17 Notable MLB Players Currently Playing Independent Baseball
There are thousands of ballplayers in the minors trying to make their way to the show or back to the show. Some will never get there while others, thanks to a hot streak or fortuitous timing, will get the chance to play in a big league park with a big league uniform on their shoulders. Then there are the guys playing independent league baseball, and they have a more difficult road because there’s no direct line or affiliation to MLB clubs. Still, though, it does happen.
Rich Hill, for instance, played for the Long Island Ducks in 2015 after several years in the majors, but it wasn’t until after his independent stint that he really flourished. Now, he’s making almost $20 million per year as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then there are guys like Stephen Cardullo and David Peralta who played indy ball for years without any MLB experience and worked their way up to the bigs.
Ironically, Cardullo is back playing indy ball and that’s because, like small concert venues, indy baseball is mostly a place you hit on your way up…and then on your way back down as you age. And that’s what we’re going to look at here, the former MLB players playing in independent baseball leagues this year. There are plenty of them, and plenty you’ve heard of.
Editor’s Note: There are multiple pages here; the first two pages feature the 12 most notable former MLB stars currently playing indy ball, while the third page will showcase five honorable mentions and three guys who played indy ball earlier this year but have since moved on.
17 Former MLB Stars Currently Playing Indy Ball
Mat Latos, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
Latos is a name you definitely recognize. He played for seven MLB teams between 2009-17 and made over $25 million doing it. Last season, he made his first appearance on the indy ball scene, appearing in 29 games (3.18 ERA) for the Can-Am League’s New Jersey Jackals.
MLB Highlight: In 2010, Latos finished eighth in NL Cy Young voting after posting a 2.92 ERA in 31 starts (14-10 W-L).
Indy Ball: Latos is pitching great out of the bullpen in his second indy ball stint. For the Blue Crabs this year, the DMV’s only independent team, he has a 2.35 ERA in 10 appearances.
Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Long Island Ducks
Though he never made big-time money, Kirk is remembered fondly in Queens for his time with the Mets, which included an all-time great t-shirt from The 7 Line. In total, he wound up playing 414 games across six MLB seasons (2012-17) with the Mets, Angels, and Brewers.
MLB Highlight: Kirk was part of the 2015 New York Mets team that went to the World Series. He was on the postseason roster, as well as the World Series roster, though he went 0-for-4 overall. His best moment of the season came on July 12th when he smacked three home runs in a win over Arizona.
Indy Ball: On a team loaded with former MLB players, Kirk is hitting .286 with four home runs in 105 plate appearances.
Steve Lombardozzi, Long Island Ducks
DMV folks know Lombardozzi well; he played the bulk of his MLB career with the Nats and also had an impressive stint down I-95 with the O’s (.288 BA in 74 ABs). He last played in the MLB in 2017 with Miami and spent 2018 with Oakland’s Triple-A club.
MLB Highlight: Lombardozzi was a key part of the memorable NL East-winning Nats club in 2012. In 126 games, he hit .273 at the plate and played four different positions on defense (2B, 3B, SS, LF).
Indy Ball: Playing alongside his former rival (above), Lombardozzi is .311 for Long Island in 125 plate appearances.
Matt den Dekker, Long Island Ducks
Unlike the three players listed above, den Dekker was in the MLB last season with the Mets. Unfortunately, he went 0-for-18 in eight games, which is potentially the reason why he’s with the Ducks this year. Nevertheless, den Dekker played parts of six seasons with the Mets, Nats, and Tigers, and proved to be an above-average outfielder. Between 2014-16, he had a 1.8 WAR, per Baseball Reference, and that’s not a result of what he did in the batter’s box.
MLB Highlight: In 2015, den Dekker played 55 games for the Nats. In that short stint, he hit more home runs (5)
Indy Ball: Playing alongside his former rival (above), Lombardozzi is .311 for Long Island in 125 plate appearances.
Alejandro De Aza, New Britain Bees
De Aza had plenty of solid years in the big leagues and was once a full-time starter for the Chicago White Sox. And, like Lombardozzi, folks from the DMV area will recognize his name because he played for both the Orioles (2014-15) and Nationals (2017).
MLB Highlight: De Aza was acquired by the O’s in the summer of 2014 (via Chicago) to help their postseason chances. He delivered, hitting .293 in 20 games with a .877 OPS, and Baltimore won the AL East and eventually made the ALCS. It should be noted that De Aza also raked in the postseason, going 7-for-21 with three doubles in six combined games.
Indy Ball: After hitting .260 in over 800 MLB games, it’s not surprising that the big lefty is hitting .353 with a .966 OPS for the Bees this year (25 games).
Alexi Casilla, York Revolution
An above-average defender, Casilla was a mainstay for the Minnesota Twins, playing 515 games combined between 2006-12. After posting a career-high in games played in 2012, he signed a one-year, $1.7 million deal with Baltimore in 2013. He played 63 games locally with the O’s between 2013-14 before his time in affiliated ball came to a close in 2016.
MLB Highlight: Casilla had a few solid years for Minnesota but his 2008 season was arguably his best. He led the American League in sacrifices (13) while posting career bests in hits (108), home runs (7), RBI (50), and batting average (.281). Per FanGraphs, he also had a +1.4 DEF and a career-best 1.5 WAR.
Indy Ball: Now in his third season with the York Revolution, Casilla is hitting .299 in 16 games. During his first two seasons in the Atlantic League, he hit .358 (2017) and .336 (2018).