December 29, 2014

Minor League Update

Dominican Winter League Pitchers

by Jeff Moore

Printer-friendly

Last week, I recapped all three winter leagues, but if you were paying careful attention, you noticed that all of the players mentioned were position players. That actually wasn’t on purpose so much as the amount of hitting prospects greatly outweighs the number of pitching prospects playing in winter leagues. With the concern about innings totals and the abuse of young arms, this isn’t terribly surprising.

Still, while perhaps not of the prospect variety, there are still a number of notable arms active in winter league action. That’s where this Update comes in.

Prospects

Rafael Montero, RHP, Mets (Leones del Escogido): 6 GS, 22 IP, 21 H, 17 K/7 BB, 4.50 ERA.
While there’s virtually nothing we can take from 22 innings of winter ball work (especially when they come in 3-4-inning stints for a starting pitcher), the good thing that comes from keeping a well-developed prospect like Montero on the mound into the next calendar year is the buildup of innings for next season. Montero crossed the 150-inning mark in 2013, a rarity for a prospect, but lost some time due to an oblique strain this season. If nothing else, his stint in the Dominican this winter allows him to make up for some of that time missed and get his innings total back up near his 2013 level.

Enny Romero, LHP, Rays (Leones del Escogido): 10 G (0 GS), 8.2 IP, 10 K/6 BB, 10.38 ERA.
A late-season cameo in 2013 was thought to be a precursor for a more permanent assent in 2014, but an underwhelming performance last year left Romero stagnating in Triple-A, despite openings in the Rays rotation. There may not be any obvious openings for next season, but when (not if) the Rays need to go to starters 6-9 at some point, Romero will be in the mix. His left arm can still be potent when has his command. He’s working in relief this winter, but winter league roles aren’t always indicative of an organization’s desire. He may profile best in a relief role, but for now the Rays have no indication of giving up on him as a starter.

Other Youngsters

Carlos Martinez, RHP, Cardinals (Aguilas Cibaenas): 3 GS, 12.1 IP, 12 K/0 BB, 2.19 ERA.
Could this finally be the year the Cardinals stick Martinez in the rotation for good? If the winter league is any indication, yes. It’s not, of course, so who knows. The numbers and current roster makeup indicate that Martinez will get every chance to hold onto a rotation spot and after a year primarily out of the pen but with some spot starts, Martinez is still building up some stamina. He’s always had the stuff to be a starter, but hasn’t gotten an opportunity on a consistent basis. That could change in 2014.

Notable Players

Radhames Liz, RHP, Pirates (Estrellas de Oriente): 5 GS, 23.2 IP, 29 K/5 BB, 1.90 ERA.
Liz hasn’t seen legitimate big-league time since 2008, and has had absolutely zero big-league success in his career, but managed to translate that into a guaranteed $1 million contract with the Pirates for 2015. That’s due to a recent resurgence, both in the minors last season and in the Korean Baseball Organization over the three years prior, as well as the Ray Searage effect. For the Pirates, Liz is a million dollar wild card, which is a small price to pay if he becomes a useful bullpen piece or, the ultimate jackpot, a usable starter. The odds are stacked against the entire situation, but recent history keeps me from betting against Searage, his mustache, and a mid-90s fastball.