October 29, 2012 at 12:00 PM
Fall/Winter League Roundup: October 22-28
Red Sox prospects continued to struggle in their respective leagues, but there were a few bright spots in an otherwise poor week. For full statistics, make sure to follow our Fall/Winter League page, which is updated daily.
Arizona Fall League
Christian Vazquez (pictured) went 4 for 4 with two doubles and a home run on Thursday, accounting for most of the Saguaros offense in a 6-3 loss to Scottsdale. Vazquez only appeared in two games this week, both at catcher, and he went 0 for 5 with two strikeouts in his other appearance. He allowed five steals, but also threw out five runners.
After not appearing in a game since the 15th, Bryce Brentz played four games in-a-row from the 23rd to the 26th. He went 3 for 15 with no extra-base hits, walking twice and striking out six times. Brentz is not hitting for much power in the hitter-friendly environment, but he has hit safely in eight of the nine games he has started.
Michael Almanzar is also struggling to find his power-stroke, hitting four singles in 14 at-bats this week. To date, he has only one extra-base hit, a double, in 39 at-bats. He has shown a decent eye at the plate, walking six times, but has also struck out nine times.
Chris Martin was roughed up on Wednesday, allowing two runs in his only inning of work, but he bounced back on Saturday, striking out four over two perfect innings. He has a 9/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his 8 2/3 innings.
Like Martin, Pete Ruiz and Brock Huntzinger were also hit around on Wednesday. That was a theme for Surprise, as they were shellacked by Phoenix, losing 15-1. Ruiz was actually the most successful pitcher for Surprise in the game, allowing one run on two hits over two innings. He also threw a scoreless inning on Saturday, striking out two. Huntzinger appeared in two games this week, allowing four hits over two innings, giving up one run and striking out three.
Ryan Pressly allowed one run over three innings in his two appearances, striking out three and walking none. He has 10 strikeouts and only one walk over eight innings for the Saguaros.
Venezuelan Winter League
Yeiper Castillo continued to pitch well, throwing three scoreless innings. He has allowed only two runs over 9 1/3 innings in his six relief appearances.
J.C. Linares has played sparingly, appearing in only four games since the 14th. He played on Friday and Saturday, going 0 for 6 with one walk and five strikeouts.
Playing mostly as a pinch-runner/defensive replacement, Ronald Bermudez played in five games this week. In the two games he started, he went 0 for 6, though he did hit a game-winning double in the top of the ninth on Friday, after coming into the game as a pinch-runner in the seventh.
Mexican Winter League
Jeremy Hazelbaker did not appear in a game this week, and Marco Duarte got shelled in his one start, giving up three runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Dominican Winter League
Josh Fields was hit hard this week, allowing four runs in 1 2/3 innings. He allowed a home run and walked two batters. After throwing 13 2/3 scoreless innings to end the season with the PawSox, Fields has now allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings for the Aguilas Cibaenas.
Dan Butler continued to struggle in his battle for a 40-man spot, going 1 for 7 this week with three strikeouts. His average actually rose this week, and he is now batting .138 in 29 at-bats.
Liga Paralela-Boston
Much like last year, the Red Sox are fielding nearly an entire team in the Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional's minor league, the Liga Paralela. The players are all in the lower levels of the minor league system, with many of them still in rookie ball. Alixon Suarez, Oscar Perez, Heiker Meneses, Dreily Guerrero, and Keivin Heras are some of the more notable names on the team.
The team itself is 3-7 on the season. Meneses has seven hits and four walks in 18 at-bats, Suarez has four hits and four walks in 15 at-bats, and Perez has struggled to a .135 average while appearing in all 10 games. Heras has thrown two scoreless innings, and Jervis Torrealba has allowed three runs over 12 innings.
World Baseball Classic
New Zealand recently announced its WBC roster, and current Red Sox Boss Moanaroa and Beau Bishop will lead the team into Taiwan for the qualifying tournamnet on November 15. Other players of note are former Red Sox farmhands Moko Moanaroa and Lincoln Holdzkom, as well as Beau's brother Sam Bishop. Full rosters for the event are due by November 7.
Photo Credit: Christian Vazquez by Dave Letizi