Who Can't Play Winterball

Each year, MLB sends a the winter leagues a list of players who are either injured or have meet certain performance thresholds and cannot play winter ball. Sometimes players on this list do play in the leagues but their play is limited by their parent club. Here is the list of the players in the Houston Astros organization who were on THE LIST


It appears that the Liga Biesbol Professional Roberto Clemente has taken exception with several of the names on the list including Houston's own George Springer. They state that Springer had just 506 At Bats instead of the 550 required for MLB teams to put a player on the list.   They also refer to him as being a native Puerto Rican player, which is interesting since he is listed as being born in Connecticut.

Liga Paralela - The Minor Leagues in Venezuela

In Venezuela, there isn’t just the LVBP season going on .  There is also the Liga Paralela, the Venezuelan minor leagues.  Here is an update on the former G-Stros who are playing minor league winter ball. 

MAGALLANES

Frederico Hernandez – Has started five games and is hitting .227 in 22 at bats.  He has played 1^st base in most of his games.

Ernesto Genoves – Has played in four games but started just three.  In 12 at bats, he has three hits for a .250 batting average.  One of those hit was a home run.  He has put in an appearance at 3rd base in one game. 

David Martinez – Has pitched in four games, three of them as a starter.  In 14 innings pitched, he has yet to allow an earned run.  He has allowed just five hits and two walks for a 0.500 WHIP.  He has fanned 8 of the 44 batters he has faced. 

Carlos Quevedo – Has pitched in relief in six games.  He has given up five runs in nine innings pitched but only one of those runs was earned.  So he is sporting a snazzy 1.00 ERA.  He has given up seven hits and fanned three batters.

CARACAS

Yuri (Juri) Perez – Has pitched in five games, three of them as the starter.  In 21 innings, he has given up 20 hits and eight walks.  He has struck out 16 batters.  His ERA is 3.86

NAVEGANTES

Luis Alvarez – Is hitting .282 in 12 games.  He has three doubles and a home run.  He has walked three times and has struck out only three times in 39 at bats.  He has caught four out of six base thieves.

This is all that I can locate on the rosters.  Just last year, Jose Altuve started winter ball in this league and he finished Winterball in the Venezuelan big leagues.  Maybe the same will happen for a few of these guys this year. 

Beau on The Braves, Barnes Plays More & Winter Ball Stats

Beau Torbert was interviewed by the Columbus (Ga) Ledger Enquirer about his recent minor league free agent contract with the Braves.

“This is my last shot,” he said. “Because of my age and not wanting to really go back to indy league, I was thinking I would just move on. But this is one more, one last shot, and I’m going to do everything I can to take full advantage of it.”

He doesn't report any love loss for the Astros org who he says didn't give him a reason for his release. Beau is realistic about his chances to make the Mississippi Braves (AA) or Gwinnett Braves (AAA) rosters.

“It’s always a numbers game,” Torbert said. “It’s hard once you’re an independent league guy. They’ve got their guys they drafted. It’s tough because you’re always on the back burner.”...“I feel like (with the Braves) I’m getting a legitimate shot,” he said. “The outfield is a spot they’re hurting. I’m just going to keep working hard and give this my full concentration and prove I can play.”

Houston Chronicle Baseball writer Zachary Levine confirms what many of us had suspected, Brandon Barnes is off the taxi squad and playing more because Jack Shuck has a bum knee. Brandon is hitting .267 with just one extra base hit in his first 8 games.

I was going to try to find a way to keep you up to date with winter ball stats of the Greeneville Astros Alums. MLB has made it simpler than I ever could have. They have a page devoted to each MLB team that list the stats for any players in their organization playing winter ball. Here is the Astros link. There are a few guys who are with other organizations like Santo Luis or those out of affiliated ball that I will give updates on from time to time.

Winter Ball Update

The first week of the Winter/Fall Seasons are wrapped up for the stateside AFL & the Venezuelan Winter League (LVBP). Here is an update on how some former Greeneville Astros are doing:

LVBP:

Frederico Hernandez has played in two games, hitting .286 with a double and two RBI.

Gabriel Garcia has pitched in two games and has yet to give up an earned run in two innings pitched.

Wlad Sutil has appeared in one game but has not gotten a hit yet.

Antonio Noguera has appeared in three games, giving up two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings pitched.

AFL:

Brandon Barnes played in one game and went 1 for 4 (.250)

Koby Clemens has played in four games. He has four hits, four strike outs and four RBI.

Jay Austin has played in four games. He is batting just .154 with two RBI. The good news is he has more BB than K (3/2). The bad news is he has been caught stealing three out of four times.

Kyle Greenwalt made his first start and went two innings giving up two runs.

Patrick Urckfitz has appeared in two games. He has given up two runs in three innings

Extreme Fatigue - Dom. Edition

I have found a list of players on the Fatigue list for the Dominican Republic Winter League. Here are the Astros who are listed:

Alberto Arias
Sammy Gervacio
Enerio del Rosario
Wandy Rodriguez

Extreme Fatigue List - Ven. Edition

Here is the list I mentioned in my previous comments of the Latin players who are listed by MLB as not being allowed to play in winter ball because they have passed "extreme fatigue" thresholds.

The thresholds for pitchers are:

MLB/AAA -160 IP or 60 appearances
AA - 150 IP
A - 130 IP
Short A - 75 IP
Rookie - 70 IP

The thresholds for hitters are:
MLB - 502 AB
AAA - A - 550 AB

There are also thresholds for catchers but I have no idea what entries recieved are so I won't try to guess.

Here are the Venezuelan Astros who are on the list:
Carlos Quevedo P
Luis Alvarez C (injury)
Jhonny Medrano INF (injury)
Felipe Paulino P

The various winter ball teams can appeal the decision and if overturned, the players can start playing in December. There is a Dominican list with at least 75 names on it but I can't find it yet.

Federico Hernandez To Be Opening Day Catcher In Ven.

More Winterball News today. Frederico Hernandez appears to be the opening day starter for Navegantes del Magallanes in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. Here is what is being said about him (translated through google translator so syntax is not correct but you get the idea).

Luis Blasini, Manager of Electric Sports said, "I have no concern whatsoever that Federico Hernandez will do a great job this season, he neglected a bit of their offensive in recent years but I must say that after the mid-season like everyone behaved a double A-class player. "

The linked post also talks about former Houston Astro Richard Hildago who will be patrolling RF for the Navigators