Tag Archives: Frontier League Draft

Independent Ball

2018 Frontier League Draft Results

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As Indy Ball Island has done in the past, we are once again covering the Frontier League draft and what happens to the selected players throughout the season.

This year, 34 players were selected in the Frontier League draft, which is an increase from the 26 players selected last year.

17 pitchers and 17 position players were selected. The even split mirrors what happens last year when 13 of each were taken.

Below is a list of every player taken, their position, and their college or last previous team(s).

1 TRAVERSE CITY BEACH BUMS RHP John Michael Knighton 4 seasons in the Cubs org. Highest level: A
2 WASHINGTON WILD THINGS LHP Jacob Hill University of San Diego
3 GATEWAY GRIZZLIES RHP Ryan McSweeney Walsh University
4 JOLIET SLAMMERS LHP Michael O’Neal Played 1 season of affiliated for Braves (Highest Level AA)

Last year with Rockland (CanAm) and Fargo (American)
5 FLORENCE FREEDOM INF Kent Blackstone Westside Woolly Mammoths (USPBL)
6 NORMAL CORNBELTERS C Brody Andrews Grand Valley State
7 GATEWAY GRIZZLIES INF Jeff Cardenas Northwestern Ohio
8 WINDY CITY THUNDER
BOLTS		 RHP Steven Heilenbach Illinois State University
9 EVANSVILLE OTTERS C Cody Clark
10 WASHINGTON WILD THINGS RHP Griffin Kreig East Tennessee State
11 LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS RHP Andrew Rohrbach Played 2 games in Rockies org in 2014 (Low A)

Spent last season with Gary (American)
12 SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS C Wilkyns Jiminez Union College (KY)
13 WINDY CITY THUNDERBOLTS C Ronald Healy Grand Canyon University
14 TRAVERSE CITY BEACH BUMS LHP William Corsen Carr Indiana University
15 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS C Jerry Chavarria Mansfield (PA)
16 JOLIET SLAMMERS RHP Corey Kimber Was drafted by Padres in 2012. Played there until 2016. Highest Level High A.
17 LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS LHP Trent Lunsford Played with Evansville (Frontier) and Garden City (Pecos)
18 NORMAL CORNBELTERS OF Jean Figueroa Georgia Gwinett
19 RIVER CITY RASCALS C Tanner Devinny Sioux Falls and Winnipeg (American)
20 EVANSVILLE OTTERS C Dylan Hamel Appalachian State
21 FLORENCE FREEDOM RHP Jameson McGrane Empire and Thoroughbred leagues
22 SCHAUMBURG BOOMERS RHP Josh Alberius 1 season with Marlins org. Highest level Low A
23 GATEWAY GRIZZLIES INF Tommy Ziegan SUNY Old Westbury
24 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS C Russell Clark Lincoln Memorial
25 RIVER CITY RASCALS 3B Zach Lavy Gateway Grizzlies (Frontier)
26 FLORENCE FREEDOM 3B Brent Gillespie Gateway (Frontier) and San Rafael (Pacifics)
27 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS MINERS RHP George Capen 1 season Mariners org. Highest level Rookie
28 JOLIET SLAMMERS C Trey Fulton Dayton
29 RIVER CITY RASCALS OF Brandon Pugh Alpine Cowboys (Pecos)
30 JOLIET SLAMMERS RHP Evan Bell Played rookie ball in White Sox org. and with Joplin (American) in 2016.
31 RIVER CITY RASCALS OF Cody Lovejoy Texas State University
32 RIVER CITY RASCALS RHP Jacob Gangelhoff Benedictine (AZ)
33 LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS RHP Max Birdrzycki Pittsburg Diamonds (Pacific)
34 LAKE ERIE CRUSHERS RHP Juan Perez 6 seasons in the Cardinals org. Highest level: High A

 

Follow Indy Ball Island all season long as we take a look at where these players are on opening day, a month into the season, at the All-Star break, and at the end of the season.

 

Independent Ball

2017 Frontier League Draft Class – One Month Later

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We are about one month into the Frontier League season, so it is time to check in to see how the players from the 2017 draft are doing with their teams.

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16 drafted players started the season on a roster for Opening Day. As of June 18th, ten of those players are still on a roster. One player changed positions (drafted as a catcher and has become a pitcher). One is playing both a position and pitching. Two players are on different teams than the one that drafted them. Another player is currently on the DL.

One additional player who was released before opening day is now playing for the team that originally drafted him.

The remaining players:
Aaron Burns (RHP) R1 WildThings – In 6 games (4 starts, 22 IP), he has a 2.45 ERA with 16 K and a 0-0 record.
Cosimo Cannella (1B) R1 Boomers – Has a .266 avg in 17 games (64 AB) with 9 RBI and 1 HR.
Brook Clark (UTL) R1 Beach Bums – He has a .240 avg in 10 games (25 AB) with 3 RBI.
Matt Sabel (LHP) R1 WildThings – He has a 6.23 ERA with 6 K in 9 games (8.2 IP).
Stephen Swagerty (RHP) R1 Rascals – In 11 games (8.2 IP), he has a 0-2 record and a 9.34 ERA with 11 K and 12 BB.
Brian McKenna (RHP) R1 Slammers – Moved from catcher to pitcher. In 10 games (10.1 IP), he has a 2.61 ERA with 9 K and 10 BB.
Kyle Carter (OF) R2 Cornbelters – He has played as both a position player and a pitcher this season. In 5 games (8 AB), he has a .250 avg. As a pitcher, he has pitched in 4 games (5.1 IP) with a 6.75 ERA.
Cody Mincey (RHP) R1 Thunderbolts – Placed on waivers. Picked up by Rascals. He has a combined ERA of 5.25 and 2-0 record with 14 K in 13 games (12 IP).
Ryan O’Malley (3B) R2 Miners – Released by Miners. Picked up by Grizzlies. Placed on waivers. Picked up by Boomers. In 17 total games (49 AB), he has a .224 avg with 4 RBI and 1 HR.
Austin Goss (RHP) R1 Boomers – On the DL since June 3rd. In 5 games (10.1 IP), he has a 4.35 ERA and a 1-0 record.

Steven Pollakov (C) Slammers – RELEASED on May 11th. Re-signed to the Slammers May 13th. He has a .217 avg with 5 RBI in 18 games (46 AB).

The released players:

Chris Amato (SS) R1 Miners – Traded to Thunderbolts. Released May 23rd. Did not play.
Danny Britt (C) R1 Thunderbolts – Released May 23rd. Only played 1 game with no hits and one walk.
Chris Dula (RHP) Exp Grizzlies – Released May 23rd. In 1 game (1 IP), he allowed 2 ER (18.00 ERA).
Colin Kelly (RHP) R1 Grizzlies – Released May 23rd. He had a 10.12 ERA in just 3 games (2.2 IP).
Nick Bozman (LHP) R1 Crushers – Released May 30th. He had a 10.80 ERA and 0-1 record in 4 games (5IP).
Bob Wheatley (LHP) Exp Cornbelters – Released June 13th. In 5 games (all starts – 21.2 IP), he had a 2-3 record with a 7.06 ERA.