I'll Be Back Before You Know It

In my last post I wrote about guys back in the major leagues this season after two or more years out of the league. Now I want to write about ex-major leaguers toiling away in independent ball.

Looking at the active rosters of all the teams in the eight independent leagues operating this season in the United States and Canada, I found ninety-nine players who have appeared in the major leagues. They might not all be playing to get back to the majors during their playing career (some are player-coaches), but they show up in the baseball encyclopedias and that's good enough for me.

From the leagues with the fewest ex-MLB players to the league with the most, here are where ex-major leaguers go to continue their careers. Players are listed with their years in MLB in parentheses.

Continental Baseball League (0 ex-MLB players)

Frontier League (0 ex-MLB players)

United Baseball League (1 ex-MLB players)

• Laredo Broncos
• Edgard Clemente (1998-2000)

Can-Am League (4 ex-MLB players)

• Brockton Rox
• Mike Smith (2002, 2006)
  
• Nashua Pride
• Rich Garces (1990, 1993, 1995-2002)
  
• New Jersey Jackals
• Luke Allen (2002-2003)
  
• Sussex Skyhawks
• Yohanny Valera (2000)

American Association (7 ex-MLB players)

• Lincoln Saltdogs
• Dusty Bergman (2004)
  
• Pensacola Pelicans
• John Webb (2004-2005)
  
• Sioux City Explorers
• Charlton Jimerson (2005-2008)
  
• Walter Young (2005)
  
• Sioux Falls Canaries
• Pat Mahomes (1992-1997, 1999-2003)
  
• Wichita Wingnuts
• Kevin Hooper (2005-2006)
  
• Dustan Mohr (2001-2007)

Northern League (11 ex-MLB players)

• Fargo-Moorhead Red Wings
• Jimmy Hurst (1997)
  
• Gary SouthShore RailCats
• Tony Cogan (2001)
  
• Brad Voyles (2001-2003)
  
• Joliet Jackhammers
• Juan Diaz (2002)
  
• Kansas City T-Bones
• Rick DeHart (1997-1999, 2003)
• Bo Hart (2003-2004)
• Ken Harvey (2001, 2003-2005)
  
• Schaumberg Flyers
• Jermaine Allensworth (1996-1999)
  
• James Lofton (2001)
  
• David Moraga (2000)
  
• Calvin Pickering (1998-1999, 2001, 2004-2005)

Golden Baseball League (18 ex-MLB players)

• Calgary Vipers
• Felix Jose (1988-1995, 2000, 2002-2003)
  
• Edmonton Cracker-Cats
• Jorge DePaula (2003-2005)
• Orlando Miller (1994-1997)
• Jose Morban (2003)
• Ricardo Rodriguez (2002-2005)
• Long Beach Armada
• Nick Bierbrodt (2001, 2003-2004)
  
• Cleatus Davidson (1999)
• Steve Smyth (2002)
  
• Reno Silver Sox
• Kevin Frederick (2002, 2004)
• John Hattig (2006)
  
• St. George RoadRunners
• Marcos Carvajal (2005, 2007)
• Bartolome Fortunato (2004, 2006)
• Eddy Garabito (2005)
• Wiki Gonzalez (1999-2003, 2005-2006)
• Juan Melo (2000)
• Jose Paniagua (1996-2003)
  
• Liu Rodriguez (1999)
• Yuma Scorpions
• Mike Esposito (2005)

Atlantic League (58 ex-MLB players)

• Bridgeport Bluefish
• Luis Lopez (2001, 2004)
• Henry Mateo (2001-2006)
• Glenn Murray (1996)
• Alex Prieto (2003-2004)
• Jeff Tam (1998-2003)
• T.J. Tucker (2000-2005)
  
• Camden Riversharks
• Alberto Castillo (1995-2005, 2007)
• Jose Lima (1994-2006)
• Felix Rodriguez (1995, 1997-2006)
• Kevin Walker (2000-2005)
  
• Lancaster Barnstormers
• Mike Caruso (1998-1999, 2002)
  
• Ivanon Coffie (2000)
  
• Steve Kent (2002)
  
• Matt LeCroy (2000-2007)
  
• Sendy Rleal (2006)
  
• Shane Youman (2006-2007)
  
• Long Island Ducks
• Edgardo Alfonzo (1995-2006)
• Abe Alvarez (2004-2006)
• Vic Darensbourg (1998-2005)
• Lance Davis (2001)
• Carl Everett (1993-2006)
• Richard Hidalgo (1997-2005)
• Nook Logan (2004-2007)
• Bobby Madritsch (2004-2005)
• Damian Rolls (2000-2004)
• Alay Soler (2006)
• Todd Williams (1995, 1998-2001, 2004-2007)
• Newark Bears
• Edwin Almonte (2003)
• Benito Baez (2001)
• Ramon Castro (2004)
• Will Cunnane (1997-2004)
• Raul Gonzalez (2000-2004)
• Jose Herrera (1995-1996)
• Bobby Hill (2002-2005)
• Ruben Mateo (1999-2004)
• Ramon Nivar (2003-2005)
• Keith Reed (2005)
• Frank Rodriguez (1995-2001)
• Randall Simon (1997-1999, 2001-2004, 2006)
• J.J. Trujillo (2002)
  
• Somerset Patriots
• Frank Brooks (2004-2005)
• Aaron Fultz (2000-2007)
• Brandon Larson (2001-2004)
• Ryan Radmanovich (1998)
• Brian Reith (2001, 2003-2004)
• South Maryland Blue Crabs
• Eric Crozier (2004)
• Greg Jones (2003, 2005-2007)
• Jason Pearson (2002-2003)
• Curtis Pride (1993, 1995-1998, 2000-2001, 2003-2006)
  
• York Revolution
• Frank Castillo (1991-1998, 2000-2002, 2004-2005)
• Wayne Franklin (2000-2006)
• Shea Hillenbrand (2001-2007)
• Aaron Myette (1999-2004)
• Juan Padilla (2004-2005)
• Travis Phelps (2001-2002, 2004)
• Aaron Rakers (2004-2005, 2007)
• Corey Thurman (2002-2003)
• Dave Veres (1994-2003)

Obviously, the bulk of ex-major leaguers flock to the Atlantic League. This makes sense since there are a lot of MLB franchises around the Atlantic League's territory and players get a lot of exposure. Plus, the more former major leaguers there are playing, the more chances you get to show you can beat near-MLB competition.

Keep in mind that these are players showing up on rosters right now. This list doesn't include any players who were released by indy league teams or signed by major league organizations earlier this summer.

Finally, I'm all in favor of putting cows in your team's logo, but when your nickname is the T-Bones and you've got a presumably live (cartoon) cow representing your team it doesn't seem to inspire much confidence in your team's ability to avoid being slaughtered by the competition. :)