Banuelos impresses in Rising Stars Showcase

Time to get you caught up on all the winter ball action…

AzFL Phoenix (14-5 loss to Peoria on Thursday)
Brandon Laird, LF: 1 for 5, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K – threw a runner out at second
Jose Pirela, 2B: 1 for 4, 1 E (fielding)
Ryan Pope: 0.1 IP, zeroes, 1 K – four pitches, three strikes

AzFL Phoenix (10-0 loss to Scottsdale on Friday)
Brandon Laird, LF: 0 for 4, 2 K
Austin Romine, C: 1 for 3, 1 K, 1 PB – threw out both attempted basestealers, including 2010 first overall pick Bryce Harper

AzFL Rising Stars Showcase (West beat East 3-2, walk-off style)
Brandon Laird, LF: 0 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K – started and batted cleanup … drove in the run with a groundout in the first … made a few routine fly balls look slightly adventurous (he reminded me of Johnny Damon with the all the turning around), but he caught everything he should have
Austin Romine, C: 1 for 3, 1 BB, 1 PB – started and batted fifth … singled off Mariners’ prospect Josh Fields … allowed a run to score from third on the passed ball
Manny Banuelos: 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 0-2 GB/FB – 18 of 31 pitches were strikes (58.1%) … he got victimized by some bad luck in the second (run scored on a would-be inning ending grounder through the third baseman’s legs) … PitchFX had him topping out at 95, and watching the game I was impressed with how easy the ball came out of his hands, there’s very little effort in his delivery … the breaking ball needs work, but he got swings and misses consistently with his fastball and changeup

There are no AzFL games today, so here’s an update on everyone playing in various other winter leagues…

Australian Baseball League
Kyle Perkins: 1 G, 0 for 2, 2 K – I didn’t even know the ABL existed, but it’s good Perkins gets to go home for the winter and keep playing

Dominican Winter League
Wilkins Arias: 7 G, 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K (1.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP)
Jon Ortiz: 3 G, 2.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K (6.75 ERA, 2.25 WHIP)
Zack Segovia: 3 IP, 5 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (1.80 ERA, 0.40 WHIP)

Mexican Pacific League
Justin Christian: 21 G, 35 for 86, 15 R, 7 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 11 SB, 0 CS (.407/.474/.628) – killin’ it
Walt Ibarra: 21 G, 18 for 68, 15 R, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 15 K, 1 SB, 1 CS (.265/.311/.309)
Jorge Vazquez: 3 G, 2 for 11, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 K (.182/.182/.455)
Francisco Gil: 4 G, 6 ER, 10 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 WP (10.50 ERA, 2.17 WHIP) – didn’t pitch last week
Eric Wordekemper: 10 G, 9.1 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 9 K (7.71 ERA, 1.61 WHIP)

Puerto Rican League
Rene Rivera: 9 G, 9 for 30, 6 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 10 K 9 (.233/.343/.433)

Venezuelan Winter League
Jose Gil: 14 G, 13 for 47, 4 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 7 K (.277/.300/.447)
Edwar Gonzalez: 10 G, 4 for 13, 3 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K (.308/.357/.385)
Luis Nunez: 7 G, 2 for 10, 1 R (.200/.200/.200) – didn’t play at all last week
Marcos Vechionacci: 15 G, 17 for 51, 5 R, 4 2B, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 12 K, 3 SB, 1 CS (.333/.393/.412)
Romulo Sanchez: 2 G, 2.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K (6.75 ERA, 1.88 WHIP)
Josh Schmidt: 5 G, 4 GS, 23.2 IP, 12 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 12 BB, 25 K, 1 HB (1.52 ERA, 1.001 WHIP) – solid

Still no sign of Juan Marcano, Emerson Landoni, Eduardo Sosa, Jesus Montero, and Jon Albaladejo. The first four are playing in Venezuela, Albie’s in Puerto Rico.