They gave 41-year-old Pete Rose, Jr., who spent 2005-09 in the Atlantic League, the job of managing their advanced rookie team in Bristol, VA (Appalachian League).
The Chisox only had the son of the all-time hit king in their minor league system for two stints early in his career (1991-96)so they deserve credit for not holding anything his major league-suspended dad did against him. Rose, Jr., played professionally for 21 seasons and only got 14 major league at-bats, all with Cincinnati in 1997.
Rose first stepped onto an Atlantic League diamond when he was 35 to play for Long Island in 2005. He also played for the Ducks in '07 and '08, driving in 95 runs in each of those years. He had shorter stints for Bridgeport, Newark and York. The left-handed hitter, who swatted 53 homers in the Atlantic League, quit playing after 2009 and became a hitting coach at Florence, KY of the independent Frontier League last season.
'SURPRISING' BARTON GETS NEW AFFILIATED OPPORTUNITY
When Brian Barton was playing for Bridgeport early last season, the 28-year-old gave this typist the impression he was a strikeout machine. That is not good for an outfielder hopeful of returning to the major leagues. He fanned 34 times in 91 at-bats with only seven runs batted in (.264, three homers).
But Barton ended up in a Newark uniform, and although the Bears were struggling he caught fire to hit .375 with 24 doubles, 16 homers and 65 RBI in 77 games. He did fan another 72 times in his 277 times at bat, but the production was sufficient that Cincinnati has signed him and placed Barton on their Louisville (Triple A) roster. He has seen limited duty in Venezuela this winter (5-for-17) in trying to be ready to shoot for the majors once more. He already has played for St. Louis and very briefly for Atlanta.
OTHER SIGNINGS
Among other recent signings of former Atlantic League players:
**Minnesota inked catcher Rene Rivera to a Triple-A pact. He started last season with Camden and finished in Class AA with the New York Yankees.
**Baltimore gave former major league receiver Michel Hernandez (Somerset) another Class AAA contract.
**Houston handed onetime Somerset lefty Andy Van Hekken another contract although it is with Class AA Corpus Christi. He had been on the Triple-A Round Rock roster.
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