Winter Baseball Leagues

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Tuesday, January 3

Two of the three leagues (Venezuela, Dominican Republic) we’re following in this thread are now in the Round Robin round of the playoffs, while my understanding is that Puerto Rico’s regular season will conclude today, January 4th.

• C Brian Navarreto – 1-for-4 (.275 AVG) – in Carolina’s 1-0 extra inning win over Caguas
• LHP Alex Claudio (newly-signed) – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB (intentional), 1 K (2.45 ERA) – didn’t allow Manfred Man to score in 10th inning, but Caguas still lost
• RHP JC Mejia – 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K (2.28 ERA) – in Tigres del Licey’s come-from-behind 8-5 playoff win over Estrellas, evening Tigres’ record in the Dominican Republic Round Robin at 5-5. In fact, all four remaining teams are tied with equivalent 5-5 records
• RHP Luis Contreras – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks (5.79 ERA) – in Cardenales’ 7-1 playoff win over Navegantes, putting Cardenales atop the Venezuelan Round Robin for now with a 1-0 record

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Wednesday, January 4

Just three Brewer players saw action yesterday:

• LHP Alex Claudio – 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K (2.38 ERA) – in Caguas’ 5-2 victory over Mayaguez, in which he stranded his only inherited runner in the 7th inning
• RHP Luis Contreras – 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K (5.28 ERA) – in Cardenales’ 5-2 defeat to Leones del Caracas, despite stranding three runners in the 3rd inning
• RHP Christian Mejias – 2 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 0 K (5.33 ERA) – in Tigres de Aragua’s 7-0 loss to Tiburones

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Friday, January 6

Three Brewer pitchers saw action yesterday, all in tough playoff losses.

• RHP JC Mejia (loss) – 1 IP, 3 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 0 K (3.28 ERA) – in Leones del Licey’s 4-2 loss to Estrellas
• RHP Luis Contreras – 1 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K (4.86 ERA); stranding 2 inherited runners – in Cardenales’ 7-5 extra inning loss to Tigres de Aragua
• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 0 K (4.22 ERA) – in Tiburones’ 6-5 loss to Navegantes

Mejia nearly got a double play to escape a bases loaded, 1-out situation in the 8th inning while leading 2-1, but the defense couldn’t get the job done: 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Winter League Action from Saturday, January 7th

• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – wonderful performance earning a hold in a 3-2 Venezuelan League win. Stranded two inherited runners in the 6th, then a clean inning of his own - 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 0 K, faced the minimum thanks to a GIDP
• C Brian Navarreto - Also in a 3-2 win (Puerto Rico), 0-for-3 with an RBI via a sac fly
• RHP Matt Hardy - Pitched a 1-2-3 5th (one K) in relief of former organizational mate RHP Bowden Francis (TOR), who pitched well himself. However, their Puerto Rico Caguas team lost this playoff matchup by a 2-1 score.

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Sunday, January 8

Matt Hardy, JC Mejia and Arnaldo Hernandez all played key relief roles in their teams’ playoff victories yesterday.

• RHP Matt Hardy – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K – handled the 8th inning of Caguas’ 3-2 win over Mayaguez
• C Brian Navarreto – 0-for-3, walk; threw out the only attempted basestealer – in Carolina’s 2-1 loss to Santurce
• RHP JC Mejia – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks – in Leones del Licey’s walk-off 5-4 win over Gigantes
• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – 1/3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 K; stranded inherited runner in 7th inning – in Tiburones’ 5-2 win over Navegantes
• PR/C Jose Sibrian – pinch ran and then then caught one inning in Cardenales’ 7-4 loss to Leones del Caracas

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Monday, January 9

Just one Brewer saw action yesterday, but of course he was credited with his team’s victory. Arnaldo Hernandez entered the top of the 11th inning of a 6-6 game, inducing a ground out, fly out and striking out old friend Hernan Perez swinging. Former Brewer-for-6-days Ehire Adrianza then walked and scored on a walk-off single by Maikel Garcia to grab the win, moving their squad to 4-3 in the Round Robin round of the playoffs.

RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (win) – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K – in Tiburones’ 7-6 extra-inning win over Cardenales

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Tuesday, January 10

Just two Brewer players saw action yesterday, as playoff season limits the number of games being played.

• C Brian Navarreto – 0-for-5, HBP – in Carolina’s 4-3 loss in 12 innings to Santurce
• LHP Alex Claudio – 1/3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 0 K; allowed 1 of 2 inherited runners to score – in Caguas’ 6-1 loss to Mayaguez

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Wednesday, 11 January

Three Brewers featured in yesterday’s games, with Matt Hardy’s Caguas team falling behind 3 games to 1 (Best of 7) in their playoff semi-final after dominating the regular season.

• C Brian Navarreto – 1-for-3, HBP – in Carolina’s 2-0 victory over Santurce
• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K – earned a hold in Tiburones’ 9-4 win over Navegantes
• RHP Matt Hardy (loss) – 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 1 K – in Caguas’ 4-2 defeat to Mayaguez

[Jim Goulart]

Winter League Action from Friday, January 13th  

Catcher Brian Navarreto was 0-for-4 as his team dropped a 6-5 game in Puerto Rico despite scoring four runs in the bottom of the 9th. He was pinch-hit for representing the game's last chance with men on 1st and 3rd. The pinch-hitter struck out. One stolen base against.

RHP Matt Hardy tossed yet another 1-2-3 inning, fanning one, in Caguas' 10-1 win. Hardy's teammate, old friend starting RHP Bowden Francis (Blue Jays) continued a sensational winter in Puerto Rico.

[Jim Goulart]

Winter League Action from Saturday, January 14th

RHP Arnaldo Hernandez was credited with a hold in his Venezuelan Tiburones club's 5-3 win, moving the team to 7-3 in this always-confusing-to-track journey of round-robin postseason play. Hernandez stranded an inherited runner and did not allow a run over 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and striking out two.

In Puerto Rico, catcher Brian Navarreto's Carolina team moved to 3-3 in postseason play with a 2-0 win. The 28-year-old right-handed bat finished 0-for-2 but was productive: RBI on a sacrifice fly, sacrifice bunt, and walk (one K). There was one stolen base charged against.

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Sunday, January 15

JC Mejia was the only Brewer to participate in a completed Winter League game yesterday, as Brian Navarreto’s Game 7 semi-final in Puerto Rico was delayed by rain:

• JC Mejia – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K – in Tigres del Licey’s 1-0 victory over Estrellas, giving Tigres a 2-1 lead in their Best of 7 Championship Series in the Dominican Republic

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Monday, January 16

Brian Navarreto broke open a scoreless Game 7 semi-final with a 2-out RBI single in the 6th inning, helping his squad to the Puerto Rican Championship Series.

• C Brian Navarreto – 1-for-4, RBI; threw out one of two basestealers – in Carolina’s 3-1 win over Santurce
• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – 2/3 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 0 K – in Tiburones’ 8-6 loss to Cardenales

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Tuesday, January 17

JC Mejia and Brian Navaretto are seeing exciting conclusions to their Winter excursions.

• RHP JC Mejia – 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks – pitched the 8th inning of Tigres del Licey’s 3-1 victory over Estrellas, giving Tigres a 3 games to 1 lead in the Dominican Republic Championship Series
• C Brian Navarreto – 0-for-4 – in Carolina’s 5-3 loss to Mayaguez in Game One of the Puerto Rico Championship Series. Old friend RHP Braden Webb earned the save for Mayaguez and it will be interesting to see where the free agent Webb lands after being out with injury in 2022

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Wednesday, January 18

It was an excellent day for the three Brewers still actively participating in the Winter League playoffs.

• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (win) – 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 Ks – in Tiburones’ 4-0 defeat of Navegantes, moving his club back into a first-place tie in the very tight Round Robin playoffs. They have two games remaining in this round, with four clubs all within 1.5 games of each other
• C Brian Navarreto – 1-for-5 – in Carolina’s 6-4 win over Mayaguez
• RHP JC Mejia’s Tigres del Licey’s squad clinched the Dominican League Championship with a 2-1 extra inning victory over Estrellas, although he didn’t play in the final

[Ro Mueller]

No Brewers featured in Winter League Action on Thursday, January 19.

Brian Navarreto's Carolina club (Puerto Rico) had the day off, while Arnaldo Hernandez's Tiburones team (Venezuela) dropped a 13-6 contest to put them in jeopardy of missing out on the Championship Series. Navaretto should play on Friday, Hernandez on Saturday.

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Friday, January 20

Carolina stormed back from a 4-0 deficit to defeat Mayguez 5-4 in walk-off fashion, giving them a 2-1 edge in the Puerto Rican Championship. Brian Navarreto drove in Carolina’s first run with an RBI double in the 6th inning. Old friend Braden Webb took the tough loss for Mayaguez.

• C Brian Navarreto – 1-for-4, double, RBI

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Saturday, January 21

Arnaldo Hernandez earned the victory as his squad clinched a spot in the Venezuelan Championship Series, while Brian Navaretto’s squad fell into a 2-2 tie in the Puerto Rican Championship Series.

• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (win) – 2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 Ks – in Tiburones’ 8-5 win over Tigres
• C Brian Navaretto – 2-for-5; also allowed 2 stolen bases – in Carolina’s 7-3 loss to Mayaguez

[Ro Mueller]

No Brewers featured in Sunday Winter League action, but Brian Navarreto's Carolina club were victorious in Game 5 of the Puerto Rican Championship, taking a 3-2 lead in their Best-of-7 series.

[Ro Mueller]

No Brewers featured in Monday Winter League action, but Arnaldo Hernandez's Tiburones club lost Game 1 of the Venezuelan Championship 8-6 to Leones.

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Tuesday, January 24

Brian Navarrato’s Carolina team lost a nail-biter to set up a winner-take-all Game 7 in the Puerto Rican Championship Series. In Venezuela, Arnaldo Hernandez was inexplicably left on the bench as Tiburones blew a 5-3 lead to Leones, falling 8-5 to trail their Championship Series 2 games to 0.

• C Brian Navarreto – 1-for-4 – in Carolina’s 2-1 loss to Mayaguez

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Wednesday, January 25

It was heartbreak for Brian Navarreto’s Carolina club as they fell 2-1 in Game 7 of the Puerto Rican Championship Series. Down 2-0 entering the bottom of the 9th inning, they started with a single and double off old friend Braden Webb with nobody out, but only managed an RBI groundout from there, stranding the tying run at 3rd base to end the series.

• C Brian Navaretto – 0-for-4 – in Carolina’s 2-1 loss to Mayaguez

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Thursday, January 26

Arnaldo Hernandez wasn’t sharp, but his Tiburones de La Guaira squad clawed a game back in the Venezuelan Championship Series, so now trail 2 games to 1.

• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 WP, 0 K – in Tiburones’ 7-1 victory over Leones del Caracas

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Friday, January 27

Tiburones de La Guaira jumped out to a 4-0 lead and defeated Leones del Caracas 8-2 to even the Venezuelan Championship Series at two games a piece, with Arnaldo Hernandez covering the 7th inning for the winners.

• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K – in Tiburones’ 8-2 victory over Leones

[Ro Mueller]

No Brewers played in Winter League ball on Saturday. Arnaldo Hernandez' Tiburones teammates were defeated 7-2 by Leones del Caracas in Game 5 of the Best-of-7 Venezuelan Championship. They now trail 3 games to 2 in the series.

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League Action from Monday, January 30

Tiburones de La Guaira fell 7-6 in 11 innings to Leones del Caracas, thus losing the Venezuelan Championship Series 4 games to 2. Our man Arnaldo Hernandez was in the thick of it, conceding a game-tying run in the bottom of the 7th inning. Colorado Rockies’ infielder Harold Castro was the hero, blasting a walk-off homer off of old friend Johan Belisario to win it for Leones.

• RHP Arnaldo Hernandez – 1 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K

Thus concludes this particular Winter League Ball 2022-2023 thread.  But never fear, there is still baseball being played somewhere on the Earth.  Alex Hall and Perth Heat are in the Australian Championship Series, scheduled to start this Friday (early morning), February 3.