Former Astros Playing in Independent League Baseball

With Atlantic League Independent baseball (including the local Sugar Land Skeeters) getting started up this week, I looked around to see what former Astros and/or former Astro minor leaguers are currently on Independent League rosters. Here are a few that I've found:

ATLANTIC LEAGUE - Season starts 4/24

Bridgeport Bluefish

C J.R. Towles (30)

Drafted by the Astros in the 20th round in 2004

Played in 155 games for the Astros from 2007 to 2011, hitting .187/.267/.315

Since played in Twins, Cardinals and Dodgers minor league systems

Camden Riversharks

LHP Sergio Escalona (29)

Originally signed by the Phillies out of Venezuela in 2004

Signed with Houston as a free agent in November 2012

Played in 49 games for Houston with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.295 WHIP in 2011

Missed 2012 after a freak injury and played for AA Corpus Christi in 2013

Long Island Ducks

OF Adam Bailey (26)

Drafted by Houston in the 23rd round in 2010

Played three seasons in the Astros minor league system from 2010 to 2012

Played for the Ducks in 2013, hitting .254/.292/.402 with 24 doubles, five triples and 15 home runs

Somerset Patriots

IF Edwin Maysonet (32)

Drafted by Houston in the 19th round in 2003

Played in 46 games for Houston in 2008 and 2009, hitting .276/.317/.342

Played with the Brewers and Cubs organizations in 2012 and 2013

Sugar Land Skeeters

C Koby Clemens (27)

Drafted by Houston in the 8th round in 2005

Played in the Astros minor league system from 2005 to 2011

Played in the Toronto minor league system in 2012

Played for the Skeeters in 2013, hitting .219/.336/.416 with 14 doubles and 21 home runs

RHP Gary Majewski (34)

Drafted by the White Sox in the 2nd round in 1998

Played in the major leagues for the Expos, Nationals and Reds from 2004 to 2008

Pitched in two games for the Astros in 2010

Pitched for the Skeeters in 2012 and 2013 (1.79 ERA and 1.109 WHIP in 62 games in 2013)

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION - Exhibition Games Start 5/4

Grand Prairie Air Hogs

LHP Gabriel Garcia (24)

Signed by Houston out of Venezuela prior to the 2007 season
Played in the Astros minor league system from 2007 to 2012
Pitched for the Air Hogs in 2013 (4.98 ERA & 1.593 WHIP in 9 games/8 starts)

Lincoln Salt Dogs

RHP Danny Meszaros (28)
Drafted by Houston in the 48th round in 2008
Played in the Astros minor league system in 2008 to 2011
Sat out the 2012 season after undergoing TJ surgery
Pitched for the Salt Dogs in 2013 (5.52 ERA & 1.364 WHIP in 22 games)

OF Jon Gaston (27)

Drafted by the Astros in the 7th round in 2008
Played in the Astros system from 2008 to 2011
Played briefly in the White Sox organization in 2012
Played Independent League ball for Fargo-Moorhead, Laredo & Lincoln in 2012 and 2013
Hit .260/.332/.390 with 16 doubles, two triples & three home runs in 58 games last season

Sioux Falls Canaries

LHP Adam Champion (26)  According to Kirk Clark, Adam has retired.
Drafted by Houston in the 24th round in 2010
Played in the Astros minor league system for two seasons in 2010 and 2011
Pitched for Somerset, Evansville and Sioux Falls in 2012 and 2013
Had a 6.29 ERA and a 1.632 WHIP in 24 starts for Sioux Falls in 2013

RHP Kirk Clark (25)
Signed by Houston as a NDFA out of Creighton in 2009
Pitched for Houston from 2009 to 2012
Pitched in 10 games for Schaumburg in 2012

Pitched for the Canaries in 2013 (3.86 ERA & 1.634 WHIP in 36 games)

LHP Joe Bircher (24)
Drafted by Houston in the 10th round in 2012
Pitched in the Astros system in 2012 and 2013 (3.59 ERA & 1.385 WHIP)

RHP Erick Gonzalez (22)
Drafted by Houston in the 15th round in 2012
Pitched in the Astros system in 2012 and 2013 (2.83 ERA and 1.389 WHIP)

OF Drew Muren (25)
[NOTE: I had heard that Drew had been released, but never saw it reported officially. I think we can safely say that is the case since he is now listed on the Canaries roster.]
Drafted by Houston in the 22nd round in 2011
Played in the Houston system from 2011 to 2013, hitting .270/.347/.378

Saint Paul Saints

IF Brandon Wikoff (26)

Drafted in the 5th round in 2009 by the Astros
Played for Houston from 2009 to 2013, hitting .273/.345/.303
Missed virtually all of the 2013 season due to injuries sustained in an auto accident

Winnipeg Goldeyes

RHP Christian Garcia (22)
Drafted by Houston in the 29th round in 2012
Pitched in the Houston system from 2012 to 2013 (4.85 ERA and 1.456 WHIP)

Sioux City Explorers

LHP Kenny Long (25)
Drafted in the 22nd round in 2012 by Houston
Pitched in the Houston system from 2012 to 2013 (4.25 ERA and 1.333 WHIP)

FRONTIER LEAGUE - Season starts 5/16

Traverse City Beach Bums

RHP Alex Gillingham (24)

Drafted by the Rockies in the 11th round in 2011

Came to the Houston system in the December 2012 Wilton Lopez trade

Only pitched in three games for Lancaster in 2013 before missing the remainder of the season due to injury

Normal Cornbelters

RHP Jose Trinidad (27)

Signed by Houston as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic

Played in the Astros minor league system from 2006 through 2012

Pitched for the Cornbelters in 2013 (4.55 ERA and 1.638 WHIP in 22 games/8 starts)

Frontier Greys

RHP Cameron Lamb (24)

Originally signed by the Giants as a NDFA out of Perth, Australia

Drafted by Houston in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft in December 2012

Pitched 40 games at three levels in the Houston system in 2013 (4.60 ERA & 1.517 WHIP)

Southern Illinois Miners

OF Jay Austin (23)

Drafted by Houston in the 2nd round in 2008

Played from 2008 to 2012 in the Astros minor league system, hitting .249/.312/.353

Did not play in 2013

Joliet Slammers

RHP Ryan Connolly (23)

Signed with Houston as a NDFA out of Coastal Carolina in 2013

Pitched in 20 games for the Greeneville Astros in 2013 (5.22 ERA & 1.670 WHIP)

LHP Blair Walters (24)

Drafted by the White Sox in the 11th round in 2011

Came to the Houston system in the July 2012 Brett Myers trade

Pitched for Lancaster in 2013 (1 start at Oklahoma City) with a 7.18 ERA and 1.906 WHIP

Rockford Aviators

RHP Gera Sanchez (24)

Signed by Houston as a NDFA in 2012

Pitched in the Houston system in 2012 and 2013 (4.08 ERA & 1.413 WHIP in 46 games)

I feel certain that I've probably missed a few guys, and there will likely be a few more signing up as the various opening days get closer. If you know of a former Astro playing Independent ball this season that I missed, leave a comment and I'll add them to the list.

I think I'll post this on the sidebar of the main page of the blog so that we can keep an eye on these guys. I don't know about you, but my interest in them doesn't end when they leave the nest. Best of luck to all of the lads!