FORMER ATLANTIC LEAGUER BREAKS ALL-TIME INDY HOME RUN RECORD

Independent Baseball has a new home run king (based on present research), and he is well known around the Atlantic League. Jesse Hoorelbeke, who played three seasons in Bridgeport, is the record-breaker with his milestone homer coming Tuesday night for his current team, Fargo-Moorhead of the American Association.

We will be breaking down all the details in Thursday's Independent Baseball Insider, our weekly subscription publication. Details on subscriptions are elsewhere on this blog.

FELIZ AMONG LATEST TO HAVE HIS CONTRACT SOLD

Camden third baseman Pedro Feliz is back within one step of the major leagues after San Diego purchased his contract. After starting slow for the Riversharks, the 2008 World Series star with Philadelphia picked up the pace, eventually leading Camden in hitting (.298) and on-base percentage (.366). Feliz takes his exceptional glove to Reno, where he will once again be a teammate of outfielder Drew Macias, who the Padres also purchased this week.

LONG ISLAND LIKELY TO MISS YOUMAN AT PLAYOFF TIME

Shane Youman has left the Long Island Ducks after his contract was purchased by a team in Taiwan. This could be a major loss once playoff time arrives next month since Youman, who also has been with four other Atlantic League teams in his career, was 7-1 with a brilliant 0.66 ERA in 13 appearances, including seven starts, for the Ducks.

MILESTONES FOR LOPEZ AND NETTLES

We would be remiss not to congratulate two of the league's best at third base, Luis Lopez of Bridgeport and Jeff Nettles of Somerset. Lopez recently recorded minor league hit No. 2,000 while Nettles became only the second player in league history to record 900 hits.

It has been a record-breaking season for Nettles although we would guess the joy has been somewhat diminished by the Patriots' off season. He will soon become the all-time hits leader since Rolando Avila holds that title at 933. Nettles already owns the league marks for RBI and doubles.

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