October 24, 2016 at 9:21 PM
FallWinter League Roundup: Dominican League begins, Haley solid
Arizona Fall League
It was a difficult week for Sox hitters in the AFL at the plate. Danny Mars went 1 for 11 with a walk and Yoan Moncada went 1 for 10 with six strikeouts, two walks, and a stolen base. Mauricio Dubon had some success, going 3 for 12 with three singles and two stolen bases. He had a 3-for-4 game sandwiched between a pair of 0-for-4 outings. He saw some more action in the outfield, starting one of three games this past week in center field.
Trey Ball made two appearances that produced opposite results. He tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Wednesday, but followed it up on Saturday by walking all five batters he faced on 27 pitches. Jalen Beeks made two appearances and allowed one run over 2 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three. Jamie Callahan had a nice week with two shutout innings that included three strikeouts. Michael Kopech wasn't as sharp in his second AFL start. He lasted three innings and gave up seven hits and two runs. He walked one and punched out three.
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
There wasn't a ton of action from Red Sox players in the Venezuelan League last week. Carlos Tovar went 1 for 7 with his first home run of the fall, while Deiner Lopez appeared in one game as a pinch runner.
William Cuevas, a pending minor league free agent, had one start, lasting 4 1/3 innings while giving up two earned runs on four hits, three walks, and two strikeouts.
Dominican Baseball League
The Dominican league began play on Thursday. Six Red Sox players were on rosters in the first week, along with two pending minor league free agents. Rafael Devers is the biggest name playing in the Dominican League, and he went 1 for 3 with a walk in his first game and 0 for 4 in the second game. Rainel Rosario went 1 for 6 with a home run and a walk. Aneury Tavarez pinch ran and scored a run.
Justin Haley (pictured) was terrific in his first start of the winter. He tossed six shutout innings and allowed just one hit. The right-hander walked just one and struck out four. Chandler Shepherd tossed an inning of scoreless ball while recording a pair of strikeouts.
Venezuelan Liga Paralela
The Boston squad went 3-2 last week and is now 6-3 for the season. Pedro Castellanos, making his winter debut, played in two games but put up some big numbers, going 5 for 8 with two RBI and a walk. Imeldo Diaz, like Castellanos joining the club after finishing up in the Fall Instructional League, was 6 for 16 with a home run and Samuel Miranda went 4 for 9 with a walk. Victor Acosta also continued his hot start by going 6 for 19 with a home run and two walks. He is now batting .400/.500/.657 in 35 at-bats this fall.
Boston received solid starting pitching. Carlos Cortes, went four innings without giving up an earned run. Edilson Batista, joining the club after representing Brazil in the fourth World Baseball Classic qualifier in Brooklyn in September, also threw four innings and gave up just one run. Eduard Bazardo did not allow an earned run in five innings, while Hildemaro Requena allowed two earned in five innings while striking out five and walking one. Daniel Gonzalez was terrific out of the bullpen, throwing four scoreless innings. Jose Zacarias also had a scoreless outing out of pen in a two-inning stint. Bazardo, Cortes, and Jose Gonzalez have each thrown eight innings without allowing an earned run this fall.
Coming Up
Puerto Rico's Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League begins play on Thursday. The Nicaraguan League will also begin play tomorrow, although it is unclear if any Red Sox players will play in this league. Roniel Raudes would be a candidate to keep an eye on in his native country, but he is unlikely to play given his 110+ innings pitches during the season.
Photo Credit: Justin Haley by Kelly O'Connor