Misc. Offseason Updates - AFL, Winter Leagues

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

The Venezuelan box score from that Monasterio game also has Jeferson Quero and Eduardo Garcia combining to reach base five times on the opposing side.

[Jim Goulart]

Anthony Seigler drives in a run with this ground ball single in the D.R.:

 

[Jim Goulart]

Seigler's teammate, Steward Berroa takes advantage of the opposing defense to snag an extra base, nice!

 

[Jim Goulart]

Busy Monday box score at the plate and on the basepaths for RF Steward Berroa, now at .324/.500/459 thru 53 Dominican plate appearances.

[Ro Mueller]

Winter League stats to date:

In Venezuela:

• Andruw Monasterio (Caribes de Anzotegui) – 4-for-14, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 5 BB, 1 SB in 19 PAs
• Jeferson Quero (Cardenales de Lara) - .241 AVG / .803 OPS, 6 HR, 20 RBIs in 97 PAs
• Eduardo Garcia (Cardenales de Lara) - .286 AVG / .827 OPS, 3 HR, 11 RBIs, 3 SB in 82 PAs
• Stiven Cruz (Tiburones de La Guaira) – 4.0 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 Ks
• Yerlin Rodriguez (Tiburones de La Guaira) – 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 5 Ks

In the Dominican Republic

• Anthony Seigler (Aguilas Cibaenas) - 1-for-10, 1 BB, 2 RBIs, 1 SB in 12 PAs
• Carlos Rodriguez (Toros del Este) - 3.18 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 in 17 IP
• Sammy Peralta (Estrellas Orientales) – 1.29 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 6.4 K/9 in 7 IP
• Steward Berroa (Aguilas Cibaenas) - .324 AVG, .959 OPS, 1 HR, 6 RBIs, 10 SB in 53 PAs

[Jim Goulart]

Also, Garcia's teammate Jeferson Quero singled and walked twice in this game, and he was behind the plate, throwing out one of two baserunners.

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Jeferson Quero (DH’ing) and SS Eduardo Garcia (double) each reached base twice in Lara’s 4-3 loss in Venezuela (box score).

[Ro Mueller]

Andruw Monasterio's second Winter League blast, but his team gave up 7 runs in the 9th inning to lose 9-6: 

 

[Ro Mueller]

Eduardo Garcia played first base and homered as part of a 2-for-4, 3 RBI day, but his Lara squad blew an 8-5 lead to lose 12-9. 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Chourio-Watch now set for the 2nd week of December --

 

[biedergb]

Does anyone have any insight into how the players and the leagues in Venezuela are doing and feeling with a potential US / Venezuela conflict potentially flaring up - I guess answering my own question it’s probably like Russian players or the KHL in hockey over the past 4 years. But you have to wonder if this has impact on them this winter or possibly next spring?

Sorry - this wasn’t meant to derail this thread, and mods you can move or delete if this opens up a can of worms sorry. Just reading and watching players in/from Venezuela and imagining Chourio the face of the franchise made me think about that.

Anyway look forward to him playing some. And hope Garcia parlays this winter into a highly productive season next year as forces his way into the utility player bench role for the Brew Crew in ‘26 or ‘27.

[Jim Goulart]

Lone hit on a 1-for-5 night stroked solidly:

"Two-run RBI double by Andruw Monasterio (Winter League stats at link) that ends Erick Leal's performance in the game and extends the home team's lead against Leones del Caracas."

 

[Jim Goulart]

Young man is on fire, would love to see this confidence carry over this spring -

That Eduardo Garcia HR part of a 2-for-4 night which included this two-RBI single:

Garcia's first game this winter playing first base - well, he's hitting like one (.924 OPS, as seen at the link above).

[Ro Mueller]

It appears that knee inflammation may be what’s kept Anthony Seigler out of his past few games in the Dominican Republic. 

 

[Ro Mueller]

In Venezuela:

Breakout performer Eduardo Garcia played shortstop and had a 2-for-3 day with a double, while teammate Jeferson Quero went 1-for-3 with a walk (0-for-2 throwing out basestealers).

However, Lara lost in extra innings 5-4.

Andruw Monasterio went 2-for-5 with an RBI, but Caribes lost 13-8.

[Ro Mueller]

Back to the DR: A mix of 12 players and coaches were ejected late as Manager Victor Estevez’s Toros del Este squad lost 12-3. 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Eventful night for 40-man roster RF Steward Berroa in the D.R.

He led off the game with a double and would score. He earned an outfield assist in the 5th, though it was of the 9-3-5 variety. Berroa finished the game with .327/.463/.519 night (.982 OPS in 68 plate appearances).

Unfortunately, Berroa would strike out in each of his four remaining at-bats, and despite his fine season to date, his golden sombrero was chronicled thusly. My goodness, tough online crowd! Despite the sombrero, Berroa still has more walks/HBP's (14) than K's (11). (Looks like there is a "golden sombrero GIF" as well). And by the way, Berroa did not swing at that final pitch in the 4th K.

But wait, there's more - thankfully it was nothing like the charging the mound madness seen in the post just above this one, but benches did empty as Berroa must have been nearly plunked. We don't see the pitch here, but you'll see Berroa quickly shuttled to the lower-right of the screen and kept from the scuffle.

Finally, Berroa was featured in an online personal background story out of the Dominican Republic, and since there is no paywall, a translated version is provided here (original link).

Steward Berroa escaped from Las Cañitas crime
He grew up in a very hostile and marginalized environment, but that was not an impediment to reach the Major Leagues
by Moisés Mejía, Santo Domingo

"You first see it on the PlayStation, then in your mind, then you dream it, and when it comes true it becomes life's greatest satisfaction."

With those words of Steward Berroa himself, a dream began to take shape that many consider impossible for a young man born in a marginalized neighborhood, marked by violence and need. But he, with faith, discipline and courage, believed that this dream was worth it.

Steward was born and raised in Las Cañitas, a neighborhood in the National District where daily life, a little more than a decade ago, was defined by crime, gang fights, robberies, and a harsh reality for any boy with big dreams. At least that's how he remembers it.

"There were times when one sometimes had to run away because there were a lot of troubles and the tigueres at times were fighting every day," Berroa told Listín Diario.

That was the atmosphere: danger and risk, a very easy path to the negative, even when he got involved in "boys' fights".

"Sometimes I had some fights but nothing that has to do with matters of crime or bad roads. I have always been very obedient to my parents and a boy from my house, I have never liked problems and things on the street," said the pimentoso player.

That sense of rootedness, of respect for his parents, was key. Many in his environment took another course, but Steward decided to dream differently.

Tryouts without breakfast

Steward's path to leave Las Cañitas was not a red carpet. He made dozens of tryouts, and even 'got into' some that were not for him, but as a 'joseador', what he was looking for was an opportunity, no matter how minimal or small it was.

On some occasions, he even did tryouts without breakfast.

"Sometimes it was in toothpaste that one went to the play. If they went to see a player there, I would sneak in, if there was a trip for a tryout, I would also be there. I never gave up. It's a process. Nothing is given away. Everything you get is based on effort," Steward emphasized.

Major League Baseball

That effort led him to sign with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016 and little by little, climb until he knocked on the door of the dream that every player has as a longing: to debut in the Major Leagues.

On June 23, 2024, it became a reality. Berroa was called up by Toronto and achieved the glory of wearing a Major League uniform.

"I was surprised when they called me that I was going to move up to MLB. I mean, that's something you expect and thank God I was doing well in the minors, but in any case that news surprises even the most prepared," Berroa said.

The first thing he did was call his parents:

"First it went to daddy and then to mommy. Daddy is less expressive, although I know he was very emotional inside, but Mommy did go crazy, she cried, she jumped. It made me feel very proud of that moment."

Lidom

In addition to playing in the Major Leagues, Berroa has maintained his participation in Dominican winter ball.

Last season he played for the Leones del Escogido, a team with which he was crowned champion, but then he was traded to the Águilas Cibaeñas.

"In my short career I have learned that this is a business. Obviously, it took me many beautiful experiences with the Escogido, especially the championship we were able to win and the friendships I made. But now we are in the Eagles, representing the culture of what this historic team means and thank God we are doing a good job," said Steward

With the Cibaeño team, Berroa has received the opportunity and has responded very well with his game.

In 23 games played this year, Berroa is batting .340, with two home runs, 16 runs scored, 13 stolen bases, 12 walks, seven RBIs, three doubles and a .484 OBP, being an effective leadoff hitter in a team that has had the first half of the season in league history.

"I try every day to learn good things and above all to learn about myself. What can I do differently to be able to impact in more and more ways with my game. Learn from the coaches, the veterans and take everything I learn to the Major Leagues," he added.

Berroa came to the Eagles in exchange for fellow outfielder Alex Canario, who with the Reds has a .135 average, one home run, eight runs scored and six RBIs in 20 games.

[Jim Goulart]

5 hours ago, Ro Mueller said:

Back to the DR: A mix of 12 players and coaches were ejected late as Manager Victor Estevez’s Toros del Este squad lost 12-3. 

 

The player who charged the mound on that 3-0 inside pitch (he wasn't even officially hit) has not been in affiliated ball since 2018 - 31-year-old Sandber Pimentel. Good luck with that office meeting postgame, Victor.

[Ro Mueller]

Steward Berroa’s homer to lead off the bottom of the first inning extended his hitting streak to 7 games, homering in 3 of them, as Aguilas Cibaenas won 4-2 to improve to 23-6 in the Dominican Republic. He went 1-for-4.