Quebec Capitales’ LHP Miguel Cienfuegos (Laval, Que). Photo: The Sun, Yan Doublet.

October 20, 2022

By Devon Teeple

GM’s Perspective

Making an educated guess and I’d say if you ask the casual baseball fan about independent ball some may know the ins and outs of it. Some may just know of it because of the recent partnering with Major League Baseball and the testing of new rules.

What’s lost in this, and what I hope to share with you, is the level of talent housed under this indy umbrella which encompasses the Atlantic/American/Frontier/Pioneer/Pecos/Empire/United Shore leagues.

What we’re talking about are players who’ve played at the major league and minor league level … those who have been cut or released and are trying to make their way back. There’s the fringe player who was drafted in the later rounds and played one or two seasons in low A ball only to be released after one reason or another. And, of course, the undrafted.

It’s not magic. indy ball is another chance. It’s hope for these players to pique the interest of a scout or affiliate organization to take a chance on them.

My top two pitchers and hitters from each league. In other words, your 2022 All-Independent Team. My picks may not necessarily match up to the league’s official picks, which is fine. Everyone has a point of view and specifics of what numbers hold more value.

Southern Maryland Blue Crab RHP Daryl Thompson

ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Daryl Thompson/Southern Maryland Blue Crabs /RHP

The 2022 season marked Thompson’s 19th year in pro ball and this year he was awarded Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year honours for the third consecutive season. Thompson is the ATL’s all-time leader with 91 career wins, 1,340 2/3 innings pitched, and 968 strikeouts.

Gastonia LHP John Anderson, an ex-Blue Jay.

John Anderson/Gastonia Honey Hunters/LHP

With 14 seasons in pro ball — peaking at Triple-A with the Toronto Blue Jays — at 33, he had a career year going 13-4 for the Gastonia Honey Hunters.

Courtney Hawkins/Lexington Legends/OF

The Corpus Christi, Tex. native has put on the uniform of more than 13 teams in 11 pro seasons. And he still keeps putting up the numbers. The career year I wrote about in 2018 has been eclipsed twice now, including this year with the Lexington Legends where Hawkins has been going Aaron Judge on the Atlantic League pitchers.

At 28, and in the prime of his career, Hawkins matched the Atlantic League record for home runs (Ozzie Canseco, 2000) with 48. His 125 RBIs, 72 extra-base hits and .655 slugging ranked him second in the all-time Atlantic League record books.

Andretty Cordero/Lancaster Barnstormers/1B/3B

He spent the majority of his career in the Texas Rangers organization up until a couple years ago and is another one who put together career highs. His 118 RBIs and .340 average were both second in the league. In September was named to the 2022 ATL All-Star team.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION

Kevin McGovern/Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks/LHP

Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks RHP Kevin McGovern

McGovern has been in the Indy game for over a decade. He has two previous double-digit wins seasons to his credit to go with his 10 from this past year. He led the league in innings pitched at 126 2/3 and also led in strikeouts with 141, which was close to his previous high of 150 in 2012 as a member of the Lincoln Saltdogs and Trinidad Triggers.

Fargo-Moorhead LHP Tyler Grauer. Photo:David Samson,, The Forum

Tyler Grauer/Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks/LHP

Grauer was voted Rookie Pitcher of the Year for the AA and he was in direct competition for Pitcher of the Year with teammate Kevin McGovern. The 6-foot-5 220-pound lefty was top five in wins/innings pitched and top 10 in strikeouts.

Winnipeg Goldeyes’ Max Murphy was the Player of the Year for a third season.

Max Murphy/Winnipeg Goldeyes/OF

A vet of the AA for the past five years, Murphy was voted POY by the league’s field managers, executives, and media reps. The former ninth round pick of the Minnesota Twins, belted 31 home runs (tied for the all-time lead) and drove in 97; good for first in the AA.

Milwaukee Milkmen INF Bryan Torres. Photo: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Bryan Torres/Milwaukee Milkmen/IF

In what could be considered his first full season in pro ball, Torres took full advantage of playing full-time. He set career high in every offensive category including leading the league in batting average (.374).

Sussex County MinersRHP John Baker Photo:Ball State University, Creative Services

FRONTIER LEAGUE

John Baker/Sussex County Miners/RHP

Baker, who put up phenomenal numbers at Ball St., kept that momentum going into his first full professional campaign. In one of the most successful and all-around great performances in AA history, there’s no doubt he garners some big time attention come this off-season. Some perspective – 1st in wins (12), 1st in complete games (3), 1st in shutouts (1), tied for 2nd in ERA (2.67), and 3rd in K’s (122).

Miguel Cienfuegos/Quebec Capitales/LHP

Quebec Capitales manager, Patrick Scalabrini says, Cienfuegos is the “best pitcher in the world because he believes he’s the best pitcher in the world” Cienfuegos backed that up in spades. 1st in ERA (1.79), 1st in wins (10), 1st in IP (131), 1st in complete games (3) to go with 106 SO’s and a 1.015 WHIP.

Tri-City Valley Cats Brantley Bell. Photo: James Franco, Times Union.

Brantley Bell/Tri-City ValleyCats/1B/3B

Your winner of the The Morgan Burkhart Most Valuable Player Award. In his first full season in the Indy’s after playing 2021 with the Reds Triple-A club, he rewrote his own record book in every offensive category, including a league leading .368 BA. He even added 32 stolen bases to his impressive resume.

Quebec Capitales C Jeffry Parra. Photo: : le Soleil.

Jeffry Parra/Quebec Capitales/C

In a game where it’s tough to replicate personal bests Parra did just that. He more than doubled his home runs (32) to take second in the rankings and was 1st in slugging with a Ruthian .714.

PIONEER LEAGUE

Elijah Gill/Billings Mustangs/LHP

***Billings Mustangs/LHP Elijah Gill. Photo: Mike Clark, Nillings Gazette.***

Gill may not be amongst the big dawgs in sheer name recognition, but his overall body of work is very impressive. In 2022 Gill wrapped up his college career going 8-2 for Valdosta St. He appeared in two games for the Williamsport Crosscutters of the MLB Draft League and also led the Pioneer League in ERA (3.26) Overall, Gill started 30 games, went 11-4 and struck out 180 in 173 innings.

Beaux Bonvillain/Billings Mustangs/LHP

The Billings Mustangs rookie was a stellar complement for his teammate and number 1 Elijah Gill. The lefty, who played his college ball at Central Oklahoma, was lights out late in games. He ranked in the top five in saves (10), held opponents to a .197 BAA and was near the top of the leaderboard in K/9 at 13.39.

Missoula PaddleHeads INF Jayson Newman Photo: Peter Hou.

Jayson Newman/Missoula PaddleHeads/DH/1B/RHP

Never known for his home run power, I’m not sure who was more surprised by what Newman accomplished in his second year of pro ball. He shattered records. From 1963 to 2020 the league schedule was 76 games. Newman hit his 27th and record breaking home run in game 65 and finished the campaign with 32. In addition to his league leading 115 RBI, he batted .369.

Idaho Falls Chukars’ INF Dustry Stroup.

Dusty Stroup/Idaho Falls Chukars/SS/3B

Undrafted out of Missouri Western, Stroup has a knack for hitting for a high average and getting on base. His first full season in the pro ranks was no different. His .368/.412/.627 slash line ranked him amongst the best in the league. He was second to Jayson Newman with 24 home runs and cashed in 108 base runners, good for 3rd.

PECOS LEAGUE

Keisy Portorreal/Garden City Wind/RHP

Nine starts, six wins, no losses. 75 Strikeouts, nine walks, 0.91 WHIP. Far and away your Pecos League Pitcher of the Year. Side note, his 11.4 K/9 was below his career average. That’s impressive.

***Monterey Amberjacks LHP Ethan McRae***

Ethan McRae/Monterey Amberjacks/LHP

McRae was the Pecos League Pacific Division Pitcher of the Year. A solid run with Monterey resulted in four wins and a 2.55 ERA. He whiffed 70 in 67 innings. After concluding his season with the Pecos League, he joined the Billing Mustangs in the Pioneer League and went 3-1 in six starts striking out 17.

Beau Dorman/San Rafael Pacifics/C

The Pecos League MVP. In only 47 games, the San Rafael Pacifics’ 1B drove in 80 while compiling a 1.281 OPS and a .429 BA. One year removed from college, and with less than 400 AB’s under his belt, there’s no telling what the future holds.

Jared Gay/Sante Fe Fuego/1B

The majority of his career has been spent in the Pecos League, with a short stint with the Houston Apollos of the AA in 2021. The power numbers were near identical, averaging 23 home runs and 72 RBI. The only difference? A near 100 point increase in his average .(289 to .399) Let’s add in his .886 slugging percentage for fun!

*Tupper Lake Riverpigs RHP Randy Alcantara*

EMPIRE PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE

Randy Alcantara/Tupper Lake Riverpigs/RHP

The former Phillies minor leaguer has been primarily used in relief in the latter part of his career. That was no different in his first full season in the EPL. He went 5-2 and was 2 for 2 in the saves department. A sub 2.00 ERA was very reminiscent of his time in the Phillies org. spanning parts of five years.

Zach Goree/Tupper Lake Riverpigs/LHP

Not known as a big strikeout guy throughout college or during a short stint within the Minnesota Twins organization, 2022 was different. He struck out 55 (2nd in the league) in 34 innings, good enough for a 14.41 K/9 . Goree’s 15 appearances was 2nd best in the EPL.

Mikey Edie/Tupper Lake Riverpigs/OF

Edie is perfection around the bases and he sure pulled out all the stops in 2022. He was a perfect 28 for 28 in SB’s and topped the league with a .435 batting average.

Marcos Estevez/Plattsburgh T-Birds/OF

Second only to Edie in average (.427) and coming in the top five in RBI (33), he had an all-around stellar campaign that also saw him top the ranks in slugging (.906) and finished second in slugging (.546).

Westside Woolly Mammoths RHP Collin Ledbetter

UNITED SHORE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE

Collin Ledbetter/Westside Woolly Mammoths/RHP

Full time starter, p/t closer. Ledbetter did it all. He was in the top two or three in ERA (2.66), opponents batting average (.194) and innings pitched (67). He was also 1st in wins (6), 3rd in K’s with 76, and tied for 5th in saves (5). Not too shabby. Food for thought, he allowed just two home runs all season.

Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers RHP Trevor Jackson

Trevor Jackson/Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers/RHP

If you couldn’t have Lebetter on your squad, Jackson would be a nice alternative. He was neck and neck with Ledbetter in most categories, but did better him in opponents BAA (.178).

Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers C Dakota McFadden Photo: Detroit Free Press.

Dakota McFadden/Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers/C/UTL

The 2021 Pecos League Pacific Division MVP is the United Shore League’s best hitter. He may not have the power numbers that match his counterparts, but his keen batting eye sure stands out. McFadden led the league with a .355 average and was second in slugging and OBP. Most impressive was 109 AB’s with only 18 K’s.

Utica Unicorns 1B **Ari Sechopoulos (Windsor, Ont.) was one of the USBL’s best boppers.**

Ari Sechopoulos/Utica Unicorns/1B

The USPBL league leader Sechopoulos (Windsor, Ont.) in big flies, (13), RBIs (44), slugging (.631), and total bases (89).

Teeple's all-Indy 2022 team includes Canucks Cienfuegos, Sechopoulos