Guardians prospect Chase DeLauter opened his AFL season in a big way, slamming a home run in the third inning of Peoria’s lid-lifter against Scottsdale. The James Madison alum missed a chunk of the season with a broken foot but still impressed enough to work his way onto BA’s Top 100 prospects. He finished the day 2-for-4 with five RBIs and a stolen base.

GUARDIANS

Guardians All-Star José Ramírez says he’ll play winter ball in the Dominican Republic

Updated: Oct. 22, 2023, 10:09 p.m.|Published: Oct. 22, 2023, 9:14 p.m.

By Paul Hoynes, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Winter ball is meant for prospects trying to climb the ladder of their chosen profession or veterans looking to earn one more chance in the big leagues.

José Ramírez, five-time All-Star, is neither of those. He is, in fact, the face of the Guardians’ franchise. But it appears he’ll soon be playing for Leones del Escogido in his native Dominican Republic.

Ramírez, 31, has not played winter ball since the 2015-2016 season for Toros del Este when he was 23. Ramírez played 97 games for Cleveland in 2015 and was still trying to establish himself in the big leagues.

But in a recent interview with journalist Jatnna Rodriguez, Ramírez said he’s training to play for Escogido for a month this winter.

“My preparation has already started, I am preparing well,” Ramírez is quoted as saying. “It was what I wanted: to play in the winter league and be close to my house.”

Ramírez said the Guardians gave him permission to play. The Guardians have yet to confirm that.

In September, Ramírez’s winter-ball rights were traded from the Toros to Escogido, which is closer to Ramírez’s home in Bani. The trade, which sent Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to the Toros, played a part in Ramírez deciding to play this winter.

“I am very grateful to the Toros; they were the ones who gave me the opportunity to play at the start of my career, but I hope the fans understand me,” said Ramírez. “It is a little difficult to travel from Baní to here.”

Bani is in the southern part of the island, about 90 miles from La Romana, home of the Bulls. Escogido plays in the capitol city of Santo Domingo.

While playing for the Toros after the 2013 season, Ramírez injured his left thumb sliding into a base. It required surgery and cost him a chance to break camp with Cleveland in 2014 because he still wasn’t fully recovered.

Ramírez, following the 2015 season, was playing second base for the Toros when he was upended by an opposing player’s slide into the bag. He was taken off the field on a stretcher, but missed only a few games with a twisted ankle.

Winter ball in the Dominican Republic is highly competitive. The quality of play is good and the competition is intense. It helped make Ramírez the player he is today, but it does not come without risks.

Ramírez finished the 2023 season with Cleveland hitting .282 (172 for 611). Despite the Guardians finishing 27th in runs, Ramírez scored 82 runs with 36 doubles, 24 homers and 80 RBI. He stole 28 bases in 34 attempts, while posting a .831 OPS.

In four seasons in the Dominican, including a trip the Caribbean World Series in 2013, Ramírez hit .285 (121 for 425) with 20 doubles, four triples, three homers and 49 RBI. He posted a .719 OPS.

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Juan Brito, INF, Toros del Este (LIDOM), CLE No. 6

Brito raked over three seasons in the Rockies' system, and he's hit well in the Cleveland organization after coming to the Guardians in the trade for Nolan Jones last November. The 22-year-old put up a .271/.377/.434 line while climbing to Triple-A Columbus this year, also.

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Angel Martínez, INF, Estrellas Orientales (LIDOM), CLE No. 10

Known for a baseball IQ that helped him reach the Double-A level at age 20 in 2022, Martínez drilled 14 homers, five triples and 23 doubles while playing his way up to Triple-A this season. He also played in 21 games in the AFL last autumn.

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José Tena, SS, Estrellas Orientales (LIDOM), CLE No. 14

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Who said Baseball was over for the season?

Nice to see you back, Joe.

I'm sure you will provide us with some good scouting over the winter.

Wonder if Jose Ramirez needed Cleveland's permission to play this winter?

If they gave him the ok, it must be with restrictions.

José Ramírez prepares to go without limitations with the Lions

“Mr. La Para”, as the talented hitter is known, revealed that so far no time limit or playing conditions have been placed on him to be with the Lions.


Lidom Editorial

By LIDOM EDITORIAL STAFF

11/17/2023 · 08:39 AM

SANTO DOMINGO.- The star third baseman of the Cleveland Guardians, José Ramírez, began his practices this Thursday ahead of his debut in the coming days with the Leones del Esgido in the current 2023-2024 season.

“Mr. La Para”, as the talented hitter is known, revealed that so far no time limit or playing conditions have been placed on him to be with the Lions.




“I have no limits until now. In the meantime I have permission to play. I come to play my ball hard and aggressive. "I am a third baseman, but I am going to do what the team asks me to help them," said the Baní native in a meeting with the press prior to this Thursday's game.



https://youtu.be/8Jj80lWcjBk



Ramírez, who said he was very happy to be part of the Leones, revealed that since he was a child he has been a member of the national team like his entire family, so for him it is a dream to wear the scarlet shirt, which was possible thanks to the trade that brought from the Toros del Este Leones del Escogido by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.




“When I play I am a part of the team, I want to win and give my best. “I would like to reach the final to seek the crown with the Lions,” declared the big leaguer, who also cleared up doubts about his health, after undergoing wrist surgery at the end of 2022, saying that he is “100 percent healthy.” ”.

He added that “I wanted to play from early on, but I am in an organization, and I have to wait for them to give me permission.”

“Mr. La Para ”remembers that Lidom was the league that opened the doors for him and helped him reach the Majors, which is why he expressed his excitement at being able to play in the country again, something that had not happened since 2015.

In 2023 with the Guardians, José Ramírez had an offensive line of .282/.356/.475 with 36 doubles, 80 RBIs and 87 runs scored in 156 games with the Cleveland team. During his career in the Major Leagues he has participated in five Games of Stars and has been the winner of four silver bats.

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Hey Joe

I see one of your new favorites, Dayan Frias, was left unprotected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Think somebody will scoop him?

Hello Sea,

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he is not chosen.
He's only 21.
He's a (++) defender.
He played all infield positions for the Captains this year.
He's just started to show he can hit with some power this year.
That was my main concern.
In 2024, I'm hoping we can give him an opportunity in Akron.
(If he's not chosen).

Frias led or was at the top of all the team's offensive catergories.

Offense:

(1) AVG = 260
(1) OBP = 356
(1) SLG = 426
(1) OPS = 782
(1) HR = 11
(2) DBL = 19
(2) Run = 43
(3) G = 3
(3) AB = 338
(3) HIT = 88
(3) RBI = 49
(3) BB = 51
(3) CS = 3
(5) TPL = 2
(5) SO = 83
(9) SB = 8

Defense:

1B
INN = 17
TC = 11
E = 0
F% = 000

2B
INN = 51
TC = 25
E = 0
F% = 000

SS
INN = 49
TC = 22
E = 2
F% = 909

3B (New Position)
INN = 649.2
TC = 211
E = 13
F% = 938

I'm not too happy about not protecting Frias.
I'd much rather trade him than expose him.
At lease we get someone back in return.
But what the hell do I know.
They don't pay me those big bucks to make these decisions.

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Llegó el primer HOMERUN pintado de rojo para José Ramírez 9-1 Escogido!


https://youtu.be/QZY-GZ7DyGQ

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best thing going for Frias fans who want to have stay with the G's is his lack of any experience beyond class A

Maybe. But his performance in the winter league, Caribbean Series, and the Baseball Classic indicate that he's ready for Akron.

Winter Ball Participants To Date:

October 19, 2023 SS Juan Brito assigned to Toros del Este.
October 19, 2023 SS Angel Martínez assigned to Estrellas Orientales.
October 19, 2023 SS José Tena assigned to Estrellas Orientales.
November 19, 2023 3B Jhonkensy Noel assigned to Estrellas Orientales.
November 10, 2023 SS Milan Tolentino assigned to Aguilas de Mexicali.

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WATCH: Guardians Prospect Blasts Home Run In Dominican Winter League

Cleveland Guardians prospect Jhonkensy Noel hits a home run in his first at-bat in the Dominican Winter League.



https://twitter.com/i/status/1727118316832260520



Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball have wrapped up their 2023 seasons. But that doesn't mean we have to wait until spring to watch more baseball.

The Dominican Winter League is in full swing, and there are a number of Cleveland Guardians representatives participating this offseason. This includes Jhonkensy Noel, who is currently Cleveland's 28th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline.

Noel made his Dominican League debut on Tuesday night and did this in his first at-bat.

That's right, Noel ripped a home run to deep left-center field which has an exit velocity of 403 feet.

This is something that Guardians fans could get used to seeing in no time. This solo shot gave the Estrellas Orientales their first run of the game and cut the Leones del Escogido's lead to just two runs.

Funny enough, Noel was playing against current Guardians third baseman José Ramírez and former Cleveland designated hitter Franmil Reyes in this game.

Noel's estimated time of arrival to MLB was 2023, but he still has yet to make his Big League debut. He spent all of 2023 with the Columbus Clippers, the Guardians' Triple-A affiliate.

The 22-year-old finished the 2023 campaign with a slash line of .220/.303/.420, which included 27 home runs and 85 RBI. His biggest strength is the power he brings when he is at the plate, which is something that Cleveland desperately needs.

Noel's best path to the Big Leagues will be in the outfield, which is a position group that the Guardians are seeking more out of.

Maybe 2024 will finally be the year when fans will start seeing Noel playing for the Big League club.

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