USA – The Sioux Falls Canaries have announced their 2009 Pre-Season Exhibition Schedule, highlighted by the Independent Baseball Showcase at Sioux Falls Stadium on Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.

The Independent Baseball Showcase will feature five games at Sioux Falls Stadium, with each game pitting a team from American Association against a Northern League opponent. The schedule for the Independent Baseball Showcase will be:

Game 1: Friday, May 8 – Winnipeg Goldeyes vs. Lincoln Saltdogs
Game 2: Friday, May 8 – Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks vs. Sioux Falls Canaries
Game 3: Saturday, May 9 – Kansas City T-Bones vs. St. Paul Saints
Game 4: Saturday, May 9 – Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks vs. Lincoln Saltdogs
Game 5: Saturday, May 9 – Winnipeg Goldeyes vs. Sioux Falls Canaries

“We are excited to be bringing together six storied Independent Baseball franchises for this inter-league showcase,” said Canaries President John Kuhn. “Fans will get the chance to see top talent from both leagues during this two-day extravaganza.”

CAMDEN RIVERSHARKS INK FORMER BIG LEAGUER FELIX RODRIGUEZ
The Camden Riversharks announced today that they have agreed to terms with right handed pitcher Félix Rodríguez for the 2009 season. Rodríguez was originally signed as a catcher by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1989, but proved to have a strong pitching arm, and he eventually made the transition to the mound. He made his Major League debut with the Dodgers on May 13, 1995.

Rodríguez brings an impressive résumé with him to the Riversharks. After breaking into the Major Leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995, he became a free agent and signed with the Cincinnati Reds the following year. From there, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and then again to the San Francisco Giants. It was with the Giants where Rodríguez’s career began to flourish, and he became an everyday relief pitcher for the team for five seasons.

From 1999 to 2003, Rodríguez appeared in 342 games for the Giants. During that time, he compiled a 3.01 ERA while striking out 345 batters and allowing only 156 walks. His best season came in 2001, when he pitched 80.1 innings and finished the season with a 1.68 ERA. That year, Rodríguez finished in twentieth place in the National League MVP voting.

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PENSACOLA PELICANS SIGN FORMER ATLANTA BRAVES FARMHAND
The Pensacola Pelicans announced today that they have signed Dan Smith for the 2009 season. Standing 6′5″ and weighing 225 pounds, the 25 year old posted a record of 3 wins and 3 losses for Pensacola in 11 games after joining the team in mid-season. Smith hurled a 3.08 ERA and threw 2 complete games in the 10 he started.

Smith began 2008 with the Mississippi Braves, the double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves before joining the Pensacola Pelicans in midseason. At the conclusion of the Pelican’s regular season, Smith played with Southern Maryland of the Atlantic League for the rest of 2008.

Originally signed by the Atlanta Braves as an un-drafted free agent in 2003, Smith advanced as far as triple-A for the Braves organization, pitching in 14 games for the Richmond Braves. Smith struck out 39 batters in 58 innings with an ERA of 5.43.

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Tags: Independent League