JD Droddy discusses players promoted from Pecos League Part 2 of 2

Part 1 of this article can be viewed here There were other former Triggers who succeeded in higher independent leagues in 2014, including Johnny Bladel (traded to Amarillo Sox in midseason), Chris Escobar (traded to Sioux City of the American Association in midseason), and Frank Florio (Triggers 2013 and the Pecos League Hitter of the Year in 2013), who played for the Frontier League Grays in 2014. All three finished the season with their respective teams and all three were successful. I know the question specifically asked about higher independent leagues, but I must point out that three members of the 2013 Triggers have also gone on to MLB-affiliated teams and done well. RHP Nick Mutz and RHP Eric Yardley played for Padres farm teams in 2014. Both spent part of they year with the Fort Wayne Tincaps (Class A). Mutz made the Midwestern League All-Star team. Yardley was sent to Double-A San Antonio for a five game stint, during which he posted a 3.0 ERA in the Texas League. Nick Rodesky, who signed with the Triggers midseason 2013 and also spent the entire 2014 regular season with the Triggers, was traded to the Phillies after the last regular season game. He was sent to a Rookie League, where he appeared in three games, posting a 1.5 ERA, and was then promoted to the Phillies Class-A affiliate in Lakewood, NJ, where he pitched well for the remainder of the 2014 season. So, all-in-all, I would say that the Triggers who have been promoted have done pretty well after going to higher leagues. We have some others who are going to higher leagues in 2015 (Blake May and Josh Tols going to the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association come to mind), whom I expect to do very well. They are outstanding players. By the way, Tols is currently pitching for the Adelaide Bite of the Australian Baseball League and doing very well. #5 Briefly talk about why teams keep coming to the Triggers for players. First, we recruit high quality players, who have great skill, and who exhibit high character on and off the field. Those who make our team and dont exhibit both of those qualities usually are released during Spring Training or during the regular season. A players own qualifications and performance are the primary factors in getting him promoted. Second, I believe that most of the folks in the higher leagues with whom I have dealt know that I will be completely honest with them about the players. I wont "oversell" a player. I wont sugarcoat anything, including character issues. I will give them my honest assessment of the players abilities. Third, it helps that we have had good teams. When, for example, a team from the American Association is looking for someone to fill a need, I believe they look first at successful teams, whether that be the Triggers, Fuego, Invaders, or Cowboys. I dont think they look to last place teams, at least not as a starting point. That is my opinion; I dont have data to back it up. But, I firmly believe that it is true. #6 Do the Triggers/Invaders really have an upper hand on other Pecos League Teams on getting promoted? I dont think there is an "upper hand" for the Triggers or Invaders – or any other Pecos League team for that matter. As mentioned before, the teams with the best players have the upper hand because they have the most number of qualified players. Those are also the teams who usually have the best records. If White Sands makes the playoffs in 2015 and has several players among the League leaders in pitching and hitting, I would expect that they would send multiple players to higher independent leagues and MLB-affiliated teams. In fact, I believe that the Pupfish sent a couple of guys to MLB-affiliated teams in 2014. Its all about the players – good players have a better chance of being promoted. #7 What is your thoughts on 25 and under in Pecos League. I have mixed feelings about it. I understand the rule because we are an entry-level league that is primarily about opportunity. Players in their 30s probably have reached their potential and playing in this league doesnt give them the opportunity to go higher. It is probably time for them to find a different career. However, there are circumstances when a 26 or 27 year old still may have much to contribute to a team and even the potential to advance, especially to a higher independent league. The Commissioner can, when circumstances warrant it, grant an age waiver for a player. As long as that authority is exercised in the right circumstances (and only the right circumstances), I think it is a good rule. #8 There are so many winter leagues and what you take is on the players chances are that attend the Winter Leagues? The Frontier League hosts its own tryout that guarantees each team draft 3 players.Well, first I should point out that the Pecos League has scores of pro baseball jobs available. Every player who attends the Pecos Spring League is guaranteed to be drafted and sent to Spring Training with one of the Pecos League teams. And a large number of those make regular season rosters in the Pecos League. Each year, I see several Pecos Spring League players participating in the Pecos League All-Star game. To my knowledge, none of the Winter leagues have anything like that in terms of opportunity. While some of them advertise that scouts from other leagues look for players at their Winter league, none of them put anywhere near the number of players in professional baseball as the Pecos Spring League. As far as the Frontier League tryout is concerned, I must refer back to my answer to question #3. The Frontier League is a quality league, but it isnt very rookie friendly. Even though the teams may draft three players each from the Frontier League tryout, I dont see a lot of those players making regular season rosters. We hear from a lot of these guys at the end of the Frontier League Spring Training period who have been released and are looking for a job in the Pecos League. And, as I said before, by then there arent that many roster spots to be filled by Pecos League teams. Part 2 of this article can be viewed here