January 29, 2014

Minor League Update

International Winter League Games of January 28

by Jeff Moore

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• Eury Perez, RF, Nationals (Leones del Escogido, DWL): 2-5, R, 2 2B, 2 K. This is a very Eury Perez game, complete with gap power and strikeouts. Perez is ending the season on a high note, however, and has had the opportunity to make up for the time he missed this season with plenty of at-bats this winter.
• Eduardo Escobar, SS, Twins (Caribes de Anzoategui, VWL): 1-3, R, HR. Escobar really doesn’t have much power, I swear. You wouldn’t know it given that he’s hit three home runs in the past four nights, but in reality he’s a glove-only player with moderate bat-to-ball skills and virtually no in-game power.
• Deolis Guerra, RHP, Twins (Navegantes del Magallanes, VWL): 1 IP, BB, K. Guerra finished the Venezuelan post-season with a perfect ERA and as a reliable piece of the Navegantes bullpen. How that will translate into major-league success remains anyone’s guess, but the fact that he’s been so stellar gives the Twins a glimmer of hope that they might get something in return for Johan Santana after all.

Major Leaguer of the Night

• Ramon Hernandez, C, Royals (Navegantes del Magallenes, VWL): 4-5, 2 R, 2 HR. The former All-Star catcher has a non-roster invite to Royals camp to serve as Salvador Perez’s backup. Hernandez always had good power for a catcher and if he can do this one or twice in spring training, he may just snag one more year in the big leagues.

Programming Note
The winter leagues that we’ve been following here are wrapping up. The Puerto Rican League has ended and the Venezuelan League ended on Tuesday night. The Dominican League ends on Wednesday. Not to fear, however, as I’ll keep you covered throughout the Caribbean Series, which beings in a few days. That should bridge us nicely until spring training, leaving only a week or two without games before Grapefruit and Cactus League play begins.