USA - It must be the bloodlines. The 2008 First-Year Player Draft featured a variety of prospects with familiar last names. From sons to brothers, nephews and cousins, all parts of the baseball (and football) family tree were selected in the never-ending quest to uncover the next major league superstar. BaseballdeWorld ...

USA - The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed South African shortstop Mpho Ngoepe who some scouts believe has an outside chance of becoming the first player from his native land to reach the major leagues. The Pirates inked the raw 18-year-old switch-hitter in October after watching him in a showcase of African ...

USA - The Washington Nationals announced they have agreed to terms on professional contracts with three International prospects from the Dominican Republic: 16-year-old right-handed pitcher Pedro Encarnacion, 17-year-old infielder/outfielder Jairo Bernabel and 19-year-old outfielder Aridio Rodriguez. Nationals director of scouting Dana Brown made the announcement. "These signings are a testament ...

JAPAN - Takahiro Suzuki, Alex Ramirez and Michihiro Ogasawara homered as the Yomiuri Giants held off the Seibu Lions in a 6-4 victory in Game 3 to take a two-games-to-one advantage in the Japan Series on Tuesday. Full Article: http://www.japanball.com/news.phtml?id=13396

JAPAN - The Yomiuri Giants won the right to negotiate a deal with highly touted high school slugger Taishi Ota in the first round of Japanese baseball's amateur draft on Thursday. Full Article - http://www.japanball.com/news.phtml?id=13370

USA - Setting the Snappers' All-Time Saves Record (28) during the 2007 season apparently was just the beginning for Rob Delaney. The 6-3 right-hander was honored by Minor League Baseball as their Best Overall Reliever for his performances as a member of both the Fort Myers Miracle and the ...

USA - The Windy City ThunderBolts professional baseball team, 2007 and 2008 Frontier League Champions, is proud to announce that left-handed pitcher Isaac Hess has been named to Baseball America's Top 10 Prospect List for Independent Baseball players. Hess is the lone Frontier League representative on the 2008 list. Isaac Hess ...