BARNSTORMERS GET A SECOND PLAYER BACK FROM TRIPLE-A AND CAMDEN'S PASCUCCI GETS A MAJOR LEAGUE OPPORTUNITY

Perseverance has paid off for another former Atlantic League player who is going to finish the season in the major leagues.

Power-hitting Valentino (Val) Pascucci, a 32-year-old outfielder-designated hitter whose only other major league stint in a decade of professional play was for 32 games with the Montreal Expos seven years ago (2-6-.177), has been called up by the New York Mets after a 21-home run, 91-RBI season at Triple-A Buffalo.

Pascucci played in 14 games for Camden one year ago (3-9-.275) before the Mets purchased his contract from the Atlantic League team. The 6-foot-6 slugger has been at the Class AAA level since 2003 except for the Montreal and Camden stints and a year in Japan, and has hit well over 200 home runs in his career.

The right-handed hitter was the Most Valuable Player for Buffalo this season, leading the International League team in games (130), runs (58), hits (117), doubles (29), extra-base hits (51), walks (76) and on-base percentage (.375) in addition to home runs and runs batted in.

While not an official non-roster invitee to the Mets' spring training camp, Pascucci was called on for several appearances and showed his productive bat.

With several call-ups from various leagues since major league rosters expanded September 1, Independent leagues have had more players at baseball's top level than in any other season. The Atlantic League has been a major contributor. We will have the details all sorted out for this week's Independent Baseball Insider column, which subscribers receive on Thursday.

BENNETT RELEASED BY RENO, BACK AT LANCASTER

While I have not seen an announcement, right-handed reliever Jeff Bennett is once again listed on the Lancaster roster and presumably will be available for the Atlantic League playoffs just as third baseman Terry Tiffee is. Tiffee returned soon after the New York Yankees cut him from their farm system.

Arizona released Bennett, despite a 3-0 record and 4.29 earned run average in 24 appearances at Triple-A Reno. He had been 2-0 with two saves and a brilliant 0.42 ERA in 17 games with the Barnstormers, last pitching for them June 12.

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