Like I said before the various independent league seasons started this year, because of the pandemic costing amateurs/minor leaguers a season, because of the reduced draft last year, and because of the shrunken affiliated minor league system this year, there were going to be many more opportunities to sign interesting indy ball players this year than usual. So, the Chicago Cubs really have gone nuts on indy ball signings over the past month. I love it!
The latest is righty Adam Heidenfelder, formerly of the Gary SouthShore Railcats of the American Association. The 25-year-old made nine appearances (two starts), posting a 3.81 ERA over 26.0 innings on 26 hits and 9 walks. What no doubt stood out to the Cubs – together with whatever they saw in person – was the 37 strikeouts. Clearly the guy has some stuff.
Heidenfelder pitched in college at Hofstra and then SUNY Old Westbury, posting good numbers but didn’t get drafted. So he kept grinding, pitching for the independent Rockland Boulders a little in 2020 when the pandemic permitted, and then signing on with the Railcats this year.
Now, Heidenfelder gets a chance to develop in the Cubs’ system. For now, he’s on the rookie league roster (the new name for the league is the Arizona Complex League), which is appropriate for his development, if unusual for his age.