And another ...

Indians Prospective‏ @indiansPro
Source: #Indians favorites to sign 6'1 165lbs 16yr old SS Wilfri Peralta out of Mejia y Neno Baseball Academy in DR

Indians Prospective‏ @indiansPro 22 minutes ago
Source: #Indians favorites to sign 5'10 150lbs 16yr old INF Brayan Rocchio out of Caracas, Venezuela on July 2nd.

I would assume he doesn't have alot of power right now.

Here is a rundown of the international signings the Indians made July 2nd. Info from @IndiansPro

Indians Prospective‏ @indiansPro 40 minutes ago
#Indians have signed 6'1 185bs 16yr old (3B) Jhonkensy Noel out of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic.

Video: https://youtu.be/kPWIvaTZ3Rg

Indians Sign Cuban Pitcher Roberto Hernandez

September 03, 2017 By Ben Badler

Roberto Hernandez, a 16-year-old Cuban righthander who several scouts considered one of the better international pitching prospects available in the 2017 class, signed with the Indians for $320,000.

At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Hernandez has shown advanced command and feel for pitching for his age. He works off a fastball that parks in the low-90s and he throws it for strikes to both sides of the plate, with good arm action and the physical projection to potentially throw harder. He has a diverse array of secondary pitches, but his main offspeed pitches are a split-change with late tumble and a low-80s slider.

Hernandez was a prospect on the rise in Cuba at the time he left. He pitched well in front of scouts at the COPABE 15U Pan American Championships in Aguascalientes, Mexico in 2015. Earlier that year, Hernandez led Cuba’s 15U national league in ERA (0.81) in 78 innings with 101 strikeouts and 31 walks. He finished second in the league in strikeouts.

The Indians add Hernandez to an international signing class that already includes Dominican outfielder George Valera, No. 5 on Baseball America’s rankings of the top 50 international prospects for July 2, 2017, and Venezuelan shortstop Aaron Bracho, the No. 17 prospect.


Read more at http://www.baseballamerica.com/internat ... 8fCfVab.99

When you look at the current Indians roster, you see lots of results of international signings with Ramirez and Diaz and Gonzalez and Salazar and Mejia. Perez from Puerto Rico so he went through the draft, but same scouts I assume. And the same scouts probably knew about Carlos Santana before we stole him from the Dodgers.

5'10 150lbs 16yr old INF Brayan Rocchio

In that picture you posted he looks more like a 5-3 110 pound 12 year old.

YANDY DIAZ: "LIONS MEAN A LOT TO ME"

Posted on 9/1/2017

After an extraordinary performance in the 2016-17 season, utility Yandy Diaz is ready to return with the Caracas Lions for his second season in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League.

"I'm very excited to be back with the Lions and return to wearing that shirt that I realized represents a lot for the fans and for the country," said the Cuban via telephone. "What I liked most about the Venezuelan league, besides the arepas and the tequeños (laughs), was the desire to go out and win every day that was in the clubhouse. I am very happy to see again my colleagues and all the people I met with whom I made a good friendship. "

For many Diaz was the big revelation last season, his first in the LVBP, after finishing second in the fight for the batting crown with .370 average, only behind Hernán Pérez, who snatched the title in the last day of regular season.

"I think Yandy will be the highest-level importer at LVBP this year," said Luis Ávila, president of the organization. "He lost the batting title on the last day but he must be a bastion again for the team. He should be an even better player than last season as he has more maturity, and a longer stint at the major league level. "

"That Yandy returns with the team speaks very well of his experience last year with us, not only in the sporting part but in the good treatment that he was given in the capital", complemented Jose Manuel Fernandez , sport manager of the team. "What he did last year we must add to his experience this year in Major Leagues, which is still in force. Once he gets to the team he will become the key figure in the offense again. "

His performance last season even earned him a record in the franchise, as the Cuban utility hit safely in 33 of the 40 games he played.

"It was incredible to have that streak, but in my opinion it was not worth anything because the team did not qualify for the playoffs," said Diaz. "This year I'm going to help the team as much as I can with the goal of winning the championship. This team means a lot to me and I think we have the material to win. "

His great year in Venezuela plus a sound Spring Training made him gain a place on the big league team of the Cleveland Indians, with whom he made his debut and is currently playing.

This year in triple A, Diaz left with an average of .350 a product of 108 hits, among which stands out 17 doubles, a triple and five homers. In addition, he had 33 hits, scored 56 and received 60 walks in 85 games. While so far in the majors has played 35 games in which he bats .261 with six doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs.

"Just like last year, Yandy will be coming to Venezuela as soon as he finishes his commitments to the Cleveland Indians, but the most important thing is that he is very excited to be back and we have the support of the Cleveland organization again," Fernandez said.

Tweets from Indians Prospective‏ @indiansPro 2 hours ago

Congratulations to #Indians OF prospect Junior Soto being selected by @TigresdelLicey in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Congratulations to #Indians RHP prospect Cesar Ventura being selected by @TigresdelLicey in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Congratulations to #Indians OF prospect Gabriel Mejia being selected by @TigresdelLicey in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Congratulations to #Indians 1B prospect Emmauel Tapia on being selected by @EscogidoBBClub in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Congratulations to #Indians LHP prospect Alsis Herrera on being selected by @EscogidoBBClub in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Congratulations to #Indians RHP prospect Henry Martinez on being selected by @EscogidoBBClub in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Congratulations to #Indians RHP prospect Dalbert Siri on being selected by @EscogidoBBClub in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Congratulations to #Indians INF prospect Jose Vicente on being selected by @torosdeleste in the 2017 @LIDOMRD Draft.

Arizona Fall League: (Glendale Desert Dogs)

Bobby Bradley (1B): 2-4, R, 2 RBI. Bradley had his best game in the desert doubling his hit total from his first two games, and he drove in his first runs of the fall. He is now 3-12 with a pair of runs scored in his first three games, but he has failed to draw a walk yet despite five strikeouts. It is important for Bradley to have a keen eye at the plate because his big swing leaves him prone to strikeouts.

Tyler Krieger (2B): 0-3, R, SO. Krieger’s slow start to the fall continued as he now is hitless in all ten of his at-bats in the desert. He has not looked comfortable in the box at all as half of his at-bats have resulted in strikeouts. Tyler will need more reps to work on his timing and rhythm at the plate to get back on track.

Luke Eubank (RP): 1.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, SO. Eubank was hit hard during his inning of work. It was not from his lack of throwing strikes as he peppered the zone throwing 15 of his 20 pitches for strikes, but he could not miss the barrel. He worked a clean inning of relief in his only other appearance with Glendale.

Venezuelan League (LVBP):

D.J. Brown (RP, Tigres de Aragua): 2.0 IP, H, 0 ER. Brown worked two scoreless innings of relief to remain perfect in his now two appearances in the LVBP. He preceded this outing by working a clean inning out of the bullpen on October 11th. He was efficient needing just 22 pitches (16 strikes) to get through the outing.

Yonathan Mendoza (2B, Cardenales de Lara): 0-3, 2 SO. Mendoza came up empty before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, and is still looking for his first hit of the fall. Mendoza hit a very respectable .289 between Lynchburg and Akron last season so after he gets a few more at-bats under his belt I look for the hits to start rolling in for him.

Dominican League:

Ronny Rodriguez (1B, Aguilas Cibaenas)L 4-6, 3 R, 2B. Rodriguez had a huge opening day leading his team with four hits in their 9-3 win. Ronny-Rod has built a reputation as someone who loves to swing the bat, and last season it paid off resulting in a .291 batting average with Columbus. He doesn’t take many walks recording just 23 free passes in 117 games with the Clippers in 2016.

The Eagles win 9-3 over the Tigers at home in Winter baseball

Santo Domingo.- In the duel of the finalist teams of the last championship, the Cibaeña Eagles regained some honor by beating the Tigres del Licey 9-3, in what was the opening night of the autumn-winter baseball championship.

It was a good way to start the championship for the Eagles, who lost the final of the last tournament in nine games. The Eagles had a four-run rally in the eighth that defined the game, one night in which Ronny Rodriguez went 4-6 with three runs scored and his teammate Jung Ho Kang batted in three.

The Licey played poor defense and had unstable pitching. They made three errors in the field. On offense their first five men went 2-18 against the Eagles, who connected for 7-21 with seven runs scored.

9 FOREIGN PLAYERS ANNOUNCED BY THE TIGERS

Misael Siverio (LZ) - Tigers from Quintana Roo
Stephen Perakslis (LD) - Chicago Cubs
James Pugliese (LD) - Chicago Cubs
Raudel Lazo (LZ) - Baltimore Orioles
Wanel Vásquez Mesa (LD) - Seattle Mariners
Justin Pacchioli - Somerset Patriots - Boston Red Sox
Osniel Madera - Tigers from Quintana Roo
José Vargas - Rieleros de Aguascalientes

DJ Brown (LD) - Cleveland Indians

Reliever who belongs to the organization of the Cleveland Indians. Pitching between AA and AAA of the tribe minor league system, his record was of 1-7 with an ERA of 4.66 in 31 games (5 as a starters) with a save in 3 opportunities and in 77.1 innings, allowed 79 hits, 46 runs (40 earned) with 21 walks and 65 strikeouts.

Caguas Stadium is now a center of military operation

South Carolina soldiers assigned to secure access to the PR-184 roads between Cayey and Guayama rest in these days in tents on the playing field of Yldefonso Solá Morales stadium in Caguas or on cots in the club house.

The command post for sending communications is on the mound of the pitchers, while a satellite dish was located next to the first base.

On the dugout bench some soldiers rest briefly and in the dressing room, where baseball leaders plan their strategies, the military unit operation center was established, with maps and missions listings.

"We set up a command camp, we're sleeping here and it's a well-protected area, so we can make sure we control who gets in and out," Lieutenant Thomas Keizer said.

"It has also helped that it is the fourth tallest building in Caguas and we have access to the roof that we have used to establish an antenna to carry communication that goes so far as to almost pass over the mountains of Cayey," he added.

The stadium suffered no dramatic damage from the hurricane although two light towers fell to the ground.

But, according to Agustín González, administrator of the park, the stadium would soon be able to be used if it decides to play winter baseball "as they plan to play during the day and depending on the damage done by the tower when it fell, it could be played because the terrain seems to be playable."
Carolina will not play in the winter league

"In the face of this devastating situation experienced by a large part of the citizenry, our north and fixed goal will always be to prioritize the most pressing needs of our dear Carolinians. There is no way to avoid this commitment contracted to serve our citizens and, much less, to divert attention and our efforts in other aspects than offering a solidarity embrace and attend with human warmth to all those people who now need us more than ever, "said Mayor Jose Carlos Aponte.

"Carolina will not participate this season in the winter baseball tournament. We are involved in rebuilding the City and meeting the needs of our citizens. Our immediate purpose is for Carolina to return, little by little, to normality and to resume the pace of development that has distinguished us so much. We can not direct our human and economic efforts to fund a baseball tournament while most of our people still have no potable water, no food and no basic necessities, "Aponte said.

After the ravages of Hurricane Maria, the Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium suffered a series of major damages, including the mound, the lighting towers, the stands and the roof. It is estimated that the restoration of the carolinense stadium will cost about $ 12 million.
Carlos Beltrán is sending his sixth cargo mission to Puerto Rico with help for those affected by María

The Astros player's wife says they are still working to bring more relief to the Puerto Ricans.

There are already five cargo planes that Carlos Beltran has sent to Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Maria, another arrives on Thursda and in the next few days will be shipped 20 more containers to bring more relief to those in need in the country. Undoubtedly, the Manatee player is hitting for an average of 1,000 in favor of the Island, just as he is coincidentally hitting for Houston in the playoffs. The veteran definitely deserves the Roberto Clemente prize that was won in 2013 when he played for the Cardinals of San Luis for being that year the player who best exemplified the Astro Boricua being beyond sportsman a humanist determined to help the people in need.

The aid sent to Puerto Rico by Beltrán and handled for distribution on the island by its Carlos Beltrán Foundation, has at the moment impacted the municipalities of Manatí, Barceloneta, Florida, Vega Baja and Dorado, reported to Primera Hora Jessica Beltran, the wife of the player, through communications by Facebook. Shipments have come from flights paid by Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and merchandise shipped bought for donations that includes $ 1 million contributed by Beltran himself and hundreds of thousands more for ordinary people, fellow players and others have offered their help.

Jessica informed all that on Thursday another island will receive aid destined for the municipalities of Aguadilla, Moca and San Sebastián. This will be sent by Major League Baseball funds.

"Meanwhile, on October 20 Carlos Beltran Foundation will send 20 containers to help 10 more municipalities," said Jessica.

On the other hand, Carlos Beltran's Baseball Academy staff in Florida and Puerto Rico, said that this Saturday, starting at 9:00 am, will be again cooking at their institution to bring food door-to-door to the residents of the town.

"This town has many needs and is home to our facilities and our students at the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy. We need volunteers who can bring paella with gas to cook food, "said Beltran asking those who can help send information to your inbox on Facebook to know how much help will count on that day.
Correa to send more aid to the southern area of ​​Puerto Rico

The shortstop already sent an airplane with supplies for his town of Santa Isabel.

Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa is putting all his effort into helping the Houston Astros continue their passage to the World Series. However, he does not forget his people in Santa Isabel and the rest of the victims in Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Maria three weeks ago.

Correa spoke with his partners at the sports shoe company Adidas, the grocery store HEB and the sports company Academy Sports to collect supplies for those in Santa Isabel and some of the nearby municipalities in the south of the island that were devastated by the passing of Hurricane Maria.

As was the case with outfielder Carlos Beltran, supplies were sent by Jim Crane's plane, owner of the Astros.

"When the hurricane happened, I met with my partners and commented on the situation. They gave me all the help and sent it to Puerto Rico. We send water, food and basic necessities. Everyone in my town got it, but I'm going to send more, "said Correa by telephone from Houston.

Correa said he has more pounds of supplies, but that he is in the process of getting a way to get them to Puerto Rico. "We are evaluating how to send them. Right now it is becoming difficult to find a way to send them with the speed we all want, "said Correa.

"At first it was difficult to play. He did not know how everyone was. I did not know about my grandmother and the rest of my relatives. My parents were worried and the only news that came to us was that the area where we lived had been flooded. The whole process was distressing. We then got communication and found out that all were well. That reassured me, "Correa said.

AT LEAST THESE SUPPLIES DON'T NEED FEMA PAPERWORK SIGNED BEFORE THE CITIZENS OF PUERTO RICO RECEIVE THEIR AID! TRUMP IS AN IDIOT! FEMA SHOULD BE ASHAMED!

The statue of the legendary Hiram Bithorn was ripped out by the hurricane winds of Mary.

Column: What Mary left us

23 days after the greatest disaster that has impacted Puerto Rico in almost a century, there is much sadness, pain, but also many teachings.

It might sound unfair, but as one old adage put it, "water passed, it does not move mills," and now what we have left is to look forward and learn.

Hurricane Maria deprived us of essential services, left us in darkness, and quite possibly for much longer than we think.

It touched us to the marrow, especially the thousands of brothers who have lost everything and have reached a literal crisis in which the intervention of the armed forces has been key in preventing a terrible humanitarian margin. Things are not well.

Maria, besides acting as a sovereign bomb on our fields and mountains, to zero our agriculture and tourism, also shook the sport. she left us with great damage at the main stadiums of baseball, development centers, and forced the cancellation of several professional tournaments. She left her mark on the house that keeps our beloved Olympic spirit, and placed a temporary question mark on sport, which is as popular as politics.

But Mary, even if it seems ironic, has also left us teachings and has allowed us to experience many things that were lost along the way.

The need left by this natural phenomenon to our beloved 'Isla del Encanto' has made us rediscover ourselves. Nature is purified just like us.

It has allowed us to set priorities, return to the basics, establish a conversation without looking at a screen, enjoy the moonlit nights and marvel at the sky. Relax with the quiet of the nights, although there are several machines of energy that flood us with their noise. We are even more creative.

We have re-washed a fist and table, have listened to the radio and more often read the ink on the paper. The smallest ones are already heard commenting on the corners of what is read in the newspapers.

Gone are the nets for them, even if it's temporary. Now his sources are his friends on the street, the neighbor on the corner, the clan waiting for him to play cards in the light of a candle. Every day they wait for that moment. The situation has connected them with necessity, with the simple. With the feeling of serving, of helping.

Mary has been a setback in time, and although it sounds ironic, incomprehensible and unfair, it also seems to become a lesson we all needed to take. He raised the curtain of a Puerto Rico that many refused to see.

Everything was exposed. But the best; appealed to our sensitivity and desire that characterizes us as a people: the desire to always help.

Seibu's Hideto Asamura watches his two-run homer against Tohoku Rakuten leave the yard in the first inning on Saturday in the Pacific League Climax Series opener. | KYODO

Lions devour Eagles in Game 1

TOKOROZAWA SAITAMA PREF. – The NPB postseason began with the promise of a pitcher’s duel, with a pair of aces on the mound on a chilly Saturday afternoon in Saitama Prefecture.

Only one was able to hold up his end of the bargain.

Seibu Lions star pitcher Yusei Kikuchi threw a five-hit shutout in his first career playoff game, the Lions’ hitters pounced on Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles starter Takahiro Norimoto early, and the team came away with a dominating 10-0 victory in Game 1 of the Pacific League Climax Series First Stage in front of a crowd of 32,547 at MetLife Dome.

“I tried to not give up a single hit and win at any cost during the regular season, so I didn’t really have to change anything,” Kikuchi said. “I just tried to win by any means like I always have. I didn’t feel any nerves, I was excited to go to the mound.”

The Lions lead the best-of-three series 1-0 and can advance to a final-stage matchup against the Pacific League champion Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks with a victory in Game 2 on Sunday.

“We told ourselves we had three games, but there was no way we could’ve afforded to drop this first game with Kikuchi on the mound,” Lions manager Hatsuhiko Tsuji said.

In a contest featuring starters who finished the regular season with at least 15 wins and over 210 strikeouts, it was the Seibu hitters who took center stage instead.

Takeya Nakamura hit a three-run home run and finished with four RBIs, Hideto Asamura had a two-run homer, and Ginjiro Sumitani had a two-run double among his three hits. Pacific League batting champion Shogo Akiyama also drove in a run, as did rookie shortstop Sosuke Genda. All nine of Seibu’s starters reached base at least once. Only Shuta Tonosaki failed to record a hit.

“We had something like a 10-day layoff, but our offense got better as the series got closer,” Tsuji said.

Kikuchi notched his ninth victory in as many meetings against Rakuten this year, limiting the Eagles to four singles and a double. Kikuchi, who went 16-6 with 217 strikeouts during the regular season, struck out nine.

“If you let them make contact, anything can happen. So when I had runners on base, I went for strikeouts,” Kikuchi said.

As good as Kikuchi was, Tsuji felt he wasn’t exactly in perfect condition.

“His mechanics weren’t quite as sharp,” Tsuji said. “It was actually the case for Norimoto as well. He didn’t pitch as energetically as he usually does.”

Norimoto (15-7 with 222 strikeouts in 2017) had some of his worst outings of the season against Seibu, and the trend carried over into the Climax Series. He allowed seven runs (the most he’s given up this year after twice giving up six to Seibu during the regular season) on seven hits over four innings.

“I didn’t feel particularly bad on the mound, but I wasn’t accurate, and they were trying to make contact with my pitches,” Norimoto said. “I wasn’t able to adjust to that well enough. That’s all.”

Norimoto said he didn’t feel any pressure.

“It was such a big game and I pitched so poorly,” he said. “No matter how well you did during the season, if you can’t win a game like this, it doesn’t mean anything.”

Norimoto threw 105 pitches, but the Lions may not have seen the last of him.

“It depends on tomorrow’s game, but we’ll do whatever it takes to win,” said pitching coach Tsuyoshi Yoda.

Hiroaki Shimauchi had the Eagles’ lone extra-base hit, a double in the seventh.

“They came to play today,” Rakuten outfielder Carlos Peguero said. “We came to play too, but they took advantage of the situations and got some runs. We just have to wipe out this day and come in tomorrow ready to play.”

Seibu has owned Rakuten since the calendar flipped to August, going 11-1-1 over their final 13 meetings of the season. That played a big part in the Lions overtaking the Eagles for second place in the Pacific League and earning the right to host their first-stage series.

With their flag-waving fans behind them, the Lions took control early.

Seibu’s No. 2 batter Genda was hit with a pitch with one out in the first, which brought Asamura to the plate. The Lions captain put a charge into the crowd with a two-run homer to left.

The Lions broke the game open in the bottom of the third.

Nakamura made the score 3-0 with a sacrifice fly, and Sumitani followed with his two-run double. Akiyama and Genda each connected on an RBI single to put Seibu ahead by seven runs.

“We kept setting the table, and it gave our younger players room to breathe,” Tsuji said. “We joked that getting hit by that pitch gave Genda a chance to relax.”

Nakamura pushed the advantage to 10-0 with a three-run home run to left in the sixth.

The Lions will try to finish off the Eagles in Game 2 on Sunday with Ken Togame on the mound.

The Eagles will counter with a familiar face, giving former Lions ace Takayuki Kishi the start with their season on the line.

“We just have to take it one game at a time,” Zelous Wheeler said, “one inning at a time.”