In my fourth and final installment looking back on the KC Royals represented in the winter leagues, I will take a look at the Puerto Rican Winter League.

Christian Colon’s headshot via MiLB from 2011′s AFL.

Infielder Christian Colon hit .301 in 39 games (153 at-bats) for Ponce. He hit eight doubles and drove in 11. He walked 13 times and struck out 19 times. Colon led the league in stolen bases with 13 and was caught four times. Those numbers had him named the league’s Rookie of the Year in his first time playing winter ball.

Cesar Ogando was a teammate with Ponce. He was 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA over four games. In five innings, he allowed five hits and no walks while striking out four.

Ariel Estades went 0-for-2 in five games with Santurce. He did walk once.

Alex Llanos hit .234 in 20 games (47 at-bats) for Manati. He drove in four runs, but struck out 17 times.

In the PRL finals, Mayaguez met Caguas (with Caguas winning and heading to the Caribbean Series). It was a series that pitted Royals minor league infielders Irving Falu and Rey Navarro against each other.

During the regular season, Falu hit .324 in 36 games (142 at-bats) for Mayaguez. He hit eight doubles, four triples, and drove in 16 runs. Falu walked 14 times and struck out 11 times.

Navarro hit .333 in 27 games (114 at-bats) during the regular season for Caguas. He hit eight doubles, two triples, and drove in 18. He walked six times and struck out 13 times. Navarro stole 13 bases and was caught four times.

*I’ll have more on Navarro‘s play in the Caribbean Series in an upcoming post on the series.

The Caribbean Series begins on February 1st, as the winners of the four major winter leagues (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela) face off for supremacy. Escogido will be representing the DR, Obregon will be representing Mexico, Caguas will be representing Puerto Rico, and Lara will be representing Venezuela.

Four current KC Royals (and minor leaguers) were a part of getting their winter league team to the Caribbean Series.

Starter Luis Mendoza (who will be pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic) made one start in the Mexican Pacific League finals. It came in Game 1 and he picked up the win. Mendoza allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out 11 and threw 64 of his 103 pitches for strikes. He allowed a solo homerun to former Royal Yuniesky Betancourt in front of over 17,000 fans.

Outfielder Paulo Orlando is also getting geared up for the WBC, but he will be playing for upstart Brazil. He helped Lara win the Venezuelan Winter League title. Orlando played centerfield, batted second, and hit .307 in the postseason (5-for-23 in the finals with seven strikeouts).

Jose Jimenez is Orlando’s teammate with Lara. In their first game, he pitched a perfect 1/3 of an inning. He picked up a hold the next day with 1/3 of an inning. Jimenez pitched another 1/3 of an inning in their Game Four loss.

The Puerto Rican League finals was a battle between Mayaguez and Caguas and a battle between Royals utility fielders Irving Falu and Rey Navarro. Navarro hit just .184 (5-for-26 in the finals) for champion Caguas while playing second base and batting second. Falu hit .229 (6-for-27 in the finals) while playing second base and batting leadoff for Mayaguez.

For more on the Caribbean Series, click HERE.

*The answer to Tuesday’s trivia answer is: SEVEN. The inductees were Whitey Herzog (1975-1979), George Brett (1973-1993), Orlando Cepeda (1974), Joe Gordon, (1969), Harmon Killebrew (1075), Bob Lemon (1970-1972), and Gaylord Perry (1983).

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”

Another week has gone by in the winter leagues. Ten KC Royals players have begun play, while there is an update on the newest Royals player in winter ball.

The one player I am most jealous of with his choice of winter league location is outfielder Carlo Testa. He began play last week in Australia with the Melbourne Aces. In three games, he went 2-for-11 (.182) with two walks, two runs scored, and a stolen base. He did strike out three times.

The other winter league that got started last week was the Puerto Rican League, where the Royals have four players participating.

Christian Colon played in three games last week for Leones de Ponce, two at shortstop and one at second base. He went 3-for-13 (.231) with two runs scored. His teammate is Cesar Ogando, who was drafted by the Royals in 2011. In his one game, he pitched two perfect innings of relief while striking out two.

There is also a Royals duo with Indios de Mayaguez. Irving Falu played in four games last week, all at second base. He went 3-for-15 (.200) with two doubles. He scored three runs and drove in two. He walked twice and struck out once, while stealing a base. Lefty Ryan Dennick made one start. Over 3.1 scoreless innings, he allowed four hits and one walk while striking out four.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update”