Category Archives: Independent Ball

Independent Ball

Clearing Up Some Issues with the Heartland Of America Baseball League

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There have recently been some questions surrounding the Heartland Of America Baseball League (HoABL) and the Ozarks Pro Baseball League. I wanted to post this email I received today from Art Wilkinson that will hopefully clear up some of the questions.

Kayla,

Please feel free to re-post this at your election.

There has been a great hue and cry about the division of the Heartland 
of America League and Ozarks Pro Baseball, or as it has been referred 
to, “the Ozark League”.

Players should rest assured that the only goal of every person 
employed by the Heartland of America Baseball League is to promote 
great players with drive, desire and talent, into Affiliated Baseball, 
and ultimately into the Major Leagues. The Heartland of America League 
Managers and Coaches include the over two dozen individuals who have 
played, coached and managed at the Major League Level. This talented 
group of teacher/mentors have hand-picked 210 of the country’s best 
players all under 26 years of age, and are fully prepared to move 
forward in support of assisting these players in realizing their 
dream. Our players come from all four corners of the USA, Canada, 
Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Germany, 
and Australia.

From the moment that we entered the arena of Independent Minor League 
Baseball, we took the position that we would not be a local or even 
regional brand. And, while we ARE “The Heartland of America Baseball 
League,” we are a national, international and global exhibition of The 
Greatest Game that God has ever permitted any man to play.

We would like to thank the scores of Major League Scouts who have 
referred players
directly to our league, as well as those baseball executives who have 
recognized the
excellence of our product and brand…before we have even thrown a 
single pitch. Our very first inter-league trade was made, also before 
a pitch has been thrown, when we sent one of our best 
middle-infielders to the reigning American Association Champion 
Wichita Wingnuts.

I want to assure all players who have been signed by any Manager, 
Coach or Executive of the Heartland of America League that your 
contracts are secure, your participation in our league is secure, and 
with your continued hard work and perseverance, your future will also 
be secure. Likewise any player signed to an Ozarks Pro Baseball 
contract prior to May 23, 2015, can also play in the Heartland of 
America League.

We are all here for one single and undivided purpose. Every league at 
every level seeks to use its best efforts to bring the highest quality 
of baseball to as many as will come out and cheer on their favorite 
team, or player.

Our mission has not changed. The strength of our character remains as 
it always was. And, the men and women of the Heartland of America 
League will never retreat from the daunting task of finding, 
developing and promoting the next generation of Major League Baseball 
Superstars.

Play Ball! We know we will…

With Deepest Respect for All,

Art Wilkinson
Executive VP, Baseball Operations
The Heartland of America League

If you would like to find out more about the Heartland of America Baseball League you can check out their website HERE, or check out the Q&A I did with Art, HERE.

Independent Ball

Aussie in America (Part One) – Luke Wilkins

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After five seasons of baseball in the Australian Baseball League (ABL), Luke Wilkins is anything but a rookie to the sport. But according to Frontier League rules, that’s exactly where he finds himself.

Wilkins, who signed with the Washington Wild Things this past off season, is listed as a Rookie 1 (R1) by Frontier League standards.

“The Rookie 1 sub-classification will be for players who made their professional debut in the current season and therefore have no prior professional experience.”

…Or if you played in a league outside of the United States as in Wilkins’ case.

Even though Wilkins is making his first professional appearance in the USA this season, it is not his first time playing baseball in America.  After a successful youth baseball career in Australia, he earned a scholarship to Clarendon College in Texas where he pitched in 2009 and 2010.

After two years of college ball, the Sydney, Australia native began his professional baseball career in 2010 at the age of 20 for the Canberra Calvary during their inaugural season in the ABL.

Next year, Wilkins joined the Sydney Blue Sox and has been a fixture there ever since. For three seasons (2011-2013), he pitched solely in relief, except for one spot start in 2011.  During the 2012 ABL off season, Wilkins went to Europe to pitch for the Royal Greys in Belgium. The extra work helped immensely. His 2013 season was his best yet. He pitched in 21 games – striking out 27 and allowing only one earned run en route to an outstanding 0.28 ERA and pitcher of the year honors for the Blue Sox.

In 2014, Wilkins converted to a starter. He pitched in 11 games with a 5-3 record and had a 3.31 ERA while earning pitcher of the year honors for the second year in a row. He was also chosen to pitch for the Australian National Team, The Southern Thunder.

Wilkins is going to get a chance to help the Wild Things in two different roles this season. The team currently plans to use him out of the bullpen as long relief, and he will also be used in spot starts or at the back end of the rotation when necessary.

He wants to use this opportunity to show American scouts and fans what others in Australia have already known for years.

“In terms of what I want to get out of here… I’ve always been a more statistical guy. I’ve never been the guy with the size or the other attributes that would attract scouts. I think scouts respect putting up really good numbers in American leagues as opposed to international leagues. So now it’s about continuing to put up really good numbers and hopefully those will be taken more seriously here in America and give me a shot to move up in pro ball.”

His first appearance for the Wild Things was as a starter on May 21st.  The weather (rainy and cold) was something he never experienced while pitching in Australia, but that wasn’t a problem. Wilkins went five innings allowing five hits, two walks and one earned run while striking out two. He was in line for the win until the Wild Things lost the lead in the top of the 9th.

Follow along all season to the “Aussie in America” series to find out how Wilkins is doing, what his thoughts are on baseball in America compared to Australia, and more!

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