August 16, 2022

By Devon Teeple

GM’s Perspective

On this edition of the Indy Ball Weekly Perspective, I wanted to continue to dive through all the Independent Leagues searching for those stories that need to be shared. Those stories of players who began their careers in the unknown with their future resting solely on what they can do regardless of where the diamond is.

Left-hander Jared Koenig was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 35th round of the 2014 draft from Central Arizona College. He made his big-league debut June 8, 2022 against the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves. Koenig picked up his first win on June 19 defeating the Kansas City Royals 4-0.

On paper his journey to the bigs is more or less your typical story. Late-round pick toils through the minors for five, six, seven years and finally gets his shot.

Anyone that can play at this level is top tier; best of the best. But what we haven’t heard much about is where this journey through the minors and unaffiliated ball has taken him.

He didn’t sign after getting drafted and the two years that followed was a route through indy ball that the most knowledgeable would be proud of.

In 2017 he pitched for the Monterey Amberjacks in the Pecos League, the Salina Stockade in the American Association, the Birmingham-Boomfield Beavers in the United Shore League and the San Rafael Pacifics in the Pacific League. In 17 combined appearances -- 13 starts -- he had a 4-7 record with a 4.92 ERA, striking out 69 in 71 1/3 innings.

The next season he stayed at San Rafael going 11-1 with a 3.54 ERA with 140 whiffs in 96 2/3 innings. For the 2019-20 winter, he pitched Down Under for the Aukland Tuatara of the Australian League going 2-2 with a 1.93 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings.

For 2019, he pitched in the Frontier League with the Lake Erie Crushers compiling a 7-2 mark with a 3.19 ERA as he struck out 133 in 104 1/3 innings.

After COVID-19 wiped out 2020, the Oakland A’s signed him to pitch at double-A for the Midland Rockhounds. His debut in affiliated ball came seven years after his name was called in the draft and after 53 mound outings in Indy ball. At Midland, he was 7-5 with a 3.26 ERA fanning 100 in 121 1/3 innings.

This year, he started at triple-A with the Las Vegas Aviators going 4-5 with a 4.32 ERA, fanning 84 in 85 1/3 innings.

Then, he made five starts for the A’s going 1-3 with a 6.39 mark as he struck out 28 in 25 1/3 innings.

Koenig has bucked the odds and has shown again that independent baseball is not the end but can be a beginning. Of course you have to have talent. Not just anybody can lace ’em up and take an obscure route to Major League Baseball.

And for those who think that his ​​6-foot-5, 235-pound frame is dialing up 100 mph gas through the zone … you are mistaken. The lefty is eerily similar in his make-up to Denny Neagle, Mark Buehrle or Dallas Keuchel.

Not a flamethrower, but a crafty guy who mixes it up around the zone keeping hitters off balance.

What did we learn today?

1. If you have talent, you’ll get noticed

2. You don’t have to throw 90 to get guys out

Till next time …