Fall/Winter League Roundup: Ramirez debuts, Vazquez homers

Here is a recap of the past week's action in Fall and Winter leagues. For the full list of Red Sox prospects participating in these leagues, check out our Fall & Winter Leagues page, which will be updated continuously through the offseason. This week's roundup covers the period of December 19 - December 25.

Dominican Baseball League

Hanley Ramirez made his winter debut this past week as the Dominican league's regular season wrapped up and appeared in three games. The first baseman, who belted 30 home runs for Boston in 2016, went 2 for 12 with a double, a walk, and a pair of runs batted in. Ramirez will play for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Marco Hernandez continued to play well with four hits and a walk in 12 plate appearances along with a stolen base. Junior Lake went just 1 for 14 with three walks.

Roenis Elias was tagged for four earned runs over six innings during his lone start of the week, striking out seven and walking two along the way. Fernando Abad tossed a clean inning, allowing just one hit.

The league's round-robin semifinals begin on Tuesday, with the Gigantes, Tigres (Ramirez, Hernandez), Aguilas (Elias), and Leones (Rafael Devers and Chandler Shepherd have already completed their seasons and are not active) qualifying. In addition, Abad was selected by the Aguilas in the re-distribution draft featuring players from the two non-qualifying rosters. The four teams will each play 18 games, with the top two squads advancing to the championship.

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League

Christian Vazquez has begun to heat up, as he reached base five times in 12 trips to the plate last week. He went 3 for 10 with his first home run of the winter, drew two walks, and scored four runs. Rusney Castillo also played well, going 4 for 11 with a double, a walk, and a stolen base. He is hitting .360 this winter. Joseph Monge and Jeremy Rivera each received one plate appearance, with Monge recording a hit and Rivera striking out.

Venezuelan Professional Baseball League

Eduardo Rodriguez made an encouraging start for Magallanes on Tuesday. The left-hander fired five shutout innings while allowing just three hits. He struck out six and walked only two. Luis Ysla also pitched well, tossing 1 2/3 shutout innings without allowing a hit or a walk.

The recently signed Heiker Meneses, rejoining the Red Sox after two years in the Twins organization, had a good week, going 5 for 12 with 3 doubles, scoring twice and driving in another pair in three games. Over the LVBP season (including Monday's game), he is hitting .290/.346/.414 in 57 games for La Guaira and manager Ozzie Guillen, for whom he has moved around the infield but mostly played shortstop, at least as of late.

Photo Credit: Christian Vazquez by Kelly O'Connor

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