Winter League Update

Update: Gary Kendall and the Surprise Saguaros won the AFL Championship Saturday, Nov. 16. Baysox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez started for the team and pitched 3 scoreless innings. Henry Urrutia went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run scored in the 2-0 victory. Full coverage can be found by clicking the link to the right.

11/04/2013 - With the first month of the Arizona Fall League in the books and a number of other winter leagues in session around the world, Baysox players are keeping busy this offseason.

Winter league baseball provides an opportunity for Minor League players to continue their development and stay in baseball shape during the offseason whether they take the short trip to Arizona, or catch a flight all the way to the Caribbean or Australia.

Just two weeks remain in an Arizona Fall League season and the Surprise Saguaros, managed by Gary Kendall, are rolling with a league-best 13-7-1 record. A number of key Baysox contributors during the 2013 season have also helped to guide Surprise to a 3.5 game lead in the West division with the championship looming Nov. 16.

Outfielder Henry Urrutia has been a highlight for the Orioles' organization, batting .364 (16-44) with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in 12 games. Urrutia ranks in the top-5 in the AFL in AVG, SLG and OPS. Fellow outfielder Dariel Alvarez is batting .213 with seven RBI in 13 games.

A pair of Baysox pitchers also find themselves on the Surprise pitching staff, including LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, who was invited to play in the AFL Fall Stars Game Nov. 2. Rodriguez pitched a scoreless fourth inning for the West on the way to a 9-2 win in the game. He has made four starts for the Saguaros, pitching to a 4.63 ERA in 11.2 innings with 12 strikeouts and five walks. Lefty reliever Jason Gurka has also had a strong Fall League campaign, going 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA in eight games and 9.1 innings of work.

A number of Baysox players are also honing their skills in the Caribbean Winter Leagues in Mexico, Venezuela and the Dominican Republic.

Infielder/Outfielder Garabez Rosa is playing in the Dominican Winter League. Rosa has recorded one hit over four at-bats in five games with Gigantes del Cibao.

Third baseman Zelous Wheeler, RHP Eddie Gamboa and RHP Zech Zinicola are playing in the Mexican Pacific League. Wheeler is 17-for-65 (.262) with four home runs and 16 RBI in 20 games with Algonderos de Guasave. He was also named the Player of the Week in late October. Gamboa and Zinicola are teammates with Mayos de Novojoa where the knuckleballer is 1-1 with a 2.75 ERA over three starts and 19.2 innings. Zinicola is 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA and two saves in seven appearances.

Shortstop Niuman Romero, Catcher Caleb Joseph, Outfielder Lew Ford, Utility Buck Britton, RHP Marcel Prado and LHP Chris Jones are playing in Venezuela. Prado is 1-2 with a save over seven games and 5.2 innings and Joseph is batting .269 (7-26) with a home run and six RBI over 26 games with Bravos de Margarita. Romero is batting .329 (23-70) with four doubles and six RBI over 19 games while Jones has appeared in 11 games and pitched to a 2.45 ERA with Caribes de Anzoategui. Ford has played in 21 games with Navegantes de Magallanes and is batting .291 (25-86) with three home runs and 13 RBI. Britton has recently joined Tiburones de La Guaira but has not yet played in a game.

Baysox Baseball - We'll Knock Your 'Sox Off. The Baysox 2013 season and 20th season of baseball at Prince George's Stadium has come to an end. The Baysox open the 2014 season at home Thursday, April 3. To keep up with Baysox news during the offseason, visit www.baysox.com.