Winter Ball Underway - Several Sounds Sharpening Skills
The 2010-11 winter leagues are underway and several members of the 2010 Nashville Sounds team, as well as past Sounds players, are among the participants.
Sounds outfielder Brendan Katin began his winter season in the Mexican Winter League, where he batted .261 (6-for-23) with one home run and three RBIs in six games of action for Aguilas de Mexicali. He has since relocated to the Venezuelan League.
Shortstop Luis Cruz batted .325 (54-for-166) with 12 homers and 32 RBIs in 45 games for Culiacan. In four playoff games, he is hitting .308 (4-for-13) with two RBIs.
Right-hander Josh Butler pitched for Hermosillo and went 1-4 with a 9.00 ERA (16er/16.0ip) through five appearances (four starts).
Former Sounds improving their skills in Mexico include pitchers Mike Burns (2009), Zach Jackson (2006-08), Kenny Ray (2007), Dan Serafini (2000), and Jose Silva (1998-99), catcher Humberto Cota (2001-04), infielder Jose Macias (2007), and outfielders Jason Bourgeois (2009), Emil Brown (1999-2000), and Tike Redman (2000-03, '09).
First baseman Joe Koshansky was busy at work on the Venezuelan diamonds this off-season. The slugger hit .260 (20-for-77) with three homers and 10 RBIs in 25 games for Anzoategui.
Outfielder Brendan Katin batted .233 (14-for-60) with three home runs and eight RBIs in 19 games of action for Magallanes.
Veteran infielder Ray Olmedo hit .306 (22-for-72) with six RBIs in 34 games with La Guaira.
Left-hander Sam Narron pitched for Caracas and went 2-1 with a 3.82 ERA (14er/33.0ip) in seven starts.
Notable former Sounds also playing on the Venezuelan diamonds this off-season include pitchers Joe Bateman (2008), Steve Bray (2006-08), Nic Ungs (2008), Luis Villareal (2007), and Ryan Vogelsong (2001, '03), catchers J.C. Boscan (2006) and J.R. House (2004), infielders Alcides Escobar (2009) and Hernan Iribarren (2008-09), and Randall Simon (2003-04), and outfielders Tony Alvarez (2003-04), Jay Gibbons (2009), Luis Landaeta (2002), Freddy Parejo (2009), and Tike Redman (2000-03, '09).
Veteran infielder Erick Almonte headlines members of the 2010 Sounds participating in the Dominican Winter League. He batted .285 (45-for-158) with three home runs and 22 RBIs in 48 games of action with Gigantes del Cibao. He then batted .361 (13-for-36) with four RBIs in nine postseason contests.
Outfielder Carlos Gomez, who spent a week with the Sounds this season on a rehab stint, hit .269 (18-for-67) with four RBIs in 19 games for Escogido.
Catcher Martin Maldonado joined Este for the playoffs and has appeared in one game without a plate appearance.
Right-hander Zack Segovia, an off-season Brewers signee, went 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA (6er/23.0ip) while converting nine saves in 12 chances over 18 relief appearances for Oriente. He has added two saves over three scoreless relief outings (3.0 IP) in the playoffs.
Reliever Roque Mercedes, a recent waiver claim, went 2-0 with a 5.40 ERA (4er/6.2ip) in seven relief outings for Escogido and has added two scoreless appearances (3.1 IP) in the playoffs.
Former Sounds participating in the Dominican League include pitchers Greg Aquino (2007), Jose Capellan (2005, '07), Wilton Chavez (2006), Jesus Colome (2009), Al Reyes (2002), and Marino Salas (2007), catcher J.R. House (2004), and infielders Ozzie Chavez (2006-08), Mendy Lopez (2002), and Brad Nelson (2005-08), and outfielder Rich Thompson (2003-04).
Catcher Martin Maldonado played in the Puerto Rican Winter League and batted .243 (17-for-70) with one homer and seven RBIs through 25 games of action for Mayaguez.
Outfielder Norris Hopper batted .304 (17-for-56) with three RBIs in 17 contests for Mayaguez.
Recent Brewers signee Edwin Maysonet hit .231 (30-for-130) with one homer and 17 RBIs in 41 games for San Juan and added a .250 average (3-for-12) with one RBI in four playoff games.
Former Sounds participating in the Puerto Rican League include pitchers Steve Hammond (2008) and Bill Simas (1995), catcher Carlos Corporan (2008-09), infielders Luis R. Figueroa (2000-01) and Carlos Rivera (2003-04), and outfielder Armando Rios (2002).