Several players from the Orioles’ minor league system are participating in the various Caribbean leagues. There are a couple new additions to this week’s list – catcher Jose Reyes, who is playing for the Estrellas in the Dominican Winter League, and infielder Mike Costanzo, who is playing for Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League.

I’ve attempted to compile a complete list, but I may have missed some players because it’s difficult to acquire information about the leagues. Feel free to get in touch with me if you think someone was inadvertently omitted and I’ll include them in next week’s entry.

Look for reports from the Caribbean leagues to appear on O’s on Deck every Wednesday for the remainder of the season.

Here are updates through Monday’s games on the players in the Orioles’ system:

Dominican Winter League

Fredy Deza, RHP – Deza pitched a scoreless inning against Escogido on Monday, but he’s struggled for most of the winter. The 25-year-old relief pitcher has an 8.49 ERA in 10 appearances for the Azucareros. He’s allowed 18 hits and three home runs in 11 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters are batting .360 against Deza., so there’s definitely plenty of room for improvement before the season ends.

Wilfredo Perez, LHP – The 24-year-old left-hander is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in eight appearances for the Estrellas. Perez has walked seven hitters and has eight strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings this season. He suffered the loss against Licey on Nov. 18 after allowing two runs without retiring a hitter. Perez bounced back with a strong outing against Escogido on Nov. 21. He struck out four batters and didn’t allow any base runners in 1 2/3 innings.

Jose Reyes, C – One of the newest additions to the organization, Reyes is hitting .222 (4-for-18) with two RBIs and two runs scored in 11 games for the Estrellas. The 25-year-old catcher has two walks and four strikeouts this season, and all four of his hits have been singles. In his best performance so far in the Dominican Republic, Reyes was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored against the Gigantes on Oct. 26.

Alfredo Simon, RHP – In his first two starts for the Gigantes, Simon is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA. The 27-year-old right-hander earned the victory against the Azucareros on Nov. 21 after giving up one run and six hits in six innings. He had two strikeouts and didn’t walk anyone in the game. Simon allowed one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings against Escogido in his first start on Nov. 14. Simon had a 6.23 ERA in four appearances (one start) for the Orioles in 2008.

Venezuelan Winter League

Victor Castillo, C – Castillo hasn’t played for La Guaira since going 0-for-2 with a strikeout against Lara on Oct. 22 in his only appearance. The 24-year-old catcher batted .231 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 39 games for the Delmarva Shorebirds this season. He hit .294 with one home run and 27 RBIs in 81 games for Delmarva in 2007.

Carlos Rojas, 2B/SS – Rojas is hitting .211 (4-for-19) with three RBIs and two runs scored in 11 games for the Caribes. The 24-year-old infielder hasn’t played since he was 0-for-3 with a walk against La Guaira on Nov. 11. He batted .247 with two home runs and 38 RBIs in 120 games for the Bowie Baysox this season.

Oscar Salazar, 1B/3B/LF – Salazar continues to lead the Venezuelan Winter League in batting average. The 30-year-old utility player is hitting .436 with six home runs and 21 RBIs in 26 games for La Guaira. He is tied for fifth in the league with 24 runs scored. Salazar also has seven doubles, two triples and three stolen bases. He was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored against Aragua on Nov. 18.

Steve Torrealba, C/1B – The 30-year-old backup catcher is batting .182 (4-for-22) with four RBIs and five runs scored in 12 games for the Caribes this season. Torrealba, who hit .283 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 37 games for the Baysox in 2008, was 0-for-2 with a walk against La Guaira on Nov. 16. He has also received some playing time at first base in Venezuela.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Miguel Abreu, 2B – Abreu is hitting .250 (2-for-8) with one RBI and two runs scored in three games for Ponce. The 24-year-old infielder was 1-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored against Caguas on Nov. 23. He batted .275 with six home runs and 43 RBIs in 116 games for the Frederick Keys in 2008. Abreu had 24 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 55 runs scored for the Keys.

Mike Costanzo, 1B/3B – The 25-year-old infielder has received playing time at both corner infield positions in Puerto Rico, but he’s struggling at the plate so far this winter. Costanzo is hitting .071 (1-for-14) with five strikeouts in four games for Caguas. He was 0-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored against Ponce on Nov. 23. This is a very small sample size, so it will be interesting to see how Costanzo performs for the rest of the season.

Mexican Pacific League

Jeff Nettles, SS/3B – The 30-year-old infielder is hitting .262 with one home run and six RBIs in 19 games for the Mochis Caneros, but he hasn’t played since Nov. 2. Nettles has hit successfully in eight of his past 10 games. During that span, he is batting .355 (11-for-31) with five RBIs and three runs scored. Nettles is only 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

I've seen several articles about Orioles prospects Brian Matusz and Matt Wieters in the past few weeks, so I thought it might be a good time to compile some of the news in a media roundup.

There's also some information regarding former Orioles who have already signed with other teams for 2009, which I added at the bottom of the entry.

• MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo spoke to scouts about the Arizona Fall League and compiled a list of the best prospects in the league this season. Wieters was one of two catchers mentioned, and Matusz received recognition as a left-handed pitcher to watch.

Matt Wieters, Orioles: Everyone -- from scouts to coaches to even his contemporaries on the field -- ran out of superlatives to describe Wieters. He can hit for average and power from both sides of the plate, has a cannon arm behind the dish and handles pitchers well. There may have even been a few who were watching closely to see if he could turn water into wine. He's a franchise-type player who's just about ready. Some have compared him to Joe Mauer, but with more power and switch-hitting ability.

Brian Matusz, Orioles: Despite making his unofficial pro debut in the AFL, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2008 Draft definitely looked like he belonged. He's got two breaking pitches, a slider and curve, both of which are plus offerings. Add that to slightly above-average fastball velocity, as well as command of all his offerings, and you're looking at a front-of-the-rotation southpaw who should get there quickly.

• Ryan Fagan of The Sporting News tabbed both players in his selection of the top five stars from the fall league. Fagan also offers a scout's take on Matusz and Wieters.

Scout's take on Matusz: "He's real polished. He's throwing everything for strikes, moving it around with good arm action, even on the breaking stuff. He got hit a few times, but there were points when hitters had no idea what was coming, and they were just lost. Again, big league hitters are going to be tougher outs, and they're not just going to flail the way some of these guys did, but there were really points where he was just so in charge of the game that it was really impressive. His upside is less than [Braves pitching prospect Tommy] Hanson just because he's already really polished in terms of his repertoire and his command and his ability set hitters up. He's not as much a "stuff" guy as Hanson. He doesn't have any pitches that you watch and say, 'Wow, that's amazing, top-shelf stuff.' But he really knows how to pitch, and his stuff is definitely above-average. But what really sets him apart is his ability to pitch intelligently and command his pitches. I think he could be a No. 2 guy in a rotation."

Scout's take on Wieters: "He's a great talent, he really is. He's got great hands and he's got incredible bat speed. There's one thing I noticed in the Fall League, though. You'll see a lot of guys who start open and stride in, and part of that is to keep them from drifting forward. If you step in toward the plate, you don't have that momentum toward the pitcher, which will get you jammed because you're rushing toward the baseball instead of throwing your hands through it. Wieters takes it one step further in that he dives his upper body in a bit. In the major leagues, smart pitchers are going to see that, and they're going to go out on the outside corner maybe with a fastball or changeup, and then they'll come inside hard and try to get him to either hit a ground ball or pop up to the middle infield. He'll just have to adjust."

• USA Today offers its organizational report of the Orioles, including a look at some of the team's top prospects. The story also mentions the improvements in the player development system over the past few years.

C Matt Wieters: The Orioles' 2007 first-round pick will get a chance to win the Baltimore starting catching job in spring training based as much on his defensive abilities as on his offense.

That's a strong endorsement, considering the 22-year-old switch-hitter batted a combined .355 at Class A and AA, with 27 homers and 91 RBI in 130 games in 2008, his first pro season.

LHP Brian Matusz: The 2008 first-round pick signed at the Aug. 15 deadline, spent a couple of weeks with short-season Aberdeen -- but not on the active roster -- then debuted in the Arizona Fall League, where he started 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA but had 21 strikeouts in 18 innings. The 22-year-old's style and repertoire have been compared to that of Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels.

• John Sickels, who is famous for his analysis of the minor leagues, offers his thoughts on the top prospects in the organization heading into the 2009 season.

1) Matt Wieters, C, Grade A: Best prospect in baseball. Mutant cross between Mauer and Piazza.

3) Brian Matusz, LHP, Grade B+: Not David Price, but should advance quickly due to sharp command of solid stuff.

• This column from Larry Stone of The Seattle Times is almost three weeks old, but there are a few notes at the bottom that serve as good news for Orioles fans about the team's moves during the last offseason.

Baseball America came out Wednesday with its list of the Baltimore Orioles' top 10 prospects, and it's another painful reminder of the Erik Bedard trade. No. 2 is pitcher Chris Tillman, and No. 10 is pitcher Kam Mickolio, both of whom came over from the Mariners for Bedard, along with reliever George Sherrill, who made the All-Star team last year, Adam Jones, the Orioles' starting center fielder, and pitcher Tony Butler.

Baseball America forecast Tillman as the Orioles' No. 1 starter in 2012. The Orioles' top prospect -- and one of the best in the major leagues -- is catcher Matt Wieters.

• Speaking of the Orioles' prospect rankings on Baseball America, here's a link to the breakdown. Do you agree with their opinion? Would your list be any different?

The Orioles are making progress in player development as well, with an influx of top-end talent in the last few years. Wieters is a legitimate cornerstone player, and the system's top three arms (Tillman, 2008 first-rounder Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta) all look like legitimate big league starters.

If they're to make a significant jump in the big league standings, Baltimore particularly needs its young pitchers to come through. The Orioles ranked 13th in the AL in ERA (5.13) in 2008 and head into 2009 with no proven big league starters behind Jeremy Guthrie, who's better suited for the middle or back of a rotation than the front.

• Baseball America lists the recent transactions in the minor leagues, which includes former Orioles starting shortstop Luis Hernandez signing with the Kansas City Royals. The article also states that former Orioles reliever Greg Aquino signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians and ex-Orioles pitcher Rick Bauer signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Hernandez, 24, has none of the sheen of the unknown -- he’s a slick fielder and career .245/.289/.316 hitter in the minors. The biggest difference between him and Tony Pena Jr. is that Hernandez is a switch-hitter.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Surprise Rafters finished 12-26, which was the worst record in the Arizona Fall League. The Phoenix Desert Dogs won the National Division with an 18-18 record and the Peoria Javelinas finished 16-22. The Mesa Solar Sox and Peoria Saguaros tied atop the American Division (26-12), but Mesa advanced to play Phoenix in the championship game. The Scottsdale Scorpions finished in last place in the division (14-22).

The Desert Dogs captured their fifth consecutive league championship with a 10-4 victory over the Solar Sox. Josh Donaldson, a prospect with the Oakland Athletics, was 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs to lead Phoenix. Evan Frey, who plays in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization, was 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Here are updates on the Orioles' prospects through the end of the season:

Blake Davis, SS – The 24-year-old shortstop received most of his playing time over the final two weeks of the season. Davis finished with a .161 batting average (9-for-56), seven RBIs and five runs scored. He was 4-for-5 with a walk and three RBIs on Nov. 8 against the Javelinas. On Nov. 19 against Phoenix, Davis was 2-for-5 with a double – his only extra-base hit in Arizona – and two RBIs.

Ryan Keefer, RHP – Keefer missed most of the winter season with an arm injury, and he finished with a 6.00 ERA in four appearances. The 27-year-old right-hander gave up two runs and five hits in three innings for Surprise. He allowed two hits and had three strikeouts in one inning against Scottsdale on Nov. 17 during his final game.

Brian Matusz, LHP – Matusz was 2-4 with a 4.73 ERA in seven appearances (six starts) for the Rafters. While the numbers show that he didn’t dominate the league, the 21-year-old left-hander’s first professional action wasn’t a total disaster. He had 31 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings against some of the best prospects in the minor leagues. Matusz allowed at least two runs in six of his seven outings, but he also had at least five strikeouts in four of the seven. There’s definitely room for improvement, but the Orioles’ first-round draft pick showed that he’s capable of getting outs at the professional level.

Bob McCrory, RHP – McCrory didn’t pitch for the Rafters after Oct. 25. He surrendered two runs and three hits in one inning during that game against Mesa. In four games for Surprise, the 26-year-old relief pitcher had a 7.36 ERA. Earlier in the fall, McCrory experienced discomfort in his right elbow. The Orioles’ fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft allowed seven runs (three earned) and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in Arizona.

Nolan Reimold, OF – The 25-year-old outfielder batted .261 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 25 games for Surprise. Reimold struggled at the beginning of the winter, but he improved considerably by the end of the season. He hit .306 with five doubles, one home run and five RBIs in his final 10 games. The Orioles have taken a patient approach with Reimold, and it will be interesting to see when he’s finally given a chance to prove himself in the major leagues.

Brandon Snyder, 1B – While the Orioles had several high-profile prospects playing in Arizona, Snyder’s performance was probably the most important. After hitting .315 with 13 home runs and 80 RBIs in 116 games for the Frederick Keys in 2008, the 21-year-old first baseman showed that he’s able to hit against some of the best pitchers in the minor leagues. Snyder batted .349 with eight doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs in 17 games for Surprise. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2005 was 9-for-23 (.391) with three home runs and six RBIs in his final six games.

Chad Thall, LHP – Thall was 0-1 with a 10.22 ERA in nine appearances for the Rafters, but those numbers were inflated because he gave up six earned runs and five hits in 1/3 of an inning against Phoenix on Oct. 28. If you take away that outing, the 23-year-old left-hander allowed eight earned runs in 12 innings. That’s still not a great performance, but it’s much better than what he actually had. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher had 15 strikeouts and four walks in 12 1/3 innings for Surprise.

Matt Wieters, C – The 22-year-old catcher concluded his first professional season by hitting successfully in his final six games. Wieters hit .275 (11-for-40) with one home run and seven RBIs in his last 10 games with Surprise. He was 2-for-5 with two RBIs against Scottsdale on Nov. 17. Overall, Wieters batted .301 with one home run and 12 RBIs in 20 games for the Rafters. That’s still remarkable, but it doesn’t look as good after the Orioles’ first-round pick in the 2007 draft hit .355 with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs in 130 games split between the Keys and Bowie Baysox. It remains to be seen where Wieters begins next season, but he certainly lived up to the hype during his first season in the organization.

If you’re interested, here are some archived photos of Matusz and Wieters, as well as some of the Orioles’ previous first-round draft picks.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 4:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

Matt Wieters didn't bobble much this season in the Orioles' minor league system, but his head will be bobbling a lot during the offseason. Thanks to the Bowie Baysox, fans will have an opportunity to receive a limited edition bobblehead doll of the catching prospect.

The 22-year-old catcher batted .355 with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs in 130 games split between the Frederick Keys and Bowie Baysox this year. He was selected as Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year.

The bobblehead, which features Wieters in his Baysox uniform, will be given to anyone who purchases a 12- or 18-game season ticket plan for 2009. According to the team, the item won't be available for sale or be a giveaway during any game next season.

Also, you'll be able to choose between a photograph of Wieters or a 2008 Baysox team photo, in addition to the bobblehead, if you purchase the 18-game plan.

The tickets are undated and come in booklets of six. Coupons for concessions at Prince George's Stadium are also included. To purchase your Baysox season tickets, visit the team's Web site or call (301) 464-4880.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 4:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Lou Montanez, who played in 116 games for the Bowie Baysox before being promoted to the major leagues in early August, was recently named to the Topps' Double-A All-Star Team.

The 26-year-old outfielder won the Triple Crown in the Eastern League after hitting .335 with 26 home runs and 97 RBIs. Montanez led all Double-A hitters with a .601 slugging percentage, and he was second in the classification with 63 extra-base hits. He was also first in the Eastern League with 90 runs scored.

In August, Montanez was honored as the Eastern League Most Valuable Player. He was also selected as a postseason All-Star in the league.

Montanez was chosen as Eastern League Player of the Month in July after batting .352 with eight home runs, 29 RBIs and 30 runs scored. He was named Eastern League Player of the Week twice during the regular season.

With the Orioles, Montanez hit .295 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 38 games. He hit a solo home run against Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Ervin Santana in his first at-bat in the majors on Aug. 6.

The Topps' Double-A All-Star Team consisted of five players from the Southern League, four players from the Texas League and three players, including Montanez, from the Eastern League.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

The West Oahu CaneFires won the West Division with a 19-14 record. The North Shore Honu (14-20) finished 5 1/2 games behind West Oahu in the division.

The CaneFires lost to the Waikiki BeachBoys, who won the East Division with a 19-17 record, in the championship game. The Honolulu Sharks finished 1 1/2 games behind the BeachBoys at 17-18.

Former Orioles starting pitcher Adam Loewen, who is attempting to return to the major leagues as a position player, hit .207 (6-for-29) with two RBIs and four runs scored in 10 games for West Oahu. The 24-year-old first baseman struck out eight times and had five walks during the season. All six of his hits were singles.

Here is the final update, through the end of the season, on the players in the Orioles’ minor league system who played for West Oahu in Hawaii Winter Baseball:

Tim Bascom, RHP – Bascom finished 1-3 with a 7.78 ERA in six starts for the CaneFires, but he didn’t pitch in November. He had 16 strikeouts and 10 walks in 19 2/3 innings in Hawaii. Bascom gave up five runs and four hits in his last start against North Shore on Oct. 30. The Orioles’ fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft walked three hitters and had four strikeouts in the game. The 23-year-old right-hander was 6-5 with a 5.78 ERA in 19 starts for the Frederick Keys in 2008, and he continued to struggle for West Oahu.

Wally Crancer, C/1B/DH – The 24-year-old utility player hit .224 with one home run and eight RBIs in 14 games for the CaneFires. Crancer struck out 13 times and scored seven runs in Hawaii. He was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs in his last game against Waikiki on Nov. 1. Crancer hit successfully in eight of his final 10 games for West Oahu.

Cliff Flagello, RHP – Flagello was 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA and three saves in 11 appearances for West Oahu. He had 14 strikeouts and walked seven hitters in 15 1/3 innings. The 23-year-old right-hander pitched a scoreless inning in his last game against North Shore on Nov. 14. He had one strikeout in the outing.

Sean Gleason, RHP – The 23-year-old right-hander finished 2-2 with a 6.08 ERA, but he pitched much better as a reliever for the CaneFires. After giving up 14 runs in 18 innings as a starter, Gleason only allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Despite walking two batters and surrendering a hit, he didn’t give up a run in an inning against Honolulu on Nov. 12. Opponents only batted .239 against Gleason, so his performance might not have been as bad as it appears with the high ERA.

Tyler Henson, 3B – After enduring a slump during the middle of the winter season, Henson finished strong for West Oahu. The 20-year-old third baseman hit .342 with one home run and eight RBIs in his last 10 games. Henson led the league in doubles (13), runs scored (28) and walks (25). He also played the most games (35) and finished second in strikeouts (44). Overall, the Orioles’ fifth-round pick in the 2006 draft batted .266 with one home run and 16 RBIs for the CaneFires.

Brian Parker, RHP – Parker finished with a 6.75 ERA in 11 appearances for the CaneFires. The 23-year-old relief pitcher allowed three runs and three hits in one inning during his final game against North Shore on Nov. 14. He also walked one hitter in the outing. Opponents hit .333 in 17 1/3 innings against the 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-handed pitcher. During the regular season, Parker was 7-5 with a 3.77 ERA in 39 games split between the Delmarva Shorebirds and Frederick Keys.

Chris Salberg, LHP – The Orioles’ strongest pitching performance in Hawaii came from the 24-year-old left-hander. Salberg was 4-0 with a 3.90 ERA in 12 appearances (four starts) for the CaneFires. He had 23 strikeouts and walked 16 hitters in 30 innings. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound pitcher earned the victory after giving up two runs and four hits in his final start against North Shore on Nov. 14.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

Two of the Orioles' minor league affiliates recently announced preparations for the holidays.

The Bowie Baysox are planning to assist area families with charity work during the holiday season. The Delmarva Shorebirds are giving fans an opportunity to be photographed with Santa Claus and Sherman, the Shorebirds' mascot.

After a successful campaign last year, the Baysox will be participating in "Louie's Holiday Hope Project" again in 2008. If you're interested in helping with the effort, go to Bowie's Web site for more information. You can also e-mail suggestions to louie@baysox.com with the project noted in the headline. Entries must be received by Dec. 5.

Private organizations and community groups are encouraged to help out. If your company would like to make a contribution, you can e-mail the above address or call Bowie's front office at (301) 805-6000.

On Dec. 6, the Shorebirds will host "Cookies with Claus" at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fans are invited to enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, and get their picture taken with Santa and Sherman. Children can also create their own holiday ornament and tell Santa what they want for Christmas.

The event is free, but the Shorebirds encourage the donation of a new, unwrapped toy or cash to benefit Toys for Tots. Call 410-219-3112 for more information.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Several players from the Orioles’ minor league system are participating in the various Caribbean leagues.

I’ve attempted to compile a list, but I may have missed some players because it’s difficult to acquire information about the leagues. Feel free to get in touch with me if you think someone was inadvertently omitted and I’ll include them in next week’s entry.

Look for reports from the Caribbean leagues to appear on O’s on Deck every Wednesday for the remainder of the season.

Here are updates through Monday’s games on the players in the Orioles’ system:

Dominican Winter League

Fredy Deza, RHP – Like he’s done for most of the winter, Deza struggled in his last appearance for the Azucareros. The 25-year-old relief pitcher allowed three runs and three hits in one inning against the Aguilas on Nov. 15. All three runs scored on a home run by Matt Carson with one out in the sixth inning. Deza has a 9.28 ERA in nine games in the Dominican Republic. He has given up three home runs and 18 hits in 10 2/3 innings.

Wilfredo Perez, LHP – Perez is 1-0 with a 5.79 ERA in six appearances for the Estrellas. He has walked six hitters in 4 2/3 innings this season, but he pitched well against Escogido on Nov. 16. The 24-year-old left-hander, who was added to the Orioles’ 40-man roster, retired both hitters he faced in the sixth inning. It was the first game in which he didn’t allow a walk.

Alfredo Simon, RHP – Simon made his debut for the Gigantes on Nov. 14. The 27-year-old right-hander started the game and allowed one run and four hits in 4 2/3 innings. Despite his strong performance, Simon didn’t factor in the decision. He had three strikeouts and didn’t issue any walks in the game. Simon had a 6.23 ERA in four appearances (one start) for the Orioles in 2008.

Venezuelan Winter League

Victor Castillo, C – Castillo hasn’t played for La Guaira since going 0-for-2 with a strikeout against Lara on Oct. 22 in his only appearance. The 24-year-old catcher batted .231 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 39 games for the Delmarva Shorebirds this season. He hit .294 with one home run and 27 RBIs in 81 games for Delmarva in 2007.

Carlos Rojas, 2B/SS – Rojas is hitting .211 (4-for-19) with three RBIs and two runs scored in 11 games for the Caribes. The 24-year-old infielder has received more playing time after seeing little action during the first few weeks of the season. Rojas was 0-for-3 with a walk against La Guaira on Nov. 11. He batted .247 with two home runs and 38 RBIs in 120 games for the Bowie Baysox this season.

Oscar Salazar, 1B/3B/LF – Salazar is hitting .439 with six home runs and 18 RBIs in 22 games for La Guaira. The 30-year-old utility player is first in the Venezuelan Winter League in batting average and tied for fifth in runs scored (21). He also has six doubles, two triples and three stolen bases. Salazar was 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs against Lara on Nov. 15. He was 2-for-3 with a double and a walk against the Caribes on the following night.

Steve Torrealba, C/1B – The 30-year-old backup catcher is batting .182 (4-for-22) with four RBIs and five runs scored in 11 games for the Caribes this season. Torrealba, who hit .283 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 37 games for the Baysox in 2008, was 0-for-2 with a walk in his last game against La Guaira on Nov. 16. He has also received some playing time at first base in Venezuela.

Puerto Rican Winter League

Miguel Abreu, 2B – Abreu was 1-for-4 with an RBI in his debut for Ponce against Carolina on Nov. 14. The 24-year-old infielder batted .275 with six home runs and 43 RBIs in 116 games for the Frederick Keys in 2008. He had 24 doubles, 21 stolen bases and 55 runs scored for the Keys.

Mexican Pacific League

Jeff Nettles, SS/3B – The 30-year-old infielder is hitting .262 with one home run and six RBIs in 19 games for the Mochis Caneros, but he hasn’t played since Nov. 2. Nettles has hit successfully in eight of his past 10 games. During that span, he is batting .355 (11-for-31) with five RBIs and three runs scored. Nettles is only 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 9:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

With four games remaining in the regular season, the Surprise Rafters are 10-24 in the Arizona Fall League. They are still in last place in the National Division. The Phoenix Desert Dogs lead the division with an 18-14 record and the Peoria Javelinas are 14-20. The Peoria Saguaros and Mesa Solar Sox are tied for the lead in the American Division. Both teams are 23-11 and 10 games ahead of the Scottsdale Scorpions (12-20).

Here are updates on the Orioles' prospects through Sunday:

Blake Davis, SS – Most of the playing time that Davis has received in Arizona has occurred over the past two weeks. The 24-year-old shortstop has played in eight games since Nov. 3 for the Rafters, but he’s continued to struggle. Davis was only 5-for-31 (.161) with four RBIs during that span, and that’s including four hits and three RBIs in a game against the Javelinas on Nov. 8. Overall, he is hitting .136 (6-for-44) with five RBIs and three runs scored in 11 games for Surprise.

Ryan Keefer, RHP – Keefer finally returned to the Rafters after missing most of the winter season with an arm injury. The 27-year-old right-hander gave up one hit during a scoreless inning against Scottsdale on Nov. 10. He surrendered a solo home run to Mesa left fielder Matt Young in the eighth inning on Nov. 13. Keefer walked one hitter and had one strikeout during one inning of work in the game.

Brian Matusz, LHP – The 21-year-old left-hander is 2-3 with a 4.37 ERA in six starts for Surprise. Matusz has 27 strikeouts, and he’s only walked five hitters in 22 2/3 innings. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick has allowed five home runs for the Rafters, but opponents are only hitting .230 against him. Matusz suffered the loss against Scottsdale on Nov. 10 after giving up two runs and three hits in four innings. He picked up his second victory of the season after surrendering two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Javelinas on Nov. 15.

Bob McCrory, RHP – McCrory hasn’t pitched for the Rafters since Oct. 25. He surrendered two runs and three hits in one inning during that game against Mesa. In four games for Surprise, the 26-year-old relief pitcher has a 7.36 ERA. Earlier in the fall, McCrory experienced discomfort in his right elbow. The Orioles’ fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft has allowed seven runs (three earned) and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in Arizona.

Nolan Reimold, OF – Reimold is hitting .378 (14-for-37) with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs in his past 10 games for Surprise. The 25-year-old outfielder has raised his batting average to .269 after a terrible start in Arizona. He was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs against Scottsdale on Nov. 10. Overall, Reimold has four home runs and 15 RBIs in 21 games for the Rafters.

Brandon Snyder, 1B – The 21-year-old first baseman has been a pleasant surprise in Arizona. As the only representative for the Orioles from the Single-A Frederick Keys, Snyder has been playing well against tough competition. He is hitting .309 (17-for-55) with four home runs and nine RBIs in 15 games for Surprise. Snyder was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs against Scottsdale on Nov. 11. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2005 has seven doubles and 10 runs scored for the Rafters.

Chad Thall, LHP – Thall is 0-1 with a 10.97 ERA in seven appearances for the Rafters, but he hasn’t pitched since Oct. 31. Those numbers are particularly high because of his outing against Phoenix on Oct. 28, in which the 23-year-old left-hander gave up six runs and five hits in 1/3 of an inning. Thall rebounded with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings against Scottsdale in his last appearance, but he’s not likely to significantly reduce his ERA before the season is over. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher has 13 strikeouts and four walks in 10 2/3 innings for Surprise.

Matt Wieters, C – The 22-year-old catcher hasn’t had two hits in a game since Oct. 17 against Phoenix. Wieters only batted .211 (8-for-38) in his past 10 games, but he hit successfully in eight of them. He was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored against Scottsdale on Nov. 10. The Orioles’ 2007 first-round draft pick is hitting .281 with one home run and 10 RBIs in 18 games for the Rafters. Wieters has four doubles, a triple and 10 runs scored for Surprise.

If you’re interested, here are some archived photos of Matusz and Wieters, as well as some of the Orioles’ previous first-round draft picks.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

With the championship game scheduled for Sunday, the Hawaii Winter Baseball season will be concluding soon. Through Thursday, the West Oahu CaneFires are in first place in the West Division with an 18-14 record. They are 4 1/2 games ahead of the North Shore Honu (14-19) and have already clinched a spot in the championship game. The Waikiki BeachBoys lead the East Division with an 18-16 record and the Honolulu Sharks are 16-17.

On Wednesday, former Orioles starting pitcher Adam Loewen, who is attempting to rejuvenate his career as a position player, was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored against Honolulu. Loewen also picked up his first stolen base in the game. Overall, the 24-year-old first baseman is hitting .240 (6-for-25) with four runs scored and two RBIs in nine games for West Oahu. He has six strikeouts and five walks.

Here is an update, through Thursday’s games, on the players in the Orioles’ minor league system who are with West Oahu in Hawaii Winter Baseball:

Tim Bascom, RHP – Bascom is 1-3 with a 7.78 ERA in six starts for the CaneFires, but he hasn’t pitched in November. He has 16 strikeouts and 10 walks in 19 2/3 innings in Hawaii. Bascom gave up five runs and four hits in his last start against North Shore on Oct. 30. The Orioles’ fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft walked three hitters and had four strikeouts in the game. The 23-year-old right-hander was 6-5 with a 5.78 ERA in 19 starts for the Frederick Keys in 2008, and he’s continued to struggle for West Oahu.

Wally Crancer, C/1B/DH – In 14 games for the CaneFires, Crancer is hitting .224 with one home run and eight RBIs. The 24-year-old utility player has struck out 13 times and scored seven runs in Hawaii. He was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs in his last game against Waikiki on Nov. 1. Crancer has hit successfully in eight of his past 10 games for West Oahu.

Cliff Flagello, RHP – Flagello has given up at least one earned run in his past five appearances for West Oahu. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits in two innings against Waikiki on Nov. 11. He is 1-2 with a 5.02 ERA and three saves in 10 games for the CaneFires. Flagello has 13 strikeouts and he’s issued seven walks in 14 1/3 innings.

Sean Gleason, RHP – Gleason is 2-2 with a 6.08 ERA in eight games (four starts) for the CaneFires. The 23-year-old right-hander has pitched much better since moving to the bullpen on Oct. 22. He gave up two runs and two hits in 1 2/3 innings during his first relief appearance, but hasn’t surrendered any runs in his past four innings. Gleason has allowed base runners in each game, but he’s shown the ability to escape without letting the other team score.

Tyler Henson, 3B – It looks like Henson has emerged from his recent slump for the CaneFires. The 20-year-old third baseman had two hits in each of his past five games. During that stretch, he was 10-for-21 with a home run – his first of the season – and five RBIs. Henson continues to lead the league in runs scored (27) and walks (25), but he’s also tied with the most strikeouts (43). The Orioles’ fifth-round pick in the 2006 draft is hitting .269 with 12 doubles, three triples, one home run and 16 RBIs in 34 games for West Oahu.

Brian Parker, RHP – Parker has a 5.51 ERA in 10 appearances for the CaneFires. The 23-year-old reliever gave up one run and three hits in two innings against Waikiki on Nov. 11. He had three strikeouts in the game. Opponents are batting .313 in 16 1/3 innings against the 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-handed pitcher. During the regular season, Parker was 7-5 with a 3.77 ERA in 39 games split between the Delmarva Shorebirds and Frederick Keys.

Chris Salberg, LHP – Salberg tossed six innings, allowing only an unearned run and four hits, against North Shore on Nov. 8 to pick up his third victory. The 24-year-old left-hander had four strikeouts and walked two hitters in the game. Overall, he is 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA in 25 innings for the CaneFires. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound pitcher is tied for second on the team with 11 appearances.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

Several players from the Orioles’ minor league system are participating in the various Caribbean leagues. This week’s update, however, contains less information because many players from the organization who were playing in the Caribbean leagues declared for free agency on Nov. 6.

If you’re interested, feel free to check out the full list of minor league free agents, which can be found on Baseball America’s Web site. As always, feel free to get in touch with me if you think players have been inadvertently omitted and I’ll include them in next week’s entry.

Look for reports from the Caribbean leagues to appear on O’s on Deck every Wednesday for the remainder of the season.

Here are updates through Tuesday’s games on the players in the Orioles’ system:

Dominican Winter League

Fredy Deza, RHP – The 25-year-old relief pitcher has given up nine runs (eight earned) and 14 hits in eight innings for the Azucareros. Opponents are batting .378 against Deza this season, and he has walked six hitters in his seven games. He allowed two runs and five hits in two innings against the Aguilas on Nov. 7. In his last appearance, Deza surrendered two runs (one earned) and three hits in one inning against the Estrellas on Nov. 10.

Wilfredo Perez, LHP – Perez is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in five appearances for the Estrellas. He has struggled with his control, issuing six walks in four innings this season. The 24-year-old left-hander has walked at least one hitter in each game. Despite not giving up any hits against the Gigantes on Nov. 9, Perez allowed one run. He walked one hitter and had one strikeout in the game.

Venezuelan Winter League

Victor Castillo, C – Castillo was 0-for-2 with a strikeout against Lara on Oct. 22 in his only game for La Guaira so far this season. The 24-year-old catcher batted .231 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 39 games for the Delmarva Shorebirds this season. He hit .294 with one home run and 27 RBIs in 81 games for Delmarva in 2007.

Carlos Rojas, 2B/SS – Rojas is hitting .211 (4-for-19) with three RBIs and two runs scored in 11 games for the Caribes. The 24-year-old infielder has played regularly after seeing little action during the first few weeks of the season. Rojas was 1-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored against La Guaira on Nov. 5. He batted .247 with two home runs and 38 RBIs in 120 games for Bowie this season.

Oscar Salazar, 1B/3B/LF – Salazar continues to play well for La Guaira. The 30-year-old utility player is hitting .469 (30-for-64) with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 17 games. He is first in the Venezuelan Winter League in batting average and tied for fifth in runs scored (18). Salazar was 2-for-4 with a solo home run and three runs scored against Magallanes on Nov. 8. He also hit a home run against Margarita on the following night.

Steve Torrealba, C/1B – The 30-year-old backup catcher is batting .222 (4-for-18) with four RBIs and five runs scored in eight games for the Caribes this season. Torrealba was 2-for-3 with two walks against La Guaira on Tuesday. He had a double, two RBIs and two runs scored while playing first base in the game. Torrealba hit .283 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 37 games for the Baysox this season.

Mexican Pacific League

Jeff Nettles, SS/3B – The 30-year-old infielder is hitting .262 with one home run and six RBIs in 19 games for the Mochis Caneros. Nettles has hit successfully in eight of his past 10 games. During that span, he is 11-for-31 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Nettles is hitting .381 (8-for-21) against left-handed pitchers, but he’s only hitting .200 (8-for-40) against right-handers.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

The Surprise Rafters are only 9-19, through Sunday, but they have won four of their past six games. Despite their recent success, the Rafters are still in last place in the National Division of the Arizona Fall League. The Phoenix Desert Dogs lead the division with a 16-11 record and the Peoria Javelinas are 11-17. The Peoria Saguaros are in first place in the American Division with a 19-9 record. The Mesa Solar Sox are 18-10 and the Scottsdale Scorpions are 10-17.

Here are updates on the Orioles' prospects through Sunday:

Blake Davis, SS – After not playing for over two weeks in Arizona, Davis has played in four of the Rafters’ past six games. The 24-year-old shortstop was 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a walk against the Javelinas on Nov. 8. He had a two-run single in the eighth inning to lead Surprise to a 9-6 victory. Davis didn’t have a good game, however, against the Javelinas on Nov. 5, when he was 0-for-4 with three fielding errors. Overall, Davis is hitting .200 (6-for-30) with five RBIs and two runs scored in seven games for Surprise.

Ryan Keefer, RHP – The 27-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched for Surprise since injuring his arm on Oct. 15 against Scottsdale. Keefer surrendered a leadoff home run in the eighth inning to Scorpions third baseman Ryan Rohlinger before leaving the game.

Brian Matusz, LHP – Matusz has given up six runs and nine hits in seven innings during his past two starts for Surprise. The 21-year-old left-hander had six strikeouts in four innings against Phoenix on Nov. 4, but he gave up three earned runs and four hits. He is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA in four starts for Surprise. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick has 16 strikeouts in 14 innings, but he’s allowed four home runs. Matusz is scheduled to pitch today against Scottsdale.

Bob McCrory, RHP – McCrory hasn’t pitched for the Rafters since Oct. 25. He surrendered two runs and three hits in one inning during that game against Mesa. In four games for Surprise, the 26-year-old relief pitcher has a 7.36 ERA. Earlier in the fall, McCrory experienced discomfort in his right elbow. The Orioles’ fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft has allowed five runs (three earned) and seven hits in three innings since returning from the injury.

Nolan Reimold, OF – The 25-year-old outfielder has recovered from a slow start in Arizona. In his past 10 games, Reimold is hitting .368 (14-for-38) with three home runs and eight RBIs. He also has three doubles and seven runs scored during that span. Reimold was 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a solo home run against Phoenix on Nov. 4. He had two of the Rafters’ three hits in the team’s 5-2 loss to the Desert Dogs. Reimold was 3-for-3 with a walk against the Javelinas on Nov. 6. The Orioles’ second-round pick in the 2005 draft is batting .273 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 18 games for Surprise.

Brandon Snyder, 1B – The 21-year-old first baseman is hitting .306 with three home runs and seven RBIs in 13 games for Surprise. Snyder also has six doubles and nine runs scored in Arizona. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2005 was 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs against the Javelinas on Nov. 5. Defensively, Snyder has committed five errors for the Rafters.

Chad Thall, LHP – Thall is 0-1 with a 10.97 ERA in seven appearances for the Rafters. Those numbers are particularly high because of his outing against Phoenix on Oct. 28, in which the 23-year-old left-hander gave up six runs and five hits in 1/3 of an inning. Thall rebounded with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings against Scottsdale on Oct. 31, but it’s going to take a few more strong performances to reduce his ERA to a respectable level. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher has 13 strikeouts and four walks in 10 2/3 innings for Surprise.

Matt Wieters, C – In his past 10 games, Wieters is hitting .211 (8-for-38). The 22-year-old catcher hasn’t had two hits in a game since Oct. 17 against Phoenix. Overall, the Orioles’ 2007 first-round draft pick is batting .286 with one home run and eight RBIs for the Rafters. Wieters has four doubles, a triple and nine runs scored. He has 12 strikeouts and 12 walks in 16 games for Surprise.

If you’re interested, here are some archived photos of Matusz and Wieters, as well as some of the Orioles’ previous first-round draft picks.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

Through Thursday, the West Oahu CaneFires are 14-14 and 1 1/2 games ahead of the North Shore Honu (13-16) in the West Division. The Honolulu Sharks lead the East Division with a 16-13 record and the Waikiki BeachBoys are 14-14.

Before we get into the statistics for the Orioles’ prospects, let’s look at how one of the team’s former first-round draft picks is performing in Hawaii. Adam Loewen, who is playing first base for West Oahu, is 3-for-15 with an RBI and a run scored in six games. All three of his hits were singles.

Here is an update, through Thursday’s games, on the players in the Orioles’ minor league system who are with West Oahu in Hawaii Winter Baseball:

Tim Bascom, RHP – The 23-year-old right-hander was 6-5 with a 5.78 ERA in 19 starts for the Frederick Keys in 2008, and he’s continued to struggle for West Oahu. Bascom is 1-3 with a 7.78 ERA in six starts for the CaneFires. He has 16 strikeouts and 10 walks in 19 2/3 innings in Hawaii. Bascom gave up five runs and four hits against North Shore on Oct. 30. The Orioles’ fourth-round pick in the 2007 draft walked three hitters and had four strikeouts in the game.

Wally Crancer, C/1B/DH – Crancer is hitting .224 with one home run and eight RBIs in 14 games for West Oahu. The 24-year-old utility player has struck out 13 times and scored seven runs in Hawaii. He was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs against Waikiki on Nov. 1. Crancer has hit successfully in eight of his past 10 games for the CaneFires.

Cliff Flagello, RHP – After allowing no earned runs in his first five appearances for West Oahu, Flagello has given up at least one earned run in his past four games. The 23-year-old right-hander surrendered three runs and four hits in two innings against Waikiki on Oct. 31. He allowed two runs and three hits in one inning against the same team on Nov. 2. Flagello is 1-2 with a 5.11 ERA and three saves in 12 1/3 innings for the CaneFires.

Sean Gleason, RHP – The 23-year-old right-hander is 1-2 with a 6.97 ERA in six games (four starts) for West Oahu. Gleason pitched a scoreless inning in his last appearance against Waikiki on Nov. 2. He has given up four home runs and walked 11 hitters in 20 2/3 innings in Hawaii. Gleason was 12-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 30 games for the Delmarva Shorebirds during the regular season.

Tyler Henson, 3B – Henson has been struggling recently for West Oahu. The 20-year-old third baseman is only batting .182 (6-for-33) with 17 strikeouts in his past 10 games. Despite his recent slump, Henson is still first in the league in runs scored (23) and walks (25). He is also tied for the most doubles in the league with 11. Overall, the Orioles’ fifth-round pick in the 2006 draft is hitting .224 with 11 RBIs and 36 strikeouts – second in the league – in 29 games for the CaneFires.

Brian Parker, RHP – Parker has a 5.65 ERA in nine appearances for the CaneFires. The 23-year-old reliever pitched poorly against Waikiki on Nov. 1. He gave up four runs and five hits in 1/3 of an inning during the game. Parker rebounded to throw 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, against Honolulu on Wednesday. Opponents are batting .310 in 14 1/3 innings against the 6-foot-4, 195-pound right-handed pitcher.

Chris Salberg, LHP – Although he gave up four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings against Waikiki on Nov. 1, the 24-year-old left-hander picked up his second victory. Salberg walked three hitters and had three strikeouts in the game. Overall, he is 2-0 with a 5.21 ERA for the CaneFires. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound pitcher is second on the team with 10 appearances.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 2:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

Several players from the Orioles’ minor league system are participating in the various Caribbean leagues. I’ve attempted to compile a list, but I may have missed some players because it’s difficult to acquire information about the leagues.

Also, some players on the list could be free agents and may not return to the organization in 2009. Feel free to get in touch with me if you think someone was inadvertently omitted and I’ll include them in next week’s entry.

Look for reports from the Caribbean leagues to appear on O’s on Deck every Wednesday for the remainder of the season.

Here are updates through Monday’s games on the players in the Orioles’ system:

Dominican Winter League

Fredy Deza, RHP – The 25-year-old relief pitcher has experienced mixed results in five appearances for the Azucareros. Deza didn’t allow any runs in three of his outings, but he gave up five total earned runs in the other two games. He tossed 1/3 of an inning on Oct. 28 against the Aguilas and surrendered one hit and one walk. Deza gave up two runs and two hits against the Gigantes on Oct. 30. He walked one and had three strikeouts in the game. In his last appearance, Deza pitched a scoreless inning against the Estrellas on Nov. 2.

Andy Mitchell, RHP – In all four appearances (three starts) for the Aguilas, Mitchell has given up at least two runs. The best start for the 30-year-old right-hander was on Oct. 28 against the Azucareros. He only allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, but he also issued five walks. On Monday, Mitchell struggled against the Estrellas. He gave up five runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings. Overall, Mitchell is 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA and 15 walks in 11 1/3 innings.

Wilfredo Perez, LHP – The 24-year-old left-hander is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in four appearances for the Estrellas. Perez has pitched three scoreless outings, but his ERA is high because he gave up two runs in 1/3 of an inning against Licey on Oct. 24. He didn’t allow any runs against the Gigantes on Oct. 29, but he walked two and surrendered a hit in 2/3 of an inning.

Felix Romero, RHP – The 28-year-old relief pitcher gave up one run and two hits in 1 2/3 innings against the Azucareros on Nov. 2. Romero had three strikeouts in the game. He is 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA in four appearances (one start) for the Estrellas. Romero has eight strikeouts and he’s walked four hitters in 8 1/3 innings this season. Opponents are batting .172 against him.

Luis Terrero, OF – Terrero is hitting .269 with three doubles, four RBIs and 11 runs scored in 15 games for the Aguilas this season. The 28-year-old outfielder has scored eight runs in his past 10 games, including one run in each of the past six. He has struck out 16 times, however, so far in 2008. Terrero was 1-for-2 with a double against the Estrellas on Monday.

Venezuelan Winter League

Gerardo Casadiego, RHP – The 27-year-old relief pitcher has a 7.04 ERA and one save in eight appearances for La Guaira. Casadiego gave up three runs and five hits in one inning against Aragua on Nov. 1. He collected the save after allowing one hit in 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Caribes on Monday.

Victor Castillo, C – Castillo was 0-for-2 with a strikeout against Lara on Oct. 22 in his only game for La Guaira so far this season. The 24-year-old catcher batted .231 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 39 games for the Delmarva Shorebirds this season. He hit .294 with one home run and 27 RBIs in 81 games for Delmarva in 2007.

Cory Doyne, RHP – The 27-year-old relief pitcher has not allowed any runs in 5 1/3 innings for La Guaira in 2008. Doyne has three saves and he’s only given up two hits in five appearances. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound pitcher tossed a perfect inning against Margarita in his last outing on Oct. 30. Doyne had a 3.43 ERA in 17 games while splitting time between the Gulf Coast League Orioles, Aberdeen IronBirds, Frederick Keys and Norfolk Tides in 2008.

Luis Hernandez, SS – Hernandez, who was the starting shortstop for the Orioles on Opening Day, is hitting .308 (12-for-39) with six RBIs and five runs scored in 10 games for La Guaira. The 24-year-old infielder was 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored against Caracas on Oct. 31. Hernandez is only 2-for-11, however, in the first three games in November.

Carlos Rojas, 2B/SS – The 24-year-old infielder has played regularly for the Caribes recently after seeing little action during the first few weeks of the season. Rojas, who played second base for the Bowie Baysox in 2008, is 3-for-9 with two RBIs in three games in November. He had a two-run single against Caracas on Nov. 2. Rojas batted .247 with two home runs and 38 RBIs in 120 games for Bowie this season.

Oscar Salazar, 1B/3B/LF – Salazar is dominating in the Dominican Republic so far this season. The 30-year-old utility player is hitting .511 (23-for-45) with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 11 games for La Guaira. Salazar has hit safely in eight consecutive games and he’s collected at least two hits in each of his past five. He has displayed versatility by playing first base, third base, left field and designated hitter. Salazar was 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs against the Caribes on Monday.

Steve Torrealba, C – The 30-year-old backup catcher is 1-for-12 in five games for the Caribes so far this season. Torrealba was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run scored against Magallanes on Oct. 30. He hit .283 with eight home runs, 26 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 37 games for the Baysox this season.

Mexican Pacific League

Jeff Nettles, SS/3B – Nettles is batting .262 with one home run and six RBIs in 19 games for the Mochis Caneros. The 30-year-old infielder has hit successfully in six of his past seven games. During that span, he is 9-for-20 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Nettles is hitting .381 (8-for-21) against left-handed pitchers, but he’s only hitting .200 (8-for-40) against right-handers.

Chris Roberson, OF – Roberson is currently leading the league in batting average (.398). The 29-year-old outfielder is also first in hits (33), second in doubles (eight), third in stolen bases (six) and tied for third in runs scored (18). He is 6-for-10 with a double and six runs scored in two games in November. Roberson was 4-for-5 with four runs scored against Mexicali on Nov. 1.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 1:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Winter leagues
        

The South Atlantic League, which is affectionately known as the “Sally League” by most fans of minor league baseball, is a Single-A league with 16 teams split into two divisions – Northern and Southern.

The teams are located in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina and West Virginia. The Delmarva Shorebirds represent the Orioles in the league, but they’re not the only team from Maryland. The Hagerstown Suns are also a member of the league and they are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

The Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins, Houston Astros, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers also have affiliates in the league.

Delmarva finished in second place in the Northern Division during the first half (38-31). The Shorebirds were 40-30 in the second half, which was good enough for third place. Overall, their 78-61 record was the second-best finish in the division.

The Lake County Captains, who represent the Indians in the league, won the first half in the division with a 41-29 record. The West Virginia Power, an affiliate of the Pirates, finished in first place in the division during the second half (45-25).

In the Southern Division, the Asheville Tourists, who represent the Rockies, finished 46-24 and won the first half. The Augusta GreenJackets, an affiliate of the Giants, captured the second-half title with a 47-22 record.

The Power beat the Captains in three games to earn their second consecutive berth in the championship series. The GreenJackets, who are owned by Ripken Baseball, swept Asheville to advance to the championship as a representative of the Southern Division.

Offensively, Ryan Adams was a big part of the Shorebirds’ success. He hit .308 with 11 home runs, 57 RBIs and 68 runs scored in 119 games. However, the 21-year-old second baseman also hurt the team with his defense. Adams had 52 errors, which was the most by a second baseman in the history of the league.

Although he is considered old for the league, Joe Nowicki led the Shorebirds in most offensive categories. The 26-year-old right fielder was first on the team in home runs (19), RBIs (78), doubles (36), triples (six) and total bases (241). Nowicki also had 14 stolen bases and 74 runs scored, but he struck out 142 times in 130 games.

Matt Angle, who was selected by the Orioles in the seventh round of the 2007 draft, batted .287 with 37 stolen bases and 82 runs scored. Tyler Henson hit .265 with 11 home runs, 62 RBIs and 20 stolen bases for Delmarva. The 20-year-old infielder needs to work on his defense and plate discipline. Henson had 29 errors and only 25 walks in 127 games.

Three starting pitchers for Delmarva won at least 10 games in 2008. Sean Gleason, who started the year as a reliever, was 12-2 with a 2.63 ERA. The 23-year-old right-hander had two complete games this season. He only gave up three home runs in 150 2/3 innings for the Shorebirds. Zach Britton, who was the Orioles’ third-round draft pick in 2006, was 12-7 with a 3.12 ERA in 27 starts. The 20-year-old left-hander had 114 strikeouts in 147 1/3 innings for Delmarva. Luis Noel was 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA. The 21-year-old right-hander allowed 13 home runs, however, in 138 2/3 innings.

Championship

Augusta swept the first three games of the best-of-five series to win the league championship, which was the team’s first title since 1999.

Shortstop Juan Ciriaco was 3-for-5 with a three-run home run in the first inning to power the GreenJackets over West Virginia, 9-3, in Game 1. Second baseman Nick Noonan was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and right fielder James Simmons had three RBIs for Augusta.

Augusta starting pitcher Craig Clark picked up the victory in the first game. The 24-year-old left-hander allowed two runs (one earned) and six hits in six innings. He had eight strikeouts in the game. West Virginia’s R.J. Seidel suffered the loss after giving up nine runs (seven earned) and seven hits in one inning.

In the second game, Augusta’s Madison Bumgarner allowed an unearned run and four hits in six innings to carry the GreenJackets to a 5-1 victory over the Power. The 19-year-old left-hander had six strikeouts and walked two hitters in the game. First baseman Angel Villalona led the GreenJackets with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Catcher Dayton Buller was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

The GreenJackets completed the sweep by defeating West Virginia, 4-3, in the third game. Noonan was 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. Starting pitcher Scott Barnes gave up two runs and five hits in six innings to earn the victory. Despite allowing one run in two innings, reliever Andrew de la Garza collected his third save of the postseason.

Top players

Michael Stanton, Greensboro Grasshoppers – Stanton, who was picked by the Florida Marlins in the second round of the 2007 draft, led the league with 39 home runs in 125 games for Greensboro. The 18-year-old outfielder finished third in the league in RBIs (97) and tied for third with 89 runs scored. He hit .293 with 26 doubles and three triples. Stanton struck out 153 times, however, which was the third-highest total in the league.

Angel Villalona, Augusta GreenJackets – Villalona hit .263 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs in 123 games for Augusta. He also had 29 doubles. While the numbers aren’t overwhelming, Villalona should receive recognition because he didn’t turn 18 until August. The first baseman had 118 strikeouts and only walked 18 times this season, but he has a bright future in the Giants’ minor league system.

Jesus Montero, Charleston RiverDogs – The 18-year-old catcher batted .326 in 132 games for the RiverDogs, which was the second-best batting average in the league. Montero led the league with 171 hits. He was second in total bases (258), fourth in doubles (34) and tied for sixth in runs scored (86). Look for Montero to continue to move up in the Yankees’ minor league system. He could be a long-term replacement for Jorge Posada if he’s able to keep playing well.

Freddie Freeman, Rome Braves – Freeman hit .316 with 18 home runs and 95 RBIs in 130 games for Rome. The 19-year-old first baseman had 33 doubles, seven triples and 70 run scored. He was third in the league in total bases (256) and fourth in hits (155). The Braves selected Freeman in the second round of the 2007 draft.

Madison Bumgarner, Augusta GreenJackets – The 19-year-old left-hander was 15-3 with a 1.46 ERA in 24 starts for Augusta. Bumgarner led the league with 164 strikeouts and he only walked 21 hitters in 141 2/3 innings. He gave up 10 runs in his first three starts of the season, but only surrendered 18 in his final 21 games. The Giants selected the 6-foot-4, 215-pound starting pitcher with the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: 2008 season recap
        

Through Sunday, the Surprise Rafters have lost 10 of their past 11 games. They are 5-17 and in last place in the National Division of the Arizona Fall League. The Phoenix Desert Dogs lead the division with a 13-9 record and the Peoria Javelinas are 10-12. The Mesa Solar Sox are in first place in the American Division with a 16-6 record. The Peoria Saguaros are 15-7 and the Scottsdale Scorpions are 7-15.

Here are updates on the Orioles' prospects through Sunday:

Blake Davis, SS – The 24-year-old shortstop hasn’t played for Surprise since Oct. 18. Davis is 1-for-13 (.077) with an RBI and two runs scored in three games for the Rafters. I’m not sure why he’s been out of the lineup for so long, but I’ll let you know if I find out any explanation about his absence.

Ryan Keefer, RHP – Keefer is another player from the Orioles’ minor league system who hasn’t appeared for the Rafters in a long time. The 27-year-old right-hander hasn’t pitched for Surprise since injuring his arm on Oct. 15 against Scottsdale. He surrendered a leadoff home run in the eighth inning to Scorpions third baseman Ryan Rohlinger before leaving the game.

Brian Matusz, LHP – After pitching well in his first two starts for Surprise, in addition to a solid outing in the league’s third annual Rising Stars Showcase, Matusz ran into some trouble in his third appearance. The 21-year-old left-hander picked up his first loss of the winter season after giving up three runs and five hits in three innings against the Saguaros on Oct. 29. Matusz walked one and had one strikeout, but the most alarming statistic is that he allowed three home runs. He threw 59 pitches (36 strikes) in the game. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick is 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in three starts for Surprise. Matusz has 10 strikeouts and three walks in 10 innings in Arizona.

Bob McCrory, RHP – McCrory has a 7.36 ERA in four games for Surprise. He has given up seven runs (three earned) in 3 2/3 innings. Earlier in the fall, the 26-year-old relief pitcher experienced discomfort in his right elbow. McCrory has struggled in three appearances since returning from the injury. The Orioles’ fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft has allowed five runs (three earned) and seven hits in three innings during those three games.

Nolan Reimold, OF – Reimold is 10-for-31 (.323) with three home runs and eight RBIs in his past eight games. The 25-year-old outfielder was 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and two walks against Scottsdale on Saturday. He was 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a walk against Phoenix on Oct. 28. Overall, the Orioles’ second-round pick in the 2005 draft is batting .231 with three home runs and 11 RBIs in 14 games for the Rafters. Reimold has three doubles and eight runs scored.

Brandon Snyder, 1B – The 21-year-old first baseman is batting .351 (13-for-37) with one home run and four RBIs in 10 games for Surprise. Snyder also has six doubles and seven runs scored. He was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored against Phoenix on Oct. 27. While he’s doing well offensively, Snyder needs to improve on his defense. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2005 has committed five errors for the Rafters.

Chad Thall, LHP – Thall is 0-1 with a 10.97 ERA in seven appearances for the Rafters. Those numbers are particularly high because of his outing against Phoenix on Oct. 28, in which the 23-year-old left-hander gave up six runs and five hits in 1/3 of an inning. Thall rebounded with four strikeouts in two scoreless innings against Scottsdale on Oct. 31, but it’s going to take a few more strong performances to reduce his ERA to a respectable level. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound pitcher has 13 strikeouts and four walks in 10 2/3 innings for Surprise.

Matt Wieters, C – In his past 10 games, Wieters is only hitting .216 (8-for-37). One of those hits was a home run against Phoenix on Oct. 27, which was his first in Arizona. Overall, the 22-year-old catcher is batting .304 (14-for-46) with one home run and eight RBIs in 13 games. The Orioles’ first-round draft pick in 2007 has four doubles and a triple for the Rafters.

If you’re interested, here are some archived photos of Matusz and Wieters, as well as some of the Orioles’ previous first-round draft picks.

Posted by Dean Jones Jr. at 4:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Winter leagues