WINTER LEAGUE REPORT: PRWL & MXPW
Today's Winter League Report focuses on the Mexican and Puerto Rican Leagues. RHP Corey Black highlights the group with an outstanding start to the season.
Roberto Clemente (Puerto Rico)
INDIOS DE MAYAGUEZ
JONATHAN SANCHEZ, LHP (2014 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 1-1, 5.23, 4G, 3GS, 10.1IP, 8H, 7R, 6ER, 9BB, 13K
Sanchez has four appearances and three starts under his belt with Mayaguez and hasn't lasted longer than 3.2 innings in an outing. In his last game on November 25, he was tagged with a season-high four runs - three earned - over 3.1 innings.
Background: Sanchez's Iowa career went faster than a blink as the lefty appeared in just one game for the club in 2014. He was signed by the Cubs to a minor league deal in January of the same year and began the season with the I-Cubs. Shortly after getting knocked for five earned runs off three walks, a hit batter and a home run in two-thirds of an inning, Sanchez was placed on the disabled list with left shoulder tendinitis and was later released. It was his last appearance in affiliated ball. Sanchez spent the majority of his prior career with the Giants' organization including parts of six seasons with the big league club. He also recorded brief stints with Kansas City, Colorado and Pittsburgh.
RAFAEL LOPEZ, C (2014-15 w/ Iowa)
Lopez is on the Reserve List for Mayaguez.
Background: The Cubs drafted Lopez in the 16th round of the 2011 draft out of Florida State. He worked his way through the system made his major league debut for Chicago in 2014 following a September call-up. The catcher was claimed off waivers by the Angels on July 3, 2015 and finished the campaign with the Salt Lake Bees. He spent 2016 primarily with Triple-A Louisville and had a short seven-game stint with Cincinnati.
CANGREJEROS DE SANTURCE
COREY BLACK, RHP (2016 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 0-0, 8SV 0.64 ERA, 13G, 14.0IP, 8H, 2R, 1ER, 6BB, 13K
Black has been dominating the PRWL with only one earned run allowed through 14.0 innings. He is holding his opponents to a .178 average.
Background: Black joined the Cubs' organization at the trade deadline in 2013 in a deal for OF Alfonso Soriano. He spent much of his professional career as a starter before transitioning to the bullpen in 2015. He took on a closing role for Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Iowa in 2016 and converted 14 of 16 total save opportunities. He is listed as the Cubs' No. 27 prospect according to MiLB.com.
FERNANDO CRUZ, RHP (2015 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 2-0, 3.18 ERA, 11.1IP, 9H, 5R, 4ER, 1HR, 4BB, 7K
Cruz began his stint with Santurce at the end of October. In 10 games, he has contributed scoreless outings six times. He is holding righties to a .143 batting average and all batters to a .209 clip.
Background: Cruz was drafted by Kansas City in 2007 and played four seasons as an infielder before converting to a pitcher in 2011. After the transition, he pitched exclusively in the PRWL until the Cubs signed him to a minor league deal in 2015. That season, he shuttled between Double-A Tennessee and Advanced-A Myrtle Beach with one appearance for Iowa. Cruz attended minor league spring training with the Cubs in 2016, but was released at the end of March.
JACOB HANNEMANN, OF (Prospect)
Stats: .105, 16G, 7R, 1DBL, 1TRPL, 1HR, 2RBI, 11BB, 16K, 5/7SB
Hannemann is beginning to find his grove for the Cangrejeros, collecting a hit in three of his last four games (4-for-16). Prior to this stretch, he was 2-for-39 in 12 games.
Background: Hannemann stands as the Cubs' No. 19 prospect according to MiLB.com. He was recently added to Chicago's 40-man roster as protection from the Rule 5 Draft. Hannemann was drafted by the Cubs in the third round of the 2013 draft out of Brigham Young University where he also played football. The outfielder was limited to 74 games in 2016 with Double-A Tennessee due to injury. He hit .247 and swiped 26 bags.
CRIOLLOS DE CAGUAS
MIGUEL MEJIA, RHP, (2016 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 1-0, 2.70 ERA, 10G, 10.0IP, 10H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 6K
Mejia has held his opponents scoreless through his last seven appearances (7.0IP) with five strikeouts and one walk over this stretch. The righty has not given up more that two hits in an outing during his time with Caguas.
Background: Mejia moved between Double-A Tennessee and Iowa in 2016, - his first affiliated season since 2011. The righty was originally signed by the Tigers as a non-drafted free agent in 2009. He played in Detroit' and Miami's systems through 2011 and remained exclusively in the PRWL from the close of 2011 until 2015.
KRISTOPHER NEGRON, INF (2016 w/ Iowa)
Negrón is on the Reserve List for Caguas
Background: Negrón was originally drafted by the Epstein administration in Boston in 2007 and made the jump to the Cubs on a minor league contract in 2016. From 2009-2015 he was a member of Cincinnati's organization and appeared in parts of three seasons with the Reds.
KELLY DUGAN, INF (Prospect)
Stats: .232, 16G, 7R, 13H, 4DBL, 3HR, 9RBI, 3BB, 15K
Dugan has knocked seven of his 14 hits for extra-bases, including three home runs. He is 5-for-9 over his last three games with three doubles, one homer and five RBI.
Background: Dugan spent the first seven years of his career in the Phillies' system after getting drafted in the second round out of high school in 2009. He elected free agency at the close of the 2015 season and signed a minor league deal with the Cubs. Through 96 games with Double-A Tenessee in 2016, Dugan hit .266 with 13 home runs. He, once again, elected free agency after the regular season and recently signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks.
GIGANTES DE CAROLINA
GIOVANNI SOTO, LHP (2016 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 3-2, 2.13 ERA, 5G, 5GS, 25.1, 20H, 6R, 6ER, 5BB, 15K
Stats: Soto has been in the bullpen for the last four seasons, but has returned to a starting role with Carolina. He has thrown three scoreless outings including one on November 25 in which he tossed 7.0 innings and allowed three hits, walked two and struck out seven.
Background: The Cubs acquired Soto in a trade from Cleveland for cash on April 11, 2016. He spent the season in Iowa and posted a 1-3 record with a 5.14 ERA (28ER/49.0IP). Soto was drafted by Detroit in the 21st round of the 2009 draft, but had spent the majority of his career in the Indians' organization. This off-season, Soto has been claimed off waivers twice - first by Oakland and then by the White Sox.
YASIEL BALAGUERT, INF (Prospect)
Stats: .315, 19G, 7R, 23H, 3DBL, 1HR, 6RBI, 4BB, 16K
Balaguert is coming off a 4-for-4 game on November 27. He is knocking righties for a .344 average while that mark falls to .167 against lefties.
Background: Signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent on December 7, 2011, Balaguert has risen to Advanced-A within the organization. He led the Cubs' farm system with 19 home runs and 96 RBI for Myrtle Beach in 2016. He complemented his power with 43 walks, 11th-most in the organization.
Mexico
AGUILAS DE MEXICALI
RUBI SILVA, OF (2015 w/ Iowa)
Stats: .306, 10G, 4R, 11H, 2DBL, 4RBI, 2BB, 9K
Silva just began his Winter League stint with Mexicali, playing his first game on November 16. After going hitless in his first contest, Silva rebounded to hit safely in his next seven games. The streak was sparked by a 2-for-4 game with two doubles for the outfielder on November 17. He is now 0-for-5 through his last two contests.
Background: Silva was signed by the Cubs as a free agent in 2010. In 2015, he spent the entire season with the I-Cubs, his last in affiliated ball, until his release on August 25. Silva hit .194 through 94 games in 2016 in the Mexican League.
NARANJEROS DE HERMOSILLO
CASEY COLEMAN, RHP (2010-14 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 3-2, 3.52 ERA, 8G, 8GS, 46.0 IP, 44H, 21R, 18ER, 3HR, 5BB, 24K
Coleman, 29, snapped an 0-2 skid with a win on November 21. The righty threw 6.0 innings of two-run ball while striking out four. Coleman has notched four quality starts and has thrown at least 5.0 innings in each of his eight outings.
Background: Coleman split his time between Iowa and Chicago from 2010-2013 and appeared in one game for the I-Cubs in 2014 before his release. The righty signed with Kansas City and continued the up-and-down movement, this time between the Royals and Triple-A Omaha. In the past two seasons, Colman played primarily for Omaha, Triple-A Tacoma and Triple-A Durham. He recently elected free agency after spending the second half of 2016 in Tampa Bay's system.
TOMATEROS DE CULIACAN
ALFREDO AMEZAGA, INF (2012 w/ Iowa)
Stats: .500, 1G, 1R, 1H
Amezaga appeared in one game for Culiacan on October 12.
Background: Mexico native Amezaga has played exclusively in the Mexican summer and winter leagues since June 2013. He suited up for a full season with Iowa in 2012 and hit .274 with six home runs and 42 RBI. He last appeared in affiliated ball in 2013 with Triple-A Albuquerque and posted a .339 average through 37 games before receiving his release.
SEAN GALLAGHER, RHP (2007-08 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 0-1, 8.59 ERA, 2G, 2GS, 7.1IP, 13H, 9R, 7ER, 5HR, 2BB, 1K
Gallagher started two games for Culiacan and hasn't seen action since October 20. In 7.1 innings, the righty gave up five home runs and allowed a .371 opponent batting average.
Background: Gallagher appeared in 91 major league games with 23 starts from 2007-2010 with the Cubs, Oakland, San Diego and Pittsburgh. He made his major league debut at 21 years old in 2007 after he was drafted by the Cubs in the 12th round of the 2004 draft out of high school. Gallagher spent parts of 2007 and 2008 with Iowa and holds a 5-3 record with a 3.10 ERA (24ER/69.2IP) as an I-Cub.
VENADOS DE MAZATLAN
NICK STRUCK, RHP (2011, 2013 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 1-2, 2.70 ERA, 5G, 5GS, 26.2IP, 24H, 9R, 8ER, 11BB, 25K
Struck lowered his ERA to 2.70 with 5.1 one-run innings on November 23. The righty has had trouble making it through the sixth inning - he has only pitched more than 5.1 innings once - but has been a reliable member of Mazatlan's rotation. He has allowed 24 hits in 26.2 innings and has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start.
Background: Selected by the Cubs in the 39th round of the 2009 draft out of Mt. Hood Community College, Struck made his professional debut in 2010 and quickly ascended to Iowa in 2011. That season, Struck went 2-4 with a 5.20 ERA (36ER/62.1IP) in 12 games and 11 starts for the I-Cubs. He spent most of the following season with Iowa, posting a 6-8 record with a 6.17 ERA (75ER/109.1IP) in 22 games and 20 starts. He was signed by the Dodgers to a minor league contract in 2014 and spent his last season in affiliated ball primarily with Double-A Chattanooga.
YAQUIS DE OBREGON
CHRISTIAN VILLANUEVA, INF (2014-15 w/ Iowa)
Stats: .278, 15G, 7R, 15H, 3HR, 9RBI, 6BB, 13K
Villanuenva exploded for four hits, including two homers, with four RBI on October 23, but has since be stymied at the plate. The infielder in 1-for-13 over his last four games and has not appeared in action since October 28.
Background: Villanueva was signed by the Rangers in 2009 and impressed as he earned accolades at nearly every stop in the minors. In 2012, he joined the Cubs' organization - along with RHP Kyle Hendricks as a part of the trade for RHP Ryan Dempster - and continued his climb up the ladder, reaching Iowa in 2014. The now-25 year old was added to Chicago's 40-man roster following the 2015 campaign, but a broken leg suffered early in spring training in 2016 forced him to miss the entire season.
MARCO CARRILLO, RHP (2010-11 w/ Iowa)
Stats: 1-1, 4.37 ERA, 7G, 7GS, 35.0IP, 38H, 20R, 17ER, 6HR, 15BB, 19K
Carrillo has notched two quality starts with the Yaquis and has gone at least 5.0 innings in five of seven starts. He has been inhibited by the long ball with six allowed, including two in a game twice.
Background: Carrillo was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Cubs in 2005 and spent his entire eight-year affiliated career in the organization. He elected free agency at the close of the 2011 season and was re-signed by the Cubs to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Prior to the 2012 regular season, Carrillo joined Sultanes de Monterrey and has been playing in the Mexican League since.