January 23, 2014

Minor League Update

International Winter League Games of January 22

by Jeff Moore

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Prospects

Yadiel Rivera, SS, Brewers (Criollos de Caguas, PRWL): 1-1. It was a slow night in the Caribbean with only two games between the three leagues, so coming in as a defensive replacement and getting a hit gets you on the list today. Plus, the Brewers system needs all the love it can get. Rivera is a plus defender at shortstop, which gives him a chance to emerge as a legitimate prospect if he can improve his bat even a little bit.

Gregory Polanco, CF, Pirates (Leones del Escogido, DWL): 0-4, 2 K. With just a half-season of Double-A and two games of Triple-A under his belt, the Dominican Winter League is still among the best competition Polanco has faced in his career. Nothing he does or has done this winter negates the role he’ll play on the Pirates in the majors next season.

Eury Perez, RF, Nationals (Leones deal Escogido, DWL): 0-3, K. The fact that Perez, a speed-only player whose defense is his only valuable skill, has been playing on the corners in deference to Polanco should tell you something about the stature of Polanco as a prospect. Perez didn’t hit very well this winter and likely won’t at the major-league level.

Notable Major Leaguers

• Carlos Santana, 3B, Indians (Leones del Escogido, DWL): 1-2, 2 BB. We won’t know until March just how serious the Indians' plans are to use Santana at third base, but if it turns out he can’t play the position, it won’t be for lack of practice. Santana has played more at third base than anywhere else this fall, getting plenty of reps in preparation for the potential switch.
• Irving Falu, 2B, Brewers (Indios de Mayaguez, PRWL): 4-6, 2 R, 2 2B, K. Okay, so Falu isn’t all that notable and may not even be a major leaguer this year, but he had by far the best night in either of the Caribbean League games, so he earned a spot on the list, at least for one evening.