From The Big Leagues to Indy Ball
Last month the Billings Mustangs welcomed veteran MLB manager and coach Jim Riggleman as their 2022 field manager. The PBL sat down with Jim to discuss the unique and twisting path he’s taken in his baseball career, most recently from the New York Mets all the way to Billings. In
Last month the Billings Mustangs welcomed veteran MLB manager and coach Jim Riggleman as their 2022 field manager. The PBL sat down with Jim to discuss the unique and twisting path he’s taken in his baseball career, most recently from the New York Mets all the way to Billings.
In speaking with Jim, it was clear that the journey that brought him now to the Mustangs was more than a mere side-trip. He’d known of the Billings club from his time with the Cincinnati Reds, back when the Mustangs were a Reds farm team, watching the many great players and coaches coming up from Billings, hearing only the best about the city, the fans, and the ballpark.
“ Mike Toomey [Mustangs Pitching Coach] and I talked a lot and decided it would be something we both would enjoy doing.” About Billings he says, “I've heard nothing but positive things.”
Riggleman is very familiar with the minor leagues, having played eight seasons between AA and AAA and managed at every level for eleven seasons before launching a 23 year MLB coaching career with eight MLB clubs.
“When I went on to manage in the minors I never had a job I didn't really enjoy.”
Billings, he says, will be the next great adventure in his baseball journey.
When we spoke, Jim had been on the job for only 10 days but it didn’t take long for him to recognize the hard work that independent teams must take on to source players, unlike in big league organizations where the players are drafted and assigned to teams each year.
Now there are choices to make and they must embark on the yearly indy ball journey of creating a roster. Riggleman says he is “Looking for ballplayers” and that “Ideally you have a talented person who is a solid citizen.”
“Talking to the instructors who have these players for days and days and in some cases repeated camps year after year. [They say] This guy is just a winner, he does everything right, always involved in something to help his side of the camp win the game. You take these comments and then you look at the player and say yeah you know what, this guy could be a fit for us. Talent is always the number one criteria.”
At this point, though, Jim doesn't know what the competition will look like this season, and while stats help paint a picture, it’s basically all part of his learning curve.
“You don't know what you get until you get out there, but people are going to pay to watch us play so I’m gonna give them every effort I can”.
He offers a simple, but key piece of advice for players looking to continue their professional baseball experience: “While you're here, you have to help us win each day. When you’re a part of the team's success it can help lead to your own individual success.”
For the first time, Riggleman won't be facing the usual constraints from MLB or MiLB. Everything in the dugout and on the field is his responsibility. Jim will scout, compile a roster, serve as field coordinator, and, of course, as manager. He is going to use his well-developed standards and guidelines formed over years of MLB success to pull it all together. The freedom of indy ball allows him to not be too concerned with analytics, “old school” approaches, or “new school” approaches.
“We are just going to play good baseball. Play hard and good solid baseball. The bottom line, hit it, pitch it, catch it, throw it.”
When we finished our conversation, Jim wanted to reach out to the fans and say that he can’t wait to welcome them to Dehler Field in Billings this May. Like the new kid in school, he’s nervous but excited.
“I’d like to say hello to everyone out there,” says Riggleman, “ I had one year in North Dakota and I loved it, some of the nicest people I ever met in my life. I think I'm going to see a lot of the same in Montana and Idaho.”
The Pioneer Baseball League presented by TicketSmarter 2022 opening day is May 23rd. The Billings Mustangs play their first home game on Saturday, May 28th.
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.
Caglianone swaps jerseys with old friend at Spring Breakout
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Royals top prospect and MLB’s No. 22 prospect Jac Caglianone stepped to the plate in the seventh inning Friday night, he saw the D-backs' outfielders take a step back. Well, maybe a few steps back. Arizona pitcher Philip Abner, watching from the dugout, thought that was
Cards' young fireballer draws ... Kershaw comps?
JUPITER, Fla. -- Dating back to the first time Cardinals roving instructor Ryan Ludwick saw left-hander Quinn Mathews flash his fiery competitiveness and overpowering stuff in a 2024 live batting practice session, one very favorable comparison kept coming to mind. Clayton Kershaw -- a career 212-game winner, two-time World Series
De Vries, Salas show why they're top prospects at Spring Breakout
PEORIA, Ariz. -- It's been precisely one year since the Padres traded for Dylan Cease. Nearly two months later, they landed Luis Arraez. At the ensuing Trade Deadline, they made two major moves to bolster their bullpen. Naturally, those deals depleted the upper levels of their farm system. Still, the