Now that the Major League season is over, winter leagues are the only source of ball being played these days. If you missed last week's write-up, I tried to provide some context about the leagues and stats. Also, I posted it in the comment section last week, but you can find all the Braves winter league here (including the AFL) for everyone's convenience.
Dominican Winter League
- Christian Bethancourt: 2-17, 2BB/5K – Bethancourt pulled a 1-10 stretch since checking in last week, adding a walk and two strikeouts. Again, don’t get too wrapped up in any of these stats. Last week, Baseball America ranked Bethancourt as the system’s second best prospect for the upcoming 2014 season. To no surprise, they also rated him as the organizations best defense catcher.
- Edward Salcedo: 4-23, BB/5K – Salcedo has always been labeled as a high ceiling type prospect, elevating him on many past prospect rankings. However, recently, many are starting to group him and one of the system’s other 3B prospect, Kyle Kubitza, in the same tier. Salcedo was left off Baseball America’s Top 10 list.
- Omar Luna: 0-4, 3K – Omar Luna finally saw some playing time for Aguilas Cibaenas this week. However, he walked away hitless in four plate appearance, striking out three times. The 27-year-old second baseman posted a .297/.345/.370 slash for Mississippi this season after signing a minor league contract on June 22. He spent time in the Dodgers organization at the beginning of the 2013 season before being released in June.
- Wifrin Obispo: 6.1IP, 5H, 5ER, 5BB, 5K – The 29-year-old was added to the Braves 40 man roster Friday, preventing the team from losing him to free agency. Mark had a write-up of the situation here. Obispo might be able to find his way into the major league bullpen at some point if he can start to control his blazing fastball.
- Yohan Flande: 1.1IP, 3H, 0ER, 0BB, 0K – Not much new on the Flande front; he appeared in his second game of the winter, recording one out while giving up a hit.
- Juan Cedeno: 3IP, 4H, ER, BB, K – Cedeno made three appearances this week, recording two outs. He appears to be reported #LOOGYDuty.
- Jose Lugo: 5.2IP, 4H, ER, 2BB, 9K – The 29-year-old journeyman spent time between Rome and Lynchburg this season after spending the previous two seasons with Mississippi and Gwinnett. Not much to see here.
DNP: Jose Constanza
Venezuelan Winter League
- Ernesto Mejia: 16G, .213/.324/.393, 10BB/19K – Mejia went deep Wednesday night for the third in the winter league season, adding a single. He also had a multi-hit performance Friday night, knocking a single and double in five plate appearances.
- Jose Martinez: 19G, .250/.324/.393, 7BB/7K – Martinez has already collected 60 at-bats in 18 games so far. He collected a pair of hits on Halloween night, driving in a run. The 6’7" 210lb right fielder also collected his second stolen base of the season Saturday night.
- Jose Yepez: 11G, .138/.219/.276, 2BB/3K – Still a 32-year-old catcher in Triple-A with a .261 on-base…
- Emerson Landoni 1-3, BB – Landoni played his first games for Caribes de Anzoategui this week, collecting a hit and a walk. Across two levels this year, Lynchburg & Mississippi, Landoni put up a .284/.332/.396 slash with a 13BB and 31K. The 24 year-old switch hitter was signed by the organization in 2012 as a minor league free-agent after being released by the Yankees.
- Omar Poveda 14IP, 14H, 11ER, 6BB, 14K – Poveda was roughed up the last week in his three inning outing Tuesday. He game up five earned on five hits and two walks. The 26-year-old will likely be back in Gwinnett at the start of the 2014 season.
DNP: Williams Perez
Mexican Winter League
- Daniel Castro: 15G, .161/.188/.323, BB/7K –The 20-year-old struggled this past week (however stats for two games were incomplete, reason #172 not to put too much stock into winter league numbers). He did triple and score a run in Friday night’s game, for his second XBH in 14 games.
- Ryan Buchter: 6.2IP, 3H, ER, 2BB, 15K – Buchter was the other named added to the Braves 40-man roster. As has been mentioned, he is an intriguing piece, simply because he is a lefty who strikes out a ton of dudes. If only the 15K/2BB strikeout-to-walk could hold up against elite level competition. He’ll be an interesting piece to keep an eye on at spring camp.
- Ryan Hinson: 20.2IP, 10H, 8ER, 15B, 16K – Hinson was lit up Wednesday, giving up five earned on three hits and four walks. He should be on pace to make his next start Tuesday.
- Mark Lamm: 3.1IP, 4H, 3ER, 5BB, 3K – Lamm did not appear in any games this week.
- Andrew Russell: 3.2IP, 2H, 3ER, BB, 2K – Russell did not appear in any games this week.