11/15/20

John From Albany – Winter Ball Update




It is opening day in the Dominican Republic!


Here are the Mets and ex-Mets in action. 


First off, at 4PM Atlantic Standard Time (3PM Eastern), it is the Tigres del Licey going against the Leones del Escogido.  Former Syracuse Met Ervin Santana will start today for the Tigres.  Top MLB Prospect, the Rays’ Wander Franco is on the Roster for Leones del Escogido in addition to the Rays’ Nate Lowe. 




Next at 5PM Atlantic (4PM Eastern), Ariel Jurado will start for Estrellas Orientales.


Ariel’s 2020 Mets: 1 Start, 4.0 Innings Pitched, 0-0 Won-Loss Record, 11.25 ERA, 2.25 WHIP, 2:0 K:BB Ratio, -0.2 WAR.  Ex-Met, Matt Pobereyko is also on that team.  Matt pitched for Binghamton, St. Lucie, and Las Vegas in 2018.  Julio Franco is a Special Assistant who will also help the coaching staff with the hitters.


They will be playing los Toros Del Este who won the Caribbean World Series Last Year.  Phil Regan is the pitching coach and recently re-signed Mets Minor League Free Agent, Bruce Maxwell, is one of the catchers.


The biggest news surrounding the Toros are the Yankees on the team: Miguel Andujar and Domingo German have been playing this pre-season.  I have not yet seen Gary Sanchez in action but he has also committed to play for Los Toros this winter.  In addition, ex-Mets both Major and Minor Tim Peterson, Jordany Valdespin, Pedro Payano, Raul Valdes, Jenrry Mejia, and Antonio Bastardo are on the roster.




Also at 5PM Atlantic (4PM Eastern), the Gigantes del Cibao takes on the Aguilas Cibaenas.  Former Syracuse Met/Binghamton Rumble Pony Arismendy Alcántara and former Met Juan Lagares are on Aguilas and former Syracuse Met/Binghamton Rumble Pony Jason Krizan is on Gigantes.


In addition, these Mets have been listed on Dominican reserve rosters:  Leones del Escogido - Wagner LaGrange; ;  Franklyn Kilome; Adonis Uceta; Aguilas Cibaenas - Dellin Betances; Amed Rosario; Estrellas Orientales - Robinson Cano.   We will monitor the box scores daily and let you know if they show up. 


Here is today’s Dominican Scoreboard.


The Mexican Pacific League, with end their 11 day shut down due to COVID on Tuesday.


In 17 Games this winter for the Caneros de los Mochis, Mets Minor League Catcher Juan Uriarte is hitting .277, with 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 triple.


Francisco Rios, former Met Minor League Free agent who was on the 60 Man roster this summer, is pitching for the Venados de Mazatlan. In three starts with year Francisco is 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA, 15.1 innings, 17 hits, 11Ks, 8 walks.


Former Met Fernando Salas is pitching for Naranjeros de Hermosillo. 6 saves this winter, 8 games, 7.2 innings, 4 hits, 4 walks, 7 Ks, 0-0, 0.00 ERA. 


Sebastian Elizalde, who the Mets signed as a minor league free agent last winter but was released before the season never making it to the 60 man roster is on the Tomateros de Cuilacan.   In 20 games he continues to rake in Mexico – 77 at bats, 8 HR, 20 RBIs, .338/.373/.740 – 1.1114 OPS.


The Australian Winter League will start their season on December 18 and run until January 24th.  The Sydney Blue Sox have announced that 6 Mets will be on the team.



Besides Francisco Alvarez, Carlos Cortes, Manny Rodriguez, Andrew Mitchell, and Adam Oller have been cited as being on the team too.


Puerto Rico:


Still trying to get details on the Rosters and Schedules for the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente.  One of the teams announced on twitter yesterday that they would be releasing their roster today.  We will keep you posted,


Venezuela: Per Cubs Den:


“There are also reports of that Venezuelan Winter League  will be delayed, but will begin before the end of the year. However, there are still sanctions against Venezuela from the United States government. As a result, Major League Baseball has banned all affiliated minor league players under contract from participating. But with a federal election in November, there is a possibility that situation may change.”


As with all the leagues, we will be checking the box scores daily and will let you know how Mets and some ex-Mets are doing. 

7 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

Hopefully, Francisco Alvarez shows great strides.

In a Cohen Era, virtually all former Mets have zero chance of coming back.

John From Albany said...

Except Sandy

Raw said...

Thanks for your article and tracking the results.

bill metsiac said...

I'm looking forward to your Winter League reports. Is there any way you can designate current Mets farmhands,which are more relevant, from former ones?

I hope that Betances actually plays, to see if he can regain his former velocity. 🤞

John From Albany said...

Bill - Right now just Juan Uriarte is the top prospect that has been playing. He has been hurt the past couple of years so it is good that he is getting regular play.

Jurado is on the 40 man roster and Bruce Maxwell was a free agent signing - that could be it for now.

bill metsiac said...

Thanks for the info. I thought there were more current Mets playing.

John From Albany said...

You would think so - especially with no minor leagues this past year. Look at Tampa Bay - their top prospect is playing. At least the Mets will have 6 players in Australia.