Another week has gone by, meaning it is time for another update on the KC Royals participating in winter ball. Four more players have joined the ranks, two in Venezuela and two in Columbia.

Let’s start in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Alcides Escobar

Shortstop Alcides Escobar began his winter ball season with Lara and played in three games last week. He went 2-for-13 with three runs scored and two RBIs. He walked once and struck out twice. Outfielder Paulo Orlando, who just finished up his time playing for Brazil to qualify for the World Baseball Classic, is Escobar‘s teammate. In six games, he went 10-for-24 with a double, a triple, five runs scored, and three RBIs. He did strike out five times.

Max Ramirez played in five games last week and went 5-for-16 (.313) for Margarita. He hit two doubles, walked five times, and scored two runs. Manny Pina is his teammate and got into two games, but went just 0-for-1 at the plate.

Catcher Salvador Perez continues to light up VWL pitching. With La Guaira in five games last week, he went 7-for-20 (.350) with three doubles and a homerun. He walked twice, scored three runs, and drove in five runs. Anthony Ortega pitched in three games last week. In 2.2 innings, he allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two.

Juan Gutierrez and Guillermo Moscoso continue to rack up saves for Caracas. Gutierrez went 2-for-2 in save opportunities last week. In four games totaling four innings, he allowed an unearned run on one hit and a walk. Moscoso went 1-for-1 in save opportunities. In two games totaling three innings, he allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out three.

Infielder Rey Navarro played in two games last week for Caguas. He went just 1-for-9 with a strikeout. He scored a run and drove in a run.

Outfielder Luis Durango played in just two games last week for Caribes. He went 1-for-2 with a run scored.

The VWL All-Star Game is this Sunday.

Moving on to the Dominican Winter League where Licey houses the majority of Royals players.

Francisley Bueno made one start last week. In 3.1 innings, he allowed one hit, two walks, and a wild pitch, while striking out four. Michael Mariot also made one start for Licey. In three innings, he allowed one run on two hits, two walks, and a hit batter, while striking out three. Atahualpa Severino pitched in four games out of the bullpen. In 2.1 innings, he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk while striking out one.

Infielder Tony Abreu played in just one game last week for Aguilas. He went 1-for-3 with a strikeout.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update”

On Monday night, Brazil stunned Panama with a 1-0 victory (their second win over the host country) to claim the final spot in the World Baseball Classic that begins in March.

Over the course of the WBC Qualifier, KC Royals minor leaguers shined in the event.

In both of Brazil’s victories over Panama, centerfielder Paulo Orlando had big games. He was their leadoff hitter and went 2-for-4 in both games. In Game 1, he tripled and scored their first run in the 3rd inning. Orlando scored Brazil’s lone run on Monday night.

Sugar Ray Marimon (screen capped from the WBC game on MLB Network)

Columbia won their only game, which was their first game of the qualifier on Friday night. Sure they received some offense, as they won 8-1 over Nicaragua, but they also received great starting pitching. Getting the ball for the first time for the Columbians was Sugar Ray Marimon. He was a strike throwing machine. Over five innings, he allowed just one run on four hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter. 41 of his 61 pitches were thrown for strikes.

Marimon‘s lone blip on the radar was a solo homerun he allowed in the 4th inning. That homerun went to Royals teammate Cheslor Cuthbert, who hit a good pitch just over the wall in left field. He was all smiles as he rounded the bases, especially at second base when he looked back at Marimon. Spring training conversation should be fun.

Even though Nicaragua did not win a game (0-2), Cuthbert impressed. He played pretty good defense at third base (he did make an error that cost them a run). He also hit well and batted 5th in both games. In the loss to Columbia, he went 2-for-4 with the homerun. In their 6-2 loss to Panama, Cuthbert went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Luis Piterson was the other Royal in the WBC. Like during the regular season, he was a bench player for Columbia. He did get into their 7-1 loss to Brazil on Saturday. Piterson went 0-for-1, as he struck out as a pinch-hitter in the 8th inning. He then went in to play right field.

So congrats to Brazil and Paulo Orlando in advancing to the WBC (and shocking the world).