LIST OF WINTER BALL PARTICIPANTS
2016-2017

MEXICO

MICHAEL CHOICE JALISCO

VENEZUELA

YHOXIAN MEDINA CARACAS
YONATHAN MENDOZA LARA
GIOVANNY URSHELA ZULIA
TORU MARATA MAGALLANES
RANDY VALLADARES MARGARITA
YANDY DIAZ CARACAS
GUILLERMO QUIROZ ARAGUA
JESUS AGUILAR CARACAS

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

FRANCISCO MEJIA ESTRELLAS
RONNY RODRIGUEZ AGUILAS
ORDOMAR VALDEZ LICEY
NELLI RODRIGUEZ ESCOGIDO

PUERTO RICO

TAYLOR MURPHY AQUADILLA
LEANDRO LINARES AQUADILLA
ALEXIS PANTOYA AQUADILLA

[THERE WILL BE ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS AS THE PLAYOFFS NEAR]

Aguadilla debut with a defeat in winter ball
The Sharks lost 7-6 to Mayagüez on their return to the league after 65 years of absence

AGUADILLA . -

The local Sharks returned officially Friday night to winter baseball after an absence of 65 years, but failed in their attempt to open with a win at the start of the 2016-17 season.

A sacrifice fly by Valentin Jesmuel that batted in Jonathan Davis in the eighth inning was the difference in the triumph of the Mayaguez Indians 7-6 win over the Sharks before about 2,000 fans at the Estadio Luis A. "Canena" Marquez .

It was the first official appearance of the Sharks in the professional league since 1951. The game began Friday -after an extensive pregame ceremony where they have dedicated the season to former players in Major League Baseball, Carlos Delgado, and ended at midnight Saturday.

[INDIAN PARTICIPANTS FOR AQUADILLA; TAYLOR MURPHY, LEANDRO LINARES, & ALEXIS PANTOYA]

10/29/16

MICHAEL CHOICE JALISCO 1-4, 1R, 1K, .244

NELLIE RODRIGUEZ ESCOGIDO 1-3, 1H, 1DBL, 1R, 1W, 1K, .267

YANDY DIAZ CARACAS 1-4, 1H, 1K, .375

GUILLERMO QUIROZ ARAGUA 0-1, PINCH HITTING

GIOVANNY URSHELA ZULIA 1-4, 1H, 1RBI, .300

10/29/16

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE (MESA SOLAR SOX)

Greg Allen (CF) - 2-5, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 K - Allen followed up Friday's spectacular outing with another big night. This one was highlighted by a fifth-inning solo shot (his third homer and eighth RBI of the fall season). Allen is now hitting .366/.435/.683 in 11 games this fall season.

Yu-Cheng Chang (SS) - 1-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K - Chang had a feast or famine day on Saturday as he either reached base or struck out in each of his four plate appearances. He also kept his batting average at exactly .333 and extended his hitting streak to three games.

Trevor Frank (RP) - 1 IP, 1 H, 2 K, 1 WP - Despite the wild pitch, this was easily Trevor's best effort of the fall thus far.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE (LVBP)

Yandy Diaz (Leones del Caracas, LF) - 1-4, 1 K - Diaz continued his strong start to the LVBP season even on a relatively difficult night at the plate as he extended his season-opening hitting streak to four games.

Guillermo Quiroz (Tigres de Aragua, PH) - 0-1 - Quiroz remains hitless this Venezuelan season after grounding into a double play in an eighth-inning pinch-hit appearance for starting 2B Daniel Bravo (played at both full-season Single-A levels in the San Diego Padres' organization in 2016).

Giovanny Urshela (Aguilas del Zulia, 3B) - 1-4, 1 RBI - The good news: Urshela has begun the winter season with an eight-game hitting streak and is batting .300/.333/.467. The bad news: He only has one multi-hit game in those eight.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Nellie Rodriguez (Leones del Escogido, 1B) - 1-3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K - While he was not as impressive as his five-RBI performance on Friday night, Nellie-Rod extended his hitting streak to three games and increased his slugging percentage to .600.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE (LBPRC)

Taylor Murphy (Tiburones de Aguadilla, starting RF) - 1-3, 2 K - Not a great night for Murphy, but he did get a hit.

Eagles ground Tigers

Aguilas del Zulia continued their winning ways. Zulia secured victory number fourteen by beating 3-2 the Tigres de Aragua. Zulia began the scoring in the lower third when Mike Tauchman got on base with an infield hit and stole second base. Giovanny Urshela connected with a base hit to right driving in the first run of the game for Zulia. With the game tied in the 9th, with men on first and second Jonathan Herrera became the hero of the night with a hit to left for the walk off hit. Herlis Rodriguez scored the winning run.

CUBA: ALL-STAR GAME
LEO URGELLÉS HOMER GIVES
WEST 2-1 WIN OVER EAST
After defying adverse weather conditions, the Cuban baseball All-Star Game was played today at the Victoria de Giron Stadium in Havana as the West defeated the East 2-1.

The Orientales, led by mentor Roger Machado, he took the lead in the blink of an eye, when many fans were still settling into their seats.

East's Julio Pablo Martinez's homer to deep right field on the first pitch off of the West starter Yoanni Yera, a pitcher who did not allow home runs in the first phase of the National Series won 9 games without a loss.

When they saw that home run, the West fell silent immediately but, after a while, they watched as their team drew a 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning against the second pitcher for East, righty Freddy Asiel Alvarez.

The designated hitter for the West Yordanis Samon opened that inning with a double; he advanced to third base when Yasiel Santoya grounded out and immediately scored on a sacrifice fly by Leonardo Urgellés.

Later, at the end of the fifth inning, Urgellés homered to left center off of Riera Dairon putting the Western ahead 2-1.

Until then, the two runs of the West team had been driven in by the Pirates outfielder from Isla de la Juventud.

The West could have extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth, but come up with a zero off of right Carlos Santiesteban and having runners on first and third with no outs

The score never changed and finally the West achieved the victory. The win went to Adrian Sosa, the save by Jose Angel Garcia (a pitcher with the most saves in the history of Cuban baseball) after closing the ninth inning flawlessly striking out the final batter.

A curious fact, six of the nine hitters in the lineup of the West belonged to the Crocodiles of Matanzas, by far the best team in the National Series, with an impressive record of 42-3.

Also, Urgellés, one of the best hitters in the National Series and All-Star Game will watch the second phase of the championship from home, as his team was eliminated and none of the six teams that classified asked for his services for the next stage.

On the other hand, Julio Pablo Martinez's homer against Yera, on the first pitch of the game, was the only hit for the East in the game.

With this victory, the West tied the historical confrontation against the East 14-14.

The second stage of the 56 National Series will resume next Tuesday with Matanzas, Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Granma, Holguin, and Villa Clara qualifying. The ten disqualified teams will watch the second half of the season from home.

(*) 6 Teams Qualify for Second Half Of Season; Rest Of The Teams Were Disqualified

10/30/16

GIOVANNI URSHELA ZULIA 3-4, 1 RBI, .353

GUILLERMO QUIROZ ARAGUA 0-2, .000

YANDY DIAZ 2-4, 1 2B, 1K, .400

TORU MURATA MAGALLANES 5.0 INN, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 W, 4 K, 2.89 ERA

RONNIE RODRIGUEZ AGUILAS 0-2, .000, GAME IN 6TH

NELLIE RODRIGUEZ ESCOGIDO 0-3, 1 K, .222, GAME IN 6TH

MICHAEL CHOICE JALISCO (LATE START)

One of our glaring needs is for a tall, good fielding hard hitting first baseman. Thome transitioned from Third to First, cannot someone tell Yandy to get a First Baseman's mitt and take over that spot? I would hesitate doing anything with Ramirez at Third, and believe that Gio goes in a trade this fall.

UD

Yandy is a pretty good athlete, I think I'd prefer to see him play corner OF. But he could certainly play 1B if needed. He can play any corner position.

Napoli is a free agent and we hold an option on Santana for 12 mill if I remember correctly. We almost have to pick it up. Hard to replace both.

Personally I'd like to see us trade Zimmer, Clevinger, + for a great hitting 1st baseman. One that gets on base, hits for average and power. (and doesn't strike out 200 times)

I mentioned at the trade deadline, the D'Backs we terribly disappointing this year. Maybe Goldschmidt could be had for a high price. He's signed for an affordable rate for 3 more seasons. Which is about the same time frame our window should be open with young pitching signed. Anybody could be had for a price. I'd offer up a package including anybody except for Yandy, who I think can help us next year himself.

I think Zimmer and Clevinger are both overrated. Trade them while they have value as top prospects.

10/30/16

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE (LVBP)

Yandy Diaz (Leones del Caracas, LF) - 2-4, 1 2B, 1 K - Diaz continues to hit well in the Caribbean as he now has a five-game hitting streak to start the season, three multi-hit games, and a .400/.455/.650 slash line.

Guillermo Quiroz (Tigres de Aragua, C) - 0-2, 1 Sac Bunt - Quiroz remains hitless in four Venezuelan games (0-for-8), but at least he recorded his first productive out of the season on Sunday.

Giovanny Urshela (Aguilas del Zulia, 3B) - 3-4, 1 RBI - Urshela continued his season-opening hit streak, which is now at nine games, and improved his slash line to .353/.378/.500 with this three-hit effort.

Toru Murata (Navegantes del Magallanes, SP) - ND, 5 IP, 4 H, 4 K - Murata rebounded nicely from his last start (3 ER on 2 H in 0.1 IP) but failed to pick up the win due to a lack of run support and subpar relief pitching.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Ronny Rodriguez (Aguilas Cibaenas, SS) - 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B - In his third game of the Dominican season, Ronny-Rod picked up his first hit, extra-base hit, and run.

Nellie Rodriguez (Leones del Escogido, 1B) - 0-4, 2 K, 1 E - Nellie-Rod saw a three-game hitting streak come to an end as he continues to struggle early in the LIDOM campaign.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE (LBPRC)

Taylor Murphy (Tiburones de Aguadilla, RF) - 0-2, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 Sac Fly - Murphy failed to extend his season-opening hitting streak to three games but still had a solid day at the plate with a walk and a sac fly.

Alexis Pantoja (Tiburones de Auadilla, 2B) - 0-2, 1 Sac Bunt - Pantoja, who made his LBPRC season debut on Friday, got his first start and first plate appearances of the season on Sunday.

MEXICAN LEAGUE (LBPRC)

Michael Choice (Jalisco) was 0-0 with a sac fly in a pinch hitting role.

Jesus Aguilar Will Join The Leones This Week

CARACAS

First baseman Jesus Aguilar participated for the second time today in the Development League and was ready to join the Lions roster this week.

In his second game in the parallel league affiliate, the first baseman went 0-3 and played first. Altogether he played seven innings and had two hits. "He made good contact with the ball. Overall he was good at the plate and first base , "said Marco Yepez, manager of the subsidiary Lions.

Aguilar joined the roster in place of pitcher Carlos Rodriguez, who will return to the parallel league.

The other change in the roster that will take place for the Lions this week will be the incorporation of Armando Rodriguez replacing Edward Valdez.

Alex Gonzalez begins his preparations. The major leaguer will arrive today in the country to continue his training before joining the team. Gonzalez is in Maracay where he will workout on his own in his physical preparation and once he considers himself ready will join the Lions of Caracas to play his last season in the LVBP.

The slugger has experienced 14 seasons in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League and 16 in the Big leagues. However, already announced that from 2016 to 2017 will be his last as an active player. "For me it has been an honor to wear that uniform every day for 14 seasons," he said days ago. "It 's an honor to have that shirt from the day I signed. This is the best team in the world, it is the most popular and a symbol of our country. All who have been here can say what it means to play for the Lions and anyone who wears this uniform has to take it with respect and honor. "

10/31/16

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE

Ronny Rodriguez (SS, Aguilas Cibaenas): 2-4, R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 SO. Rodriguez had a big night at the dish in what was his best showing to date in the Dominican Winter League. His three RBIs were his first of the campaign. Rodriguez started slow in the very early part of the LIDOM season as he was just 1-for-9 in the first three games. Through four games Rodriguez has three strikeouts and has failed to record a single walk. Low walk numbers have been a problem for Rodriguez in the past because he is an aggressive hitter who likes to swing the bat.

PUERTO RICO WINTER LEAGUE

Taylor Murphy (RF, Tiburones de Aguadilla): 2-3, R, 2B, SO. Murphy recorded his first multi-hit game of the fall in Puerto Rico. Murphy, a left-handed batter, has raked against right-handed pitching going 4-for-8 so far on the season. Murphy spent most of his time at High-A Lynchburg this past season, but also had an extended stint with Double-A Akron. He had some success at both levels compiling 14 home runs and 62 RBIs.

Leandro Linares (RP, Tiburones de Aguadilla): 0 IP, 3 ER, 3 BB, L. Linares had an outing to forget after he faced only three batters and walked all of them. To rub salt in the wound, all three runners would come around to score saddling Linares with the loss. This was unusual for Linares who showed pretty solid command this season limiting his walks allowed. In 44.2 innings of work during the regular season he surrendered just twelve free passes.

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE

Greg Allen (LF, Mesa Solar Sox): 0-2, 2 BB, SO. After going 5-for-10 in his previous two games Greg Allen failed to record a hit Monday night. Allen does have a good ability to draw walks evident by his .440 OBP. This is important because once Allen gets on he can be a nightmare for a defense with his speed. Allen is now hitting .349 in 43 at-bats at Arizona.

Bradley Zimmer (CF, Mesa Solar Sox): 1-3, R, BB. Zimmer scored one of Mesa’s two runs in their 17-2 blowout loss. Zimmer has been consistent so far in Arizona as he has a hit in eight of his last ten games. Zimmer has also been impressive on the base paths as he has seven stolen bases and hasn’t been caught yet. Zimmer is batting .256 with one homer and six RBIs in 39 at-bats for Mesa.

Cameron Hill (RP, Mesa Solar Sox): 2.1 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, 2 SO. Hill didn’t have his best stuff on Monday, but was able to battle and limit the damage. He wasn’t as sharp as he would of liked throwing just over 50% of his pitches for strikes (33 pitches, 18 strikes). He has now allowed five earned runs in his last two appearances for Mesa.

Top 30 prospects playing in winter leagues

Nine players from Top 100 list in action in Dominican, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela

With winter leagues under way in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, the Arizona Fall League is no longer the only offseason circuit showcasing top-ranked prospects.

The winter league rosters are constructed differently than the Fall League's, as they feature a combination of big leaguers and prospects as well as players simply hoping to catch on with a Major League club. Additionally, the fact both leagues' rosters aren't limited to a certain size enables teams to list players on their rosters on the off chance they participate at some point during the offseason.

The Dominican, Mexcian, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan seasons are also considerably longer than the AFL's, with regular-season action wrapping up in late December in advance of the Caribbean Series.

Here's a look at Top 30 prospects from each Major League team who currently appear on a Winter League roster:

A's: 3B Renato Nunez (No. 5), 2B, Joey Wendle (No. 27), 1B Rangel Ravelo (No. 28)

Angles: None

Astros: SS Miguelangel Sierra (No. 11)

Braves: None

Blue Jays: SS Richard Urena (No. 1, No. 78 overall), 1B Rowdy Tellez (No. 9), RHP Francisco Rios (No. 16)

Brewers: None

Cardinals: OF Magneuris Seirra (No. 6), 2B/OF Randy Arozarena (No. 16).

Cubs: OF Jacob Hannemann (No. 19), RHP Corey Black (No. 27)

D-backs: OF Gabriel Guerrero (No. 12)

Dodgers: None

Giants: OF Austin Slater (No. 22)

Indians: C Francisco Mejia (No. 4, No. 88 overall), 3B/OF Yandy Diaz (No. 10), SS Willi Casto (No. 14), 1B Nellie Rodriguez (No. 23)

Mariners: OF Boog Powell (No. 20), LHP Paul Fry (No. 29)

Marlins: C Tomas Telis (No. 13), RHP Tayron Guerrero (No. 26), LHP Raudel Lazo (No. 30)

Mets: INF T.J. Rivera (No. 30)

Nationals: OF Rafael Bautista (No. 17), C Raudy Read (No. 28)

Orioles: RHP Parker Bridwell (No. 28)

Padres: OF Manny Margot (No. 2, No. 27 overall), SS Jose Rondon (No. 12), 2B/3B Carlos Asuaje (No. 20)

Phillies: C Jorge Alfaro (No. 4, No. 60 overall), OF Dylan Cozens (No. 6), C Andrew Knapp (No. 11), 1B Rhys Hoskins (No. 12), RHP Ricardo Pinto (No. 15), LHP Elniery Garcia (No. 19), SS Malquin Canelo (No. 21), OF Carlos Tocci (No. 22), RHP Alberto Tirado (No. 28), RHP Alec Asher (No. 30)

Pirates: C Elias Diaz (No. 9), OF Willy Garcia (No. 15)

Rangers:1B Ronald Guzman (No. 5), RHP Ariel Jurado (No. 6), OF Jairo Beras (No. 13), LHP Jose Leclerc (No. 16), LHP Victor Payano (No. 28)

Rays: SS Willy Adames (No. 1, No. 20 overall)

Reds: RHP Nick Travieso (No. 16)

Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers (No. 3, No. 17 overall), OF Henry Ramos (No. 16), RHP Chandler Shepherd (No. 18), LHP Williams Jerez (No. 25)

Rockies: OF Raimel Tapia (No. 4, No. 75 overall)

Royals: 3B/OF Hunter Dozier (No. 1), RHP Andrew Edwards (No. 21)

Tigers: RHP Joe Jimenez (No. 5), LHP Tyler Alexander (No. 7), LHP Jairo Labout (No. 13), RHP Paul Voelker (No. 29)

Twins: OF/1B Daniel Palka (No. 20)

White Sox: RHP Luis Martinez (No. 25)

Yankees: SS Jorge Mateo (No. 3, No. 19 overall), OF Aaron Judge (No. 4, No. 23 overall)

11/1/16

So far this evening, Giovanny Urshela is 0-3. Yandy Diaz is 2-4, an RBI and a triple has a .417 batting average. In his first game this winter, Jesus Aguilar is 3-3 and has homered. With the score tied leading off the 8th, Aguilar walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch and was removed from the game in favor of a pinch runner. Caracas failed to score. Taylor Murphy continues his hitting ways. Murphy is 1-2 and has a .417 batting average.