Almonte appeared to be destined for Cooperstown, but ultimately never got a shot at the Big Leagues. In the spring of 2007 he did resurface with the Southern Illinois Miners (albeit briefly) of the independent Frontier League. Alomnte made half a dozen starts for the Miners in the teams inaugural season posting a 5.28 ERA and 0-1 record.
He was taken advantage of in 2001 and probably by the Miners in 2007.
Southern Illinois gave him a shot at pro baseball. If they caught lightning in a bottle and he panned out on the mound (both benefited), if not then the Miners received free publicity for the new organization.
The got it on a national level.
Sports Illustrated (Almonte mentioned at bottom of the article)
The signing of Almonte proved to be a savvy move.
"Where is Danny Almonte", or "What ever happened to that former Little League kid Danny Almonte". Questions I hear often from fans at Miners home games.
USA Today story about the Danny Almonte scandal
