DODGERS CAMP NEXT STOP FOR LANCASTER'S JON HUBER WHILE SCOTT GRIMES STILL AWAITS AN OPPORTUNITY

If Jon Huber makes it back to the major leagues this season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, he should be giving credit to the Atlantic League.

After getting 25 American League games under his belt with Seattle in '06 and '07, he slumped badly to a 6.40 earned run average in 52 games for Tacoma, WA in 2008 with Pacific Coast League hitters raking at a .324 clip against him.

Huber spent the first two months of '09 tuning up at Lancaster, where he started returning to form with a win, two saves and a 3.63 ERA in 18 relief appearances. Atlanta purchased his contract, and had the 29-year-old right-hander until early last season when he moved from the Mississippi Braves to the Dodgers' Chattanooga, TN club in that same Southern League.

The Sacramento native was so sharp for the Lookouts he made the mid-season all-star team and saved 18 games (in 36 appearances) while also posting a 3-3, 2.30 record. That has added up to a non-roster invitation to the Dodgers' major league spring training camp.

Huber is the 11th former Atlantic League player to make it onto a major league camp roster, with seven coming via the non-roster route.

CO-PLAYER OF YEAR SCOTT GRIMES SPOTLIGHTED

"Awesome" was Scott Grimes's one word evaluation of being part of York's league championship team of last season, partially explained by the fact it was the first title team he had been on in his five professional seasons.

We spotlighted the 27-year-old centerfielder in Thursday's subscriber-only Independent Baseball Insider column, since he still does not have a job with a major league organization despite the fact he led all of professional baseball with his 138 runs scored last season. He was co-Player of the Year in the Atlantic League along with Lancaster's Aaron Herr.

"I have a love of the game, the competition and being able to play every day," said Grimes. "And I don't take it for granted." He is working at the All-Star Baseball Academy in Downingtown, PA this winter with the belief he will return to York unless a major league organization comes calling.

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