Maryvale Minor League Spring Training Schedule and Numerical Roster

[Mass Haas]

Enjoy those back fields in March!

 

[Mass Haas]

By the way, I've asked for a similar screen grab, but in numerical order, both were available last year, and if you're walking the back fields, numerical order helps for quick identification.

 

[Mass Haas]

Currently missing is:

 

Biloxi SS Angel Ortega (maybe a late addition to big league camp?)

 

26-year-old utility man Fidel Pena, who did not see action in 2017 but was with the Timber Rattlers all year in what was seemingly a support role (UPDATE: See Below)

 

Catcher Natanael Mejia, who was re-signed to a minor league deal earlier this winter

 

Infielder Julio Mendez, recovering from last August's on-field cardiac event -- read briefly here an encouraging February 3rd note from the father of DSL farmhand Moises Perez, indicating we'll see new training video soon

[Mass Haas]

There are three players from the 2017 Dominican Summer League teams who are stateside for camp this spring. This doesn't necessarily mean they won't be going back to the Dominican, but if bodes well for them opening on either the Maryvale or Helena squads in June. And other players could be brought stateside in time for the opening of the rookie league seasons.

 

19-year-old Dominican C/1B Luis Avalo is a two-year pro who posted a solid (for the offensively depressed league) .268/.307/.386 line in 2017, and only struck out 17 times in 153 at-bats (just three walks). Behind the plate, he threw out 43% of baserunners in 54 attempts and reduced his passed balls greatly from the prior year.

 

***

 

Here's another Dominican native and a young man to be excited about. 3B/1B Aaron Familia turns 19 in March with two DSL years under his belt. Familia was 13th in the 40-team league in OPS at .876 in 2017. Twenty of the 54 hits for the 6'2" right-handed bat went for extra bases. Familia committed nine errors in his 31 games at third base (zero errors in 25 games at first base), but he'll probably get every chance to stick at the hot corner.

 

***

 

Unlike the players above, on the surface, 18-year-old Dominican native and OF Luis Valdez isn't receiving this invite on merit, as you'll see in his linked stat line. The right-handed bat likely looks the part, though, listed at 6'3", 195 (and probably bigger since that was posted). Last year was his first as a pro.

 

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We should also point out the presence of 19-year-old RHP Victor Castaneda, an intriguing summer signing out of the Mexican Summer League, where he was faring well up against players, on average, 11 years older. Really hoping the Brewers grabbed onto something special with this signing, we won't say phenom quite yet.

[NolanBratt]

Great notes, Jim.

 

Re: Fidel Pena... I believe he has transitioned into a coaching role, which started last year.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYrTWo-BY82/?taken-by=fidelpena1830

[And That]

For what it's worth, Pena is still listed as an active player, on Biloxi's roster. Perhaps just keeping the option open in case of a spate of injuries. Similar to Liu Rodriguez a few years back.

 

A little disappointed not to see Michele Vassalotti on the spring roster, but my guy Aaron Familia is there so I can't complain.

[CheeseheadInQC]

For what it's worth, Pena is still listed as an active player, on Biloxi's roster. Perhaps just keeping the option open in case of a spate of injuries. Similar to Liu Rodriguez a few years back.

 

A little disappointed not to see Michele Vassalotti on the spring roster, but my guy Aaron Familia is there so I can't complain.

Vassalotti was an addition to the one posted yesterday.