2023 - 2024 Winter League Thread

[Ro Mueller]

Jimenez is rounding back into form. Friday performances:

- RHP Edwin Jimenez - 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 BB, 1 K - but Zulia lost 4-2 to Margarita
- CF Carlos D. Rodriguez - 2-for-5, walk, 2 runs - in Magallanes’ 12-7 win over La Guaira
- C Brian Navarreto - 0-for-5; allowed one stolen base - yet Carolina won 6-3 over RA12

[Ro Mueller]

Just one Brewer played on Saturday:

- C Brian Navarreto - 1-for-4, double, 2 RBIs; also threw out 1 of 2 basestealers - in Carolina’s 3-1 win over Mayaguez

[Ro Mueller]

Decent Sunday production:

- CF Carlos D. Rodriguez - 3-for-8, HR, double, RBI, SB - but Magallanes was swept by Anzoategui in a doubleheader
- DH Brian Navarreto - 1-for-2, 2 walks, 2 RBIs - in Carolina’s 11-0 victory over Ponce 

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Ro Mueller]

23-year old undrafted C Alejandro Rodriguez saw his first Winter League game action on Tuesday:

• CF Carlos D. Rodriguez - 1-for-4, walk, SB, run - in Magallanes' 5-2 victory over Aragua
• RHP Christian Mejias - 1.1 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 1 H, 0 BB, 0 Ks - in Aragua's defeat
• C Brian Navaretto - 1-for-4; threw out 1 of 2 basestealers - in Carolina's 5-4 extra inning win over Ponce. He exited the game after a sacrifice bunt in the top of the 10th inning
• PH/C Alejandro Rodriguez - 0-0, walk, run - in Caguas' 14-3 win over RA12 - played one inning behind the plate 

[Ro Mueller]

Carlos D. Rodriguez continues to produce in Venezuela. Is he following in the footsteps laid by Andruw Monasterio last offseason? Wednesday performances:

• CF Carlos D. Rodriguez - 2-for-4, walk, RBI, SB, run - in Magallanes' 4-3 loss to Caracas 
• 3B Yonny Hernandez - 0-for-3 - in Aragua's 5-4 loss to Margarita  

[Joseph Zarr]

3 hours ago, damuelle said:

Carlos D. Rodriguez continues to produce in Venezuela. Is he following in the footsteps laid by Andruw Monasterio last offseason?

If we go back to that run in High-A Wisco (pre-injury) 2022, Cargo has quite simply made the case: he's a prospect to be reckoned with. Many intriguing qualities at the dish. Obviously would be nice to see the power rate improve (aren't we all so greedy!) but has very very good discipline (50K:40BB Double-A 2023). Nice to see him continue running with it. Defensively, I have question marks. But, I certainly don't doubt his abilities. 2024 should be fun!

[Ro Mueller]

On-base machine Carlos D. Rodriguez on Thursday:

• 4-for-5, 2 RBIs, SB - in Magallanes' 10-7 victory over Aragua

And I think this interview means he's being called back state-side this weekend, after which we'd have almost nobody playing in the main winter leagues (I suspect Brian Navarreto is nursing a minor injury and Edwin Jimenez has been shut down for the winter, but I'm just guessing)

 

[Ro Mueller]

CDR with 3 more hits, Edwin Jimenez keeps trending well and Yonny Hernandez is now 2-for-48 (oh my). Friday action:

- CF Carlos D. Rodriguez - 3-for-5, run (.348 AVG); also had his first error - in Magallanes’ 8-4 loss to Caracas
- RHP Edwin Jimenez - 4 IP, 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K - in Zulia’s 4-1 victory over Caribes
- 3B Yonny Hernandez - 0-for-3, walk - in Aragua’s 9-4 win over La Guaira

[Jim Goulart]

Confirming what @damuelle hinted at earlier this week:
 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Carlos D. Rodriguez ends his Winter League campaign with another 3-hit game:

- CF Carlos D. Rodriguez - 3-for-6, double, run (.354 AVG) - in Magallanes’ 6-5 defeat to Margarita
- RHP Christian Mejias - 0.2 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 4 H, 2 BB, 0 Ks - in Aragua’s 15-1 loss to La Guaira
- PH/2B - Yonny Hernandez - 0-for-1 for Aragua

[Ro Mueller]

Not many games were played on Sunday and the Puerto Rico box scores are difficult to find, but Baseball Reference loaded some winter league season data, so I know Brian Navarreto had an 0-for-4 game for Carolina at some point over the past few days. That’s notable since it means he’s healthy.

[Ro Mueller]

LVBP.com has an article absolutely lauding CF Carlos D. Rodriguez - first rookie to collect 50 hits since Luis Arraez, was on pace to break the league’s hits record, top leadoff hitter this year by all metrics, exciting on the bases, low strikeout rate, hitting balls the opposite way, etc.

Here’s a link to an English version using Google translate.

Interesting quote: “We play for all 30 organizations. Anyone can ask for a trade, or take me in the Rule 5 Draft,” Rodríguez said. “We are focused to see what happens next year.”

[Ro Mueller]

There are not many Brewers left participating in Winter League ball, which is a marked deviation from prior years. Tuesday's sole note:

• C Brian Navarreto - 1-for-4; threw out only basestealer - but Carolina lost a tough one 2-1 to Mayaguez

[Ro Mueller]

On Thursday, C Brian Navarreto went 4-for-5 with 2 RBIs as Carolina defeated Caguas 5-0.

[Ro Mueller]

Friday games:

- C Brian Navarreto - 2-for-3, 2 RBIs - in Carolina’s 9-3 win over Mayaguez (Puerto Rico)

Checking in on our coaches

- Victor Estevez’s Leones del Escogido (Dominican Republic) have won 7 of 10 to move to 3rd place in the 6-team league at 21-18
- Nester Corredor’s Aguilas del Zulia (Venezuela) have won 6 of 10 to move to 4th place in the 8-team league at 20-20

[Brewcrew82]

Some pretty hefty competition for Chourio....

[Ro Mueller]

On Sunday, C Brian Navarreto went 0-for-3 as Carolina lost a walk-off 4-3 to Santurce.

[Ro Mueller]

Jackson Chourio, Ronald Acuna and others in the Venezuelan League’s Home Run Derby: 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Let me do the heavy lifting here (sheeeeesh!) 🏋️‍♂️ Chourio starts at 03:22:05. Here is your time-stamped video Brewers fans:

 

[Ro Mueller]

On Tuesday, C Brian Navarreto went 0-for-3 with 2 walks as Carolina defeated Santurce 5-4 in 10 innings. Nobody tried to steal on him for the second straight game.

[Ro Mueller]

Wednesday games:

• C Brian Navarreto - 2-for-4, double, 2 runs scored in Carolina's 9-0 victory over RA12 - again, nobody attempted to steal against him
• RHP Christian Mejias - 1.2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 1 K - in Aragua's 8-4 loss to Caracas. He gave up a homer to 29-year old UT Jose Rondon, who's mashing in Winter Ball (13 HRs, 1.079 OPS)

Of course, Ronald Acuna Jr. (1.468 OPS), Yasiel Puig (1.344 OPS), Maikel Garcia (1.161 OPS) and Wilson Garcia (1.046 OPS) are also mashing in Venezuela.

[Ro Mueller]

Manager Nestor Corredor’s Aguilas del Zulia squad dropped their 6th game in a row (20-0 to Margarita), falling to 7th in the 8-team Venezuelan League. They have about 12 games remaining to claw back into the Top 4.

- PH/1B Jesus Chirinos - 0-for-1 for Zulia
- C Brian Navarreto - 0-for-3, walk, run; nobody attempted to steal against him - in Carolina’s 4-1 win over Ponce

[Ro Mueller]

Friday activity:

- RHP Christian Mejias - 1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 WP - as Aragua defeated Caracas 6-4
- C Brian Navarreto was a late substitute (0-for-1) in Carolina’s 3-2 win over Mayaguez

[Ro Mueller]

Unless I missed someone, only C Brian Navarreto was in action on Saturday: 0-for-3, HBP; threw out only basestealer - in Carolina’s 4-3 loss to RA12