2016-17 Brewers Latin (and Australia) Winter League Updates

[Mass Haas]

As per Baseball America, seven first-time eligible Brewers were drafted by Dominican Winter Ball teams Friday. This doesn't mean they'll see a lot of action, but don't be surprised if their names pop up in a box score or two (or more) --

 

Biloxi RHP Junior Rincon

High-A IF Jose Cuas

High-A RHP Marcos Diplan

High-A RHP Freddy Peralta

Wisconsin RHP Miguel Diaz

Wisconsin OF Carlos Belonis

Wisconsin 1B Juan Ortiz

[Mass Haas]

The Venezuelan Winter League began play October 6th.

 

The lone Brewer farmhand not scheduled to be a minor league free agent this fall to see action so far is 21-year-old Biloxi infielder Javier Betancourt, off to a nice start, as the link shows. The link also shows that as the youngest regular in a Southern League lineup in 2016, Betancourt struggled to a .606 OPS. Betancourt's Caracas teammates include Nyjer Morgan. Betancourt has only seen defensive action at second base thus far.

 

Mexican League play begins 10/11, it's been several years since a Brewer farmhand participated there. Dominican League 10/20, Puerto Rico 10/27.

[Mass Haas]

The Venezuelan Winter League began play October 6th.

 

The lone Brewer farmhand not scheduled to be a minor league free agent this fall to see action so far is 21-year-old Biloxi infielder Javier Betancourt, off to a nice start, as the link shows. The link also shows that as the youngest regular in a Southern League lineup in 2016, Betancourt struggled to a .606 OPS.

 

Mexican League play began 10/11, it's been several years since a Brewer farmhand participated there. Dominican League 10/20, Puerto Rico 10/27.

 

UPDATED: .300/.391/.500 through the seven-game sample thus far for Betancourt.

[Mass Haas]

OF Rymer Liriano (March facial surgery) makes his Dominican Winter League debut Friday night (box score).

[Mass Haas]

24-year-old fireballing RH reliever Junior Rincon, who had a pretty nice run at Biloxi after his promotion there in late June, debuted in the Dominican Winter League Friday night. He pitched well in his team's 4-3 loss, stranding three inherited runners.

 

Box Score

 

Licey Bottom of the 7th

 

Anderson Hernandez walks.

Diory Hernandez singles on a line drive to right fielder Daniel Palka. Anderson Hernandez to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Edward Paredes replaces Miguel Rosario.

Juan Francisco strikes out swinging.

Jorge Bonifacio singles on a line drive to left fielder Lew Ford. Anderson Hernandez to 3rd. Diory Hernandez to 2nd.

Jose Marmolejos called out on strikes.

Rymer Liriano walks. Anderson Hernandez scores. Diory Hernandez to 3rd. Jorge Bonifacio to 2nd.

Pitching Change: Junior Rincon replaces Edward Paredes.

Tony Cruz strikes out swinging.

 

Licey Bottom of the 8th

 

Andrew Aplin reaches on a throwing error by pitcher Junior Rincon. Andrew Aplin to 2nd.

With Willy Adames batting, Andrew Aplin caught stealing 3rd base, catcher Wilkin Castillo to third baseman Rafael Devers.

Willy Adames strikes out swinging.

Anderson Hernandez walks.

Diory Hernandez pops out to third baseman Rafael Devers in foul territory.

 

***

 

In that same game, LF Rymer Liriano finished 0-for-3 (RBI on a bases-loaded walk, caught stealing, one K). Welcome back, young man!

[Mass Haas]

24-year-old fireballing RH reliever Junior Rincon, who had a pretty nice run at Biloxi after his promotion there in late June, debuted in the Dominican Winter League Friday night. He pitched well in his team's 4-3 loss, stranding three inherited runners.

 

I want this T-Shirt, and I don't even know for sure what it says in tiny print across the top.

[Mass Haas]

Saturday:

 

Box Score

 

LF Rymer Liriano on base three times in four trips (single, two walks); now three walks in first two games

 

These teams do play a few "pre-season" games as well, and Liriano hit at least a couple of home runs in that brief schedule, as per the Twitterverse (thank you for translations, Twitter).

[Mass Haas]

Rymer Liriano 0-for-2 (two K's), walk, in his most recent game (box).

[Mass Haas]

Box Score

 

RHP Junior Rincon wrapped up a 13-4 Dominican win -- no earned runs, but certainly not clean.

 

Toros Top of the 9th

 

Pitching Change: Junior Rincon replaces Carlos Contreras.

Eugenio Velez singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Melky Mesa.

Ramon Santiago grounds into a double play, second baseman Eliezer Alvarez to shortstop Pedro Lopez to first baseman Nellie Rodriguez. Eugenio Velez out at 2nd.

Angelys Nina reaches on a fielding error by pitcher Junior Rincon.

Dan Black doubles (1) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Daniel Palka. Angelys Nina scores.

Deibinson Romero reaches on a throwing error by second baseman Eliezer Alvarez. Dan Black scores.

Cesar Puello walks. Deibinson Romero to 2nd.

Juan Duran walks. Deibinson Romero to 3rd. Cesar Puello to 2nd.

Luis Cruz grounds out, shortstop Pedro Lopez to first baseman Nellie Rodriguez.

 

***

 

Also in the D.R., box score

 

LF Rymer Liriano 1-for-2 (walk, HBP - hopefully not the face, K, two runs scored)

[Mass Haas]

23-year-old speedster OF Omar Garcia (Brevard County / Biloxi 2016) started for his squad in the opener of the Puerto Rico Winter League Thursday night (box score).

[Mass Haas]

Well, we do know that the young man, who turns 24 in February, can pitch at sea level and below.

 

Encouraging Jorge Lopez box score from Puerto Rico --

 

Faces one over the minimum in four shutout innings -- 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K.

 

Aguadilla Top of the 1st

 

Jose Lozada flies out to right fielder Jonathan Davis.

Avery Romero grounds out, third baseman Emmanuel Rivera to first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez.

Reymond Fuentes strikes out swinging.

 

Aguadilla Top of the 2nd

 

Luke Voit grounds out, third baseman Emmanuel Rivera to first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez.

Juan Centeno walks.

Ruben Gotay grounds into a double play, first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez to shortstop Benji Gonzalez. Juan Centeno out at 2nd.

 

Aguadilla Top of the 3rd

 

Taylor Murphy strikes out swinging.

Jovan Rosa flies out to left fielder Danny Ortiz.

Jack Lopez grounds out, first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez to second baseman Jesmuel Valentin to pitcher Jorge Lopez.

 

Aguadilla Top of the 4th

 

Jose Lozada flies out to center fielder Henry Ramos.

Avery Romero flies out to center fielder Henry Ramos.

Reymond Fuentes doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Jonathan Davis.

Luke Voit grounds out, first baseman Jonathan Rodriguez to pitcher Jorge Lopez.

[Mass Haas]

23-year-old speedster OF Omar Garcia (Brevard County / Biloxi 2016) started for his squad in the opener of the Puerto Rico Winter League Thursday night (box score).

 

0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter Sunday, 0-for-4 (one K) on Monday; now 1-for-9 (0 BB, 3 K) in the early going.

[Mass Haas]

24-year-old OF Ryan Cordell is 0-for-8 (one BB, two K) after starting games in the Dominican Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

***

 

Javier Betancourt returned to action for the first time since October 19th on Tuesday, with an RBI single in Venezuela (box).

 

***

 

40-man roster member Josmil Pinto began his winter season in the Betancourt game linked above, 1-for-3, two walks, two K's, playing first base.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers prospects Tucker Neuhaus, Malik Collymore head to Australia

Jonathan Powell, OutsidePitchMLB.com

[markedman5]

Brewers #13 prospect Jorge Lopez pitches the first five innings of a no-hitter in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

 

Lopez helms no-hitter in Puerto Rico

Brewers No. 13 prospect allows one baserunner over five innings

By Daren Smith / MiLB.com

 

Box Score

[Mass Haas]

While he did not figure in the decision, Lopez kept his winter ball ERA at 0.00. He's given up one hit over nine innings while striking out six and walking one.

 

Stats

[Mass Haas]

Ryan Cordell, playing RF, 1-for-3 with a walk Friday (Dominican box).

 

***

 

Josmil Pinto, playing 1B, 0-for-1 with three walks Friday, picked off once (Venezuelan box).

[Mass Haas]

Can't help himself -- a Venezuelan fan favorite who played a ton of winter ball last offseason, Hernan Perez, batting 3rd and playing SS, made he 2016-2017 winter debut Friday, 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in his team's 6-4 loss (box score).

[Mass Haas]

Coming to a Venezuelan box score need you soon -- 40-man roster RHP David Goforth.

[Mass Haas]

AUDIO: Latest Rattler Radio podcast, taped Wed. 11/2

 

Kyle Lobner discusses his AFL visit among other topics...

[Mass Haas]

With C Manny Pina set to join RHP David Goforth's Lara squad (Venezuela), that'll make five current 40-man roster Brewers playing winter ball (along with Hernan Perez, Josmil Pinto, and Jorge Lopez).

 

Five non 40-man roster Brewers have seen winter action thus far (OF Ryan Cordell - could be added to the 40-man soon, IF's Javier Betancourt and Gabriel Noriega, OF Omar Garcia, and RHP Junior Rincon.

[Mass Haas]

Saturday's action --

 

CF Omar Garcia had his best game of the very early Puerto Rico season (2-for-4, walk, run) in a 10-2 win (box).

 

***

 

C Manny Pina made his winter debut behind the dish in Venezuela, 1-for-3 (one K) in a 7-1 loss (box).

 

***

 

Gabriel Noriega, playing second base and batting 8th, was 2-for-4 with a run scored in a 5-4 Venezuelan League loss (box). Noriega (stats through 22 games) is riding a seven-game hit streak (11-for-27 - one BB, two K in that stretch). His 80-AB slash line of .300/.317/.413 is stifled by only two walks total. He only walked nine times in 236 Biloxi AB's in 2016.

 

**

 

On opposite sides of this Venezuela box score, Hernan Perez, batting 3rd and playing 3rd base, was 0-for-5 with a K and an error, while Josmil Pinto, batting cleanup and playing first base, was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Pinto's squad won, 10-5.

 

***

 

In the Dominican, RF Ryan Cordell, batting 2nd, went 1-for-3, he was pinch-hit for in the 8th inning of a 3-1 loss (box).

 

***

 

One former (recent) Brewers update - RF Rymer Liriano was a home run shy of a cycle in a 4-for-4 performance (two R, two RBI), and is sporting a .346/.485/.538 line (1.023 OPS) through ten games. In 26 AB's, he has six walks and seven K's. Keep in mind that by dropping him from the 40-man, the Brewers in effect released him, because he would have qualified for minor league free agency if the White Sox (nor any other team) had claimed him.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers prospects Tucker Neuhaus, Malik Collymore head to Australia

Jonathan Powell, OutsidePitchMLB.com

 

By the way, that league begins play December 1st.

[Mass Haas]

Sunday's action --

 

With C Manny Pina set to join RHP David Goforth's Lara squad (Venezuela), that'll make five current 40-man roster Brewers playing winter ball (along with Hernan Perez, Josmil Pinto, and Jorge Lopez).

 

Wait, make it six --

 

Yet another big league Brewer joins the winter ball fray, as RH reliever Jhan Marinez debuted in the Dominican, he allowed two hits and a run but also struck out three in his inning, yet in a quirk, did not strike out the side (box):

 

Escogido Top of the 8th

 

Pitching Change: Jhan Marinez replaces Joel De La Cruz.

Alex Valdez singles on a line drive to right fielder Cesar Puello.

Taylor Motter called out on strikes.

Leones challenged (tag play), call on the field was overturned: Daniel Palka strikes out swinging. Alex Valdez steals (3) 2nd base.

Rafael Devers strikes out swinging. Rafael Devers advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by catcher Miguel Olivo. Wild pitch by pitcher Jhan Marinez. Alex Valdez scores.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Joaquin Arias replaces Rafael Devers.

Leones challenged (tag play), call on the field was upheld: Pablo Reyes singles on a ground ball to left fielder Magneuris Sierra. Joaquin Arias out at home on the throw, left fielder Magneuris Sierra to catcher Miguel Olivo.

 

***

 

In Venezuela (box), Javier Betancourt grounded out as a pinch-hitter.

 

***

 

Once again on opposite sides of a Venezuelan box score, 1B Josmil Pinto was 0-for-4 with a walk and two K's, while Hernan Perez, playing third base, was 2-for-5 with a double, RBI, two runs scored and a K. Perez' team won, 11-5.

 

***

 

Also in Venezuela, catcher Manny Pina was 1-for-2 and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in his team's 3-2 win (box).

 

***

 

In our 4th Venezuelan box score of the night, a new record, Gabriel Noriega, playing second base, was 1-for-5 with a run scored in a 15-11 loss played in a tidy four hours, 20 minutes that ended in a non-Brewers related no-doubt walkoff grand slam -- just a shame the audio cuts out for a bit in the middle of this call, c'mon Fox Sports Venezuela! (Noriega's team lost.)

 

 

[JohnBriggs12]

Can't help himself -- a Venezuelan fan favorite who played a ton of winter ball last offseason, Hernan Perez, batting 3rd and playing SS, made he 2016-2017 winter debut Friday, 2-for-4 with an RBI and run scored in his team's 6-4 loss (box score).

 

Hey he had a month off! Will we see him playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic next spring?