December 22, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Fall/Winter League Roundup: Vazquez continues to swing hot bat
Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico)
The strong performance of Christian Vazquez (pictured) at the plate has been one of the biggest positives in the Red Sox organization this winter. The 24-year-old catcher saw his six-game hitting streak come to an end on Sunday, but still had another productive week overall. In four games, Vazquez was 7 for 17, including a dominant game Saturday in which he went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and a rare stolen base. His season line stands at .294/.371/.365.
Rusney Castillo saw action in only two games this week, but made the most of his opportunities, going 5 for 9 with a run scored and a stolen base. In nine games since joining the Caguas squad following an injury-shortened Arizona Fall League stint, Castillo has a .382/.389/.471 line. Henry Ramos, Castillo's Caguas outfield-mate, was 3 for 9 with two walks and an RBI in a trio of contests.
Dayan Diaz, leaned on heavily for three appearances by Santurce last week, did not appear in any game action this week. Joseph Monge has seen little playing time for San Juan but did appear in Thursday's contest as a defensive replacement.
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
It was a rough week for left-hander Edwin Escobar, who gave up three home runs in 3 2/3 innings, allowing four runs in total. Escobar did strike out four without issuing a walk. The Red Sox signed Escobar's Cardenales de Lara teammate Nestor Molina as a free agent last week. Molina allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings in Saturday's start, taking the loss. Overall, Molina has a 4.62 ERA over 12 appearances, 11 as a starter (although he has worked primarily as a reliever the last two seasons state-side, and will likely continue to do so with the Red Sox). He has struck out 32 and walked only 13 in 48 2/3 innings.
Dominican Baseball League
The Dominican Winter League finished up its regular season on Sunday. Most of the Red Sox representatives in that circuit have had backup roles. Marco Hernandez, acquired from the Cubs last week, had a .235/.289/.353 line in 34 at-bats for Licey. Aneury Tavarez was effective in limited playing time for first-place Estrellas, hitting .375/.438/.500 in 21 games. The top four teams in the league advance to the round-robin playoffs, with Tavarez the Red Sox player most likely to see any playing time, as Heri Quevedo (Estrellas), Keury De La Cruz and Miguel Celestino (Aguilas), and Manuel Margot (Este) all saw little playing time with their respective playoff clubs.
Mexican Pacific League
The Red Sox have not had a representative in Mexico all winter, that is until the recent acquisition of minor league free agent Luke Montz... sort of. He seems to have been in the league mostly as a rehab assignment after missing most of the 2014 season. A catcher by trade, Montz was used exclusively as a designated hitter by Mexicali, hitting .151 /.308/.358 with three homers in 53 at-bats, all in October.
Australia Baseball League
Jorge Marban appeared in one game on the week, earning the save with a scoreless ninth inning on Saturday. Marban lowered his ERA to 2.49 across 21 2/3 innings on the year.
Panama Professional Baseball League
The Panama Winter League kicked off this week. Catcher Pablo Urena, Boston's lone representative, went 2 for 5 for Cocle. Javier Guerra is on the reserve list for las Aguilas, and if activated would immediately be the player to watch on this circuit, which only runs through mid-January.
The Dominican Winter League finished up its regular season on Sunday. Most of the Red Sox representatives in that circuit have had backup roles. Marco Hernandez, acquired from the Cubs last week, had a .235/.289/.353 line in 34 at-bats for Licey. Aneury Tavarez was effective in limited playing time for first-place Estrellas, hitting .375/.438/.500 in 21 games. The top four teams in the league advance to the round-robin playoffs, with Tavarez the Red Sox player most likely to see any playing time, as Heri Quevedo (Estrellas), Keury De La Cruz and Miguel Celestino (Aguilas), and Manuel Margot (Este) all saw little playing time with their respective playoff clubs.
Mexican Pacific League
The Red Sox have not had a representative in Mexico all winter, that is until the recent acquisition of minor league free agent Luke Montz... sort of. He seems to have been in the league mostly as a rehab assignment after missing most of the 2014 season. A catcher by trade, Montz was used exclusively as a designated hitter by Mexicali, hitting .151 /.308/.358 with three homers in 53 at-bats, all in October.
Australia Baseball League
Jorge Marban appeared in one game on the week, earning the save with a scoreless ninth inning on Saturday. Marban lowered his ERA to 2.49 across 21 2/3 innings on the year.
Panama Professional Baseball League
The Panama Winter League kicked off this week. Catcher Pablo Urena, Boston's lone representative, went 2 for 5 for Cocle. Javier Guerra is on the reserve list for las Aguilas, and if activated would immediately be the player to watch on this circuit, which only runs through mid-January.