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Winter League Report, November 12

November 12, 2012
Untitled Document

I-CUBS WINTER LEAGUE UPDATE
November 12, 2012

All four of the Caribbean Leagues are now underway and the Arizona Fall Leauge enters its final week of play. We've got updates on all of the former I-Cubs and Cubs prospects in action pluse a full list for former I-Cubs that are minor league free agents. Come back each week to keep tabs on your favorite players getting ready for 2013.

TRANSACTIONS:
Reports say the Chicago Cubs were active in talks with other teams during the General Managers' meetings last week, but it's still early for teams to pull the trigger on any moves. The Cubs did bring back RHP Marcos Mateo (2010-11 with Iowa) and IF Jonathan Mota (2010-12) on minor league contracts and added minor league free agent IF Edwin Maysonet. Maysonet hit .208 in 69 games with Nashville last year and .250 (15-for-60) with a homer and four RBI in 30 games for the Milwaukee Brewers. His only homer was a grand slam against the Cubs off Chris Volstad on May 12 in Milwaukee. Mateo and Mota both missed most of last season with right elbow injuries. The Baltimore Orioles re-signed C Chris Robinson (2007, '09-11) on a minor league contract and the Philadelphia Phillies brought back SS Andres Blanco (2008-09) on the same terms. On the coaching front, the St. Louis Cardinals named Blaise Ilsley (1993-94) as their bullpen coach. Ilsley had been the Memphis pitching coach since 2008. Baseball America posted a complete list of minor league free agents on November 6. That list included 41 former I-Cubs: Josh Kroeger (ATL), Felix Pie (ATL), Marquez Smith (BOS), Justin Berg (CHC), Rodrigo Lopez (CHC), Seth McClung (CHC), Blake Parker (CHC), Miguel Socolovich (CHC), Horacio Ramirez (CHC), Ryan Rowland-Smith (CHC), Juan Apodaca (CHC), Brian Esposito (CHC), Adrian Cardenas (CHC), David Macias (CHC), Diory Hernandez (CHC), Nate Samson (CHC), Alfredo Amezaga (CHC), Matt Tolbert (CHC), Jim Adduci (CHC), Jeff Frazier (CHC), Shane Lindsay (CWS), Sean Gallagher (CIN), Will Ohman (CIN), Austin Bibens-Dirkx (COL), Brendan Harris (COL), Brad Snyder (HOU), Doug Davis (KC), Doug Deeds (LAA), Angel Guzman (LAD), Mike Parisi (LAD), Gary Glover (MIA), Corey Patterson (MIL), Jeff Gray (MIN), Jeff Stevens (NYM), Ramon Ortiz (NYY), Blake Lalli (OAK), Jake Fox (PHI), Lou Montanez (STL), Nate Robertson (TOR), Mitch Atkins (WAS), and Mike MacDougal (WAS). Click on a players' name to check out their stats from 2012.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE:

Magallanes has moved into first place with a 15-10 record. Zulia is just a half-game back at 14-10 and three teams are tied for second, two games back. IF Ronny Cedeno (2004-05, '07) has hit in six straight games for Aragua, going 11-for-26 (.423) with a double and two runs scored. It was a tougher week for several other hitters. OF Jackson Melian (2003) is 5-for-30 (.167) with two RBI in his last 10 games for Margarita. C Max Ramirez (2010) is 1-for-17 in his last four games for the Bravos, but is still 10th in the league in batting (.328). OF Dave Sappelt (2012) joined Margarita and made his debut on Sunday, going 2-for-5 with a run scored. IF Luis Valbuena (2012) is 3-for-19 (.158) with a homer and three RBI in his last six games, but is still fifth in the league in on-base percentage (.441). Cubs' prospect OF Jae-Hoon Ha is 3-for-16 (.188) in his last eight games. On the mound, RH Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2010-11) has struck out 16 batters in 10.1 innings over his last two starts and has an amazing 19 strikeouts to just one walk ratio through 16 innings pitched. RH Yoanner Negrin (2012) allowed four runs in five innings and didn't figure in the decision of his last start on Nov. 8 at Aragua. He is eighth in the leauge in ERA (2.38). LH Renyel Pinto (2004-05) had a good bounce-back start on Nov. 7 against Lara. He fired five shutout innings in a win after a rough first outing.

REGULAR SEASON STATS:

Player Team

Yr(s) with I-Cubs

AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
Juan Apodaca Zulia 2012
.229
14
35
5
8
0
1
0
4
6
8
0
0
.333
.286
.619
Andres Blanco Magallanes 2008-09
.167
19
54
8
9
1
1
0
4
12
17
0
0
.333
.222
.556
Henry Blanco Margarita 2007
.093
17
43
2
4
0
0
1
4
5
16
0
0
.180
.163
.343
Ronny Cedeno Aragua 2004-05, '07
.324
8
34
2
11
1
0
0
1
1
6
0
1
.343
.353
.696
Robinson Chirinos Magallanes 2010
.158
6
19
1
3
0
0
0
0
4
9
0
0
.304
.158
.462
Jae-Hoon Ha Aragua Cubs Prospect
.213
17
47
3
10
2
0
0
3
5
16
4
0
.288
.255
.544
Josh Kroeger Caracas 2007-08
.194
10
31
4
6
1
0
0
3
10
3
2
1
.419
.226
.644
Jackson Melian Margarita 2003
.306
19
62
10
19
4
0
4
16
9
18
1
2
.436
.565

1.000

Max Ramirez Margarita 2011
.328
18
61
9
20
3
0
0
3
6
7
0
0
.388
.377
.765
Luis Valbuena Lara 2012
.302
16
53
8
16
5
0
1
7
13
11
0
0
.441
.453
.894
Ty Wright Aragua 2010-12
.247
20
73
6
18
3
2
1
4
0
13
0
0
.257
.384
.640

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Jackson Melian: .556 SLG (5)
Max Ramirez:
.328 AVG (10)
Luis Valbuena:
.441 OBP (5)
Ty Wright:
2TRPL (T2)

Pitcher Team Yr(s) with I-Cubs
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
SVO
IP
H
R
ER
HR
HB
BB
IBB
SO
WP

OPP AVG.

Austin Bibens-Dirkx Zulia 2010-11
0
0
1.69
4
3
1
1
16.0
14
3
3
0
0
1
0
19
0
.237
Yoanner Negrin Caracas 2012
2
1
2.93
6
6
0
0
27.2
29
9
9
3
2
8
0
23
0
.271
Renyel Pinto Caribes 2004-05
1
1
4.70
2
2
0
0
7.2
8
4
4
2
2
4
0
5
0
.276
Les Walrond La Guaira 2006-08
0
1
3.63
5
5
0
0
22.1
29
11
9
1
1
11
0
17
0
.322

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Yoanner Negrin: 2.93 ERA (8)

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE:

Aguilas Cibaenas (13-8) remains on top in the standings, but Toros del Este (12-8) has won four in a row to pull within a half-game. Estrellas de Oriente (13-9) is also just a half-game back in a virtual tie for second place. SS Junior Lake had a huge week at the plate. He hit .458 (11-for-24) with five doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored in seven games. He jumped to fourth in the league with a .344 overall average. OF Felix Pie (2006-08) is hitting just .120 (3-for-25) in his last seven games, but has drawn five walks and leads the league with 16 base on balls on the year. RH's Michael Bowden (2012) and Frankie De La Cruz (2012) had rough starts this week. Bowden allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits in an inning and a third in a loss at Estrellas on Nov. 7. De La Cruz was charged with four runs (two earned) on no hits and four walks in a third of an inning in a loss at Toros del Este on Nov. 9. RH Jeff Antigua was charged with four runs on four hits in a third of an inning on Nov. 7 at Licey. Those are the only runs he has allowed in his last seven appearances. RH Jairo Asencio (2012), who just signed with Milwaukee last week, continues to lead the league in saves (6) and games finished (11). LH Randy Keisler (2008) allowed one run on two hits in 6.1 innings, but didn't get a decision in his last start on Nov. 10. RH Ramon Ortiz (2011) joined Licey and allowed three runs (one earned) in four innings in a loss to Toros on Nov. 7. IF Diory Hernandez is 1-for-14 with three RBI in his last four games.

REGULAR SEASON STATS:

Player Team

Yr(s) with I-Cubs

AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
Arismendy Alcantara Gigantes Cubs Prospect
.333
10
3
4
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
.600
.333
.933
Diory Hernandez Toros del Este 2012
.221
19
68
12
15
1
0
1
11
10
10
4
1
.316
.279
.596
Junior Lake Estrellas Cubs Prospect
.344
19
61
8
21
6
0
2
8
5
16
3
0
.412
.541
.953
Felix Pie Estrellas 2006-08
.239
21
71
12
17
2
0
2
8
16
13
5
1
.375
.352
.727
Nate Spears Gigantes 2008-09
.063
6
16
2
1
0
0
0
1
3
5
0
0
.200
.063
.263

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Junior Lake: .344 AVG (4)
Felix Pie:
16 BB (1), 21 G (T3)

Pitcher Team Yr(s) with I-Cubs
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
SVO
IP
H
R
ER
HR
HB
BB
IBB
SO
WP

OPP AVG.

Jeff Antigua Toros del Este Cubs Prospect
2
1
4.22
9
0
0
2
10.2
9
5
5
2
0
2
0
11
1
.243
Jairo Asencio Toros del Este 2012
0
2
2.79
11
0
6
6
9.2
12
4
3
0
0
5
1
8
0
.300
Miguel Batista Aguilas 1997
0
1
2.40
4
3
0
0
15.0
18
5
4
1
1
2
0
6
1
.300
Michael Bowden Aguilas 2012
0
1
10.13
2
2
0
0
5.1
9
7
6
1
0
2
0
5
0
.375
Lendy Castillo Escogido Cubs Prospect
0
1
1.59
8
0
0
0
5.2
7
3
1
0
1
2
0
7
2
.318
Frankie De La Cruz Estrellas 2012
0
2
8.31
2
2
0
0
4.1
5
7
4
0
0
8
0
3
2
.313
Randy Keisler Escogido 2008
0
2
3.06
4
4
0
0
17.2
12
6
6
2
2
6
0
8
1
.190
Adalberto Mendez Toros del Este 2005-06
0
0
3.18
3
0
0
0
5.2
5
2
2
0
0
1
0
4
0
.238
Ramon Ortiz Licey 2011
0
1
2.25
1
1
0
0
4.0
7
3
1
0
1
0
0
2
0
.412
Horacio Ramirez Toros del Este 2012
0
0
3.68
4
4
0
0
14.2
17
6
6
1
1
2
0
15
1
.283
Raul Valdes Toros del Este 2005-06
0
0
3.00
2
2
0
0
6.0
4
2
2
1
0
0
0
8
0
.182

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Jairo Asencio: 6 SV (1), 11 GF (1)
Randy Keisler:
3.06 ERA (6), .190 OPP AVG (2), 1.02 WHIP (3)

MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE:

Culiacan leads the league at 17-9, but they have lost three in a row and Guasave (16-10) has pulled to within a game of first place. Hermosillo and Obregon are tied at 15-11, two games back. OF Marlon Byrd (rehab in 2011) has fallen off his torrid pace. He is 2-for-22 with no extra-base hits and two RBI in his last six games. He is still among the league leaders in several categories, but is no longer on top in any stat. IF Alfredo Amezaga (2012) moved past Byrd with another good week at the plate. He is leading the league in at-bats (111) and hits (39) and ranks third in batting (.351). IF Greg Rohan (2012) tweeted last week that he is back in the United States to "get healthy," marking the end of his winter ball season. IF Christian Villanueva was one of the prospects the Cubs acquired from the Texas Rangers in exchange for RH Ryan Dempster. RH Esmailin Caridad (2009-12) has allowed one run in nine innings pitched over his last nine games and earned a win on Nov. 10 against Navajoa. RH Jay Jackson (2009-12) allowed one hit over five shutout innings and struck out four against Hermosillo on Nov. 9. RH Marco Carrillo (2010-11) has figured in the decision of all five of his starts and is eighth in the league with a 3.34 ERA. He's also tied for second with three losses.

REGULAR SEASON STATS:

Player Team

Yr(s) with I-Cubs

AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
Alfredo Amezaga Obregon 2012
.351
26
111
18
39
8
1
5
14
9
19
4
3
.397
.577
.973
Marlon Byrd Culiacan 2011
.333
26
96
23
32
4
0
9
21
14
23
1
1
.425
.656
1.081
Greg Rohan Mazatlan 2012
.205
11
39
4
8
0
0
0
2
2
9
0
1
.244
.205
.449
Christian Villanueva Obregon Cubs Prospect
.167
12
30
5
5
1
0
1
5
2
13
0
0
.257
.300
.557

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Marlon Byrd: .333 AVG (T4), 23R (T2), 9 HR (T3), .656 SLG (4), 63 TB (5)
Alfredo Amezaga:
.351 AVG (3), 111 AB (1), 39 H (1), 8DBL (T3), 64 TB (4)

Pitcher Team Yr(s) with I-Cubs
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
SVO
IP
H
R
ER
HR
HB
BB
IBB
SO
WP

OPP AVG.

Esmailin Caridad Obregon 2009-12
1
1
1.93
15
1
0
0
18.2
19
8
4
0
0
6
0
23
2
.257
Marco Carrillo Obregon 2010-11
2
3
3.34
5
5
0
0
29.2
28
11
11
3
0
12
1
21
1
.250
Jay Jackson Mazatlan 2009-12
0
1
5.14
2
2
0
0
7.0
7
4
4
0
0
1
0
4
0
.259
Sergio Mitre Mexicali 2004-05
1
1
0.00
3
3
0
0
8.1
6
2
0
1
3
3
0
5
1
.200

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Marco Carrillo: 3.34 ERA (8), 3 Losses (T2)

PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE:

Puerto Rico opened play on Nov. 8 and Caguas and Mayaguez are each 3-1 for the early lead in the standings. IF Edwin Maysonet just signed a minor league contract with the Cubs after splitting last season between Nashville and Milwaukee in the Brewers' organization. IF Luis Figueroa (2008) has been among the top hitters in Puerto Rico the last few seasons and played in Mexico this past year. 39-year-old Pedro Valdes (1996-98) can still hit and is the early league leader with four hits in two games.

REGULAR SEASON STATS:

Player Team

Yr(s) with I-Cubs

AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
Luis Figueroa Santurce 2008
.167
3
12
0
2
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
.231
.167
.397
Edwin Maysonet Manati Cubs Signee
.071
4
14
1
1
0
0
0
1
1
2
0
0
.125
.071
.196
Pedro Valdes Carolina 1996-98
.571
2
7
1
4
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
.625
.714
1.339

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Pedro Valdes: .571 AVG (1), .625 OBP (2)

Pitcher Team Yr(s) with I-Cubs
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
SVO
IP
H
R
ER
HR
HB
BB
IBB
SO
WP

OPP AVG.

LEAGUE LEADERS:

 

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE:

Mesa has played better as the Arizona Fall League heads into its final week. The Solar Sox have won four in a row to improve to 10-16, but are still four games back of division leader Salt River (14-12). Scottsdale is second at 13-14. IF Logan Watkins replaced the injured Javier Baez on Mesa's roster and had a good week, going 6-for-19 (.316) with a double, a homer, and two RBI. Watkins was the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year his past season after hitting .281 with 20 doubles, 11 triples, nine home runs, and 52 RBI in 133 games at double-A Tennessee. Baez still ranks fifth in the league with 16 RBI. OF Matt Szczur was 5-for-13 (.385) with a double, a triple, and two RBI this week. RH Tony Zych combined for three scoreless innings in his two outings this week, but RH Nick Struck (2011) was charged with a blown save after allowing three runs on three hits in an inning and a third in his last appearance.

Player
AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
Javier Baez
.211
14
57
9
12
2
0
4
16
2
14
3
0
.250
.456
.706
Rubi Silva
.177
18
62
6
11
0
2
0
2
4
20
3
0
.227
.242
.469
Matt Szczur
.277
22
83
11
23
2
2
1
11
13
10
8
3
.381
.386
.767
Logan Watkins
.316
5
19
5
6
1
0
1
2
3
1
0
0
.409
.526
.935

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Javier Baez: 16 RBI (5)
Matt Szczur: 83 AB (T4), 22 G (T4)

Pitcher
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
SVO
IP
H
R
ER
HR
HB
BB
SO
Dae-Eun Rhee
0
2
6.27
6
6
0
0
18.2
26
16
13
1
3
8
12
Kevin Rhoderick
0
1
4.82
9
0
0
2
9.1
7
5
5
2
0
2
14
Nick Struck
1
0
5.40
10
0
0
1
13.1
10
8
8
2
0
11
9
Tony Zych
1
0
2.25
11
0
1
1
12.0
14
3
3
0
1
1
4

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Tony Zych: 7GF (T5)

JAPANESE PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL:

1B Micah Hoffpauir (2004-10) and the Nippon-Ham Fighters won the Pacific League title, but fell 4-2 in the best-of-seven Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants. Hoffpauir finished 1-for-10 with an RBI and a run scored during the series. The Fighters did announce that a contract extension for Hoffpauir through the 2013 season. Hoffpauir had this quote in the Fighters' official release: "I am happy that I will be able to return as a member of the Fighters in 2013 and fight to win with my teammates and the fans. While we were able to win the pennant, we unfortunately failed to win a Nippon Series. Next season, I will prepared to use all my abilities to in order to win a Nippon Series. I look forward to the continued support." During the regular season, Hoffpauir was second on the team in home runs (14) and helped the Fighters to a 73-58 record. IF/OF Edgar Gonzalez (2012) left Iowa after two weeks in April to join the Yomiuri Giants in Japan this year. He hit .236 with four homers and 19 RBI in 57 games during the regular season. He made one start at DH and entered one game as a pinch-hitter in the Japan Series. He was 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored against the Fighters. IF Bobby Scales (2008-11) started the season with the New York Mets' organization at Triple-A Buffalo and was leading the International League in hitting in April before going back to Japan. He played for the Orix Buffaloes and hit .262 in 85 games. OF Matt Murton (2005, '07-08) continued his three-year run in Japan and hit .260 with five homers and 38 RBI in 121 games for the Hanshin Tigers. LH Renyel Pinto (2004-05) made the move to Japan this year, but lasted just two starts with the Hawks. He was one of the top pitchers in Venezuela last winter.

Player Team
AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
Micah Hoffpauir Nippon-Ham Fighters
.234
109
296
28
73
13
0
14
37
25
81
1
1
.311
.432
.743
Matt Murton Hanshin Tigers
.260
121
453
39
118
18
2
5
38
18
56
2
4
.290
.342
.632
Bobby Scales Orix Buffaloes
.262
85
305
42
80
16
3
5
23
47
103
4
1
.373
.384
.757
Edgar Gonzalez Yomiuri Giants
.236
57
174
13
41
12
0
4
19
0
2
13
46
.291
.374
.665

 

Pitcher Team
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
SVO
IP
H
R
ER
HR
HB
BB
SO
Renyel Pinto Fukuoka Softbank Hawks
1
1
7.36
2
2
0
0
7.1
9
8
6
1
1
7
6

WOLRD BASEBALL CLASSIC QUALIFIERS:

The World Baseball Classic will be played again in March and tournaments have started for countries to qualify for the final tournament in the spring. Spain beat Israel 9-7 in the first pool play at Roger Dean Stadium in Florida. South Africa and France were the other teams in the round robin. OF Adam Greenberg (2004, '06) played in two games for Israel before the Miami Marlins gave him his famous at-bat against R.A. Dickey in the regular season finale. Of note, Greenberg didn't register an official at-bat in his two games for Israel. He was a sub in one game and walked in his only plate appearance. C Chris Robinson (2007, '09-11) was an offensive leader for Team Canada's win in the second tournament at the Armin-Wolf Baseball Arena in Germany. Canada beat the host Germans 11-1 in the final game. LH Sheldon McDonald (2012) is also on Team Canada. He spent one day with Iowa this season, but didn't pitch. He spent most of his year with Peoria and was 1-3 with a 1.89 ERA in 33 appearances for the Chiefs. LH's Will Ohman (2001, '05, '07) and Luke Sommer (2011) pitched for Germany. Ohman began last season with the Chicago White Sox and finished the year with triple-A Louisville in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Great Britain and the Czech Republic also played in that tournament. Brazil, Panama, Nicaragua, and Colombia will play November 15-19 at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, Panama in another pool. Thailand, Phillipines, New Zealand, and Chinese Taipei will play at Xin Zhuang Stadium in Taiwan, November 14-18.

Player Country
AVG
G
AB
R
H
2B
3B
HR
RBI
BB
SO
SB
CS
OBP
SLG
OPS
Adam Greenberg Israel
.000
2
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
1.000
.000
1.000
Chris Robinson Canada
.455
3
11
4
5
0
0
1
4
1
1
0
1
.500
.727
1.227

 

Pitcher Tournament
W
L
ERA
G
GS
SV
SVO
IP
H
R
ER
HR
HB
BB
SO
Sheldon McDonald Canada
1
0
6.75
1
0
0
0
1.1
2
1
1
0
1
0
0
Will Ohman Germany
0
0
0.00
2
0
0
0
2.0
2
0
0
0
0
1

1

Luke Sommer Germany
0
1
2.70
2
0
0
0
6.2
6
2
2
2
0
1

7

*Stats are courtesy of Major League Baseball Advanced Media, USA Baseball, and NPB Offical Website.

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We hope you enjoy the Winter League report this off-season. Don't forget to check back each week for more updates. If you know of any players that we should be following in this report that aren't included, please email Media Relations Director Randy Wehofer at [email protected].