelton - Ole hit the first home run in the history of the Greeneville Astros. He is still playing ball for the St. Paul Saints of the American Association. Through 39 games, he is hitting .293 and has six home runs.

Jack Frawley - He pitched in Greeneville just last year. He is 2-4 with a 6.10 ERA in 13 starts for the Gary SouthShores.

Santo Luis - the big righty continues to try to make the big leagues after his release by the Red Sox earlier this season. He is yet to allow an earned run since he joined the Lincoln SaltDogs (3 appearances).

Corey Bass - Bass spent two seasons with the G-Stros (05-06). He is in his third season of indy ball and his 6th indy ball team. This year, he is with the Amarillo Sox. He is 3-2 with 3 saves in 22 appearances (31.1 IP).

Ryan Mitchell - Mitchell & Bass are teammates for the second time in Amarillo. Both were on the 2005 & 2006 G-Stros prior to his release in 2007. He has been in indy ball since then. This season, the 23 year old Mitchell is 3-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 13 games (12 starts).

Griffen Bailey - is the 4th member, along with Bass, Mitchell & Luis, of the 2006 pitching staff to be slinging the rock in the American Association . He is 0-2 with a 4.82 ERA through 20 games this season. He started the year with Fargo but is currently with Fort Worth.

Other former Astros farmhands playing in the American Association include Chris Salamida, Jeff Hulett and Matt Nevarez.

Atlantic League
Amadeo Zazueta - is yet another member of the 06 team to be playing indy ball. The Atlantic League is one of the top indy ball leagues. Their rosters are chock full of former big leaguers. Zazueta is back in indy ball after a brief stint last year with the Braves organization. Through 59 games this year, Zazueta is hitting .309 with six home runs.

Some of the other former Astros farmhands hanging out in the Atlantic League include Ryan McKeller, J. R. House and Val Majewski.

Can Am League (Canada American Association of Professional Baseball)
Robert Bono - Bono is 3-0 with a 3.83 ERA in 9 games (7 starts) for the Brockton Rox. He plays for manager Bill Buckner. Bono played for Greeneville in 2007 and was traded to the Marlins in 2009.

Frontier League
Anthony Bello - Yet another member of the 06 team to be playing indy ball. He is 1-3 with a 4.41 ERA in six starts for the Florence (KY) Freedom.

Other former Astros minor leaguers in the Frontier League include Freddy Parejo and Ryan Ditthardt.

That makes 11 former G-Stros playing indy ball, still having fun and chasing the dream.

Beau Torbert Honored By Baseball America

Beau Torbert (Greeneville Astro 2004), won his second American Association MVP title this season. His near miss at hitting .400 for the season earned him the Baseball America's Independent League Player of the Year Honors.

In the article, Beau says he has relaxed more since he was released from the Astros organization in 2007.

"Before I was let go by Houston I put a lot of stress on myself to perform," Torbert said. "When I got to independent ball, I took a mindset that I'm in indy ball now, I can get back to basic baseball and having fun. Ever since I took that approach I try to not let too much good stuff or bad stuff go to my head."

His manager in Sioux Falls had this to say about Beau:

"The thing with Beau that has to be maddening for the opposition is that he'll hit anything," Shirley said. "He's a very difficult guy to pitch to.

"He understands his role is to drive in runs. He'll expand his strike zone because he knows he's up there to drive in a run. I know there are times in the other dugout where they had to wonder how he hit that, because we're wondering it. And he didn't just hit it but rocketed it off the scoreboard."

As for next seasons plans, as the article points out

After all, if .394-24-100 won't get him a contract with an affiliated team, it's hard to see what he can do to change scouts' minds next year.

What's He Up To: Beau Torbert

Wallace "Beau" Torbert was a member of the 2004 Greeneville Astros. He climbed all the way to AAA in the Astros' system before being released in 2007. He went to independent ball where he was then signed by the Tigers. He was released after spring training in 2008 and has been playing independent ball in the American Association ever since.

Beau is playing with the Sioux Fall Fighting Pheasants. He is dominating the league. As of today, he is leading the league in batting average (.390), hits (128), doubles (32), and RBI (87). He is second in slugging (.683) and HR (20). He has only made 2 errors in the field.

Last year, Beau was the MVP of the American Association.

Beau is 27 now. In baseball circles, that is considered your peak age. Here's hoping he gets picked up by an affiliated team soon and gets one more shot at the bigs.

On a side note, tied for fifth in the American Association for home runs is Beau's 04 teammate Ole Sheldon. Ole is playing for the St. Paul Saints.

If there any former Greeneville Astros you would like to know about, let me know and we will try to track them down.