Fall/Winter Roundup: Castillo leads Caguas to PR championship

Here is a recap of recent 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 edition of the roundup covers the period of January 23 - January 31.

The Caribbean winter leagues wrapped up their seasons over the past week-plus, and the winners from the winter circuits in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Venezuela, as well as the champion of Cuba's Serie Nacional, competing in the tournament, this year held in Culiacan, Mexico. The tournament consists of a ten-game round-robin, followed by semifinals and finals, and will begin this evening.

(NOTE: The next--and final--edition of this offseason's Fall-Winter Roundup will not run until February 13.)

Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico)

In Puerto Rico, the last game of the best-of-nine finals took place on Wednesday (the lone game last week), with Caguas beating Santurce 6-5 in 12 innings to take the series, 5-3. Both Red Sox players participating had strong performances, in this game as Christian Vazquez went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk before being replaced in the ninth inning. Rusney Castillo (pictured) helped Caguas grab the victory by going 2 for 6. Castillo will be the lone Red Sox player to partake in the Caribbean Series by virtue of Caguas' victory.

Dominican Baseball League

In the Dominican, the Tigres del Licey defeated the Aguilas Cibaenas in nine games, taking the winner-take-all game nine on Saturday, 6-2. Left-hander Fernando Abad pitched in four of the five games last week for Aguilas, facing one batter over the minimum in 3 2/3 innings and striking out five batters, with the lone batter to reach doing so on an error.

Although both Hanley Ramirez and Marco Hernandez played for Licey this winter, neither is listed on the club's roster for the Caribbean Series.

Australian Baseball League

Daniel McGrath made one start this week, pitching 3 2/3 innings and allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and three walks, punching out five. This marks the end of a shaky regular season for McGrath, who pitched to a 6.17 ERA with 10 strikeouts and 11 walks in 11 2/3 innings. Melbourne, McGrath's team, ranks as the top seed in the league and will have a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The Aces will resume play next week, taking on the winner of this weekend's series between the league's second and third seeds from Adelaide and Brisbane.

Photo Credit: Rusney Castillo by Kelly O'Connor

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