January 8, 2018 at 10:00 PM
Fall/Winter League Roundup: Velazquez throws well as playoffs begin
This continues our series of weekly roundups of the Fall/Winter Leagues. Coverage will continue every Monday into January. 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 January. This week's roundup covers the period from January 1 to 7.
Dominican Baseball League
The semifinals will continue through January 18, but no Red Sox prospects appeared in games this past week.
Hector Velazquez's Navojoa squad came into the playoffs as the number three seed in the 3 vs 4 matchup. Velazquez (pictured, right) started game two of the series on Tuesday, throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings while allowing 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 3. He also earned the win, while Navojoa won the series 4-1 advancing to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile for Mazatlan, outfielder Aneury Tavarez led off each game of their series, which ultimately ended with a 4-2 series loss. Tavarez struck out in half his at-bats and finished 6-for-22 (.273) with a double, 2 runs, a RBI, and a walk.
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The teams of outfielder Juan Hernandez (Anzoategui) and shortstop Deiner Lopez (Lara) managed to win their first playoff series 4-1. Neither played a huge offensive role for their victorious team with Lopez going 1-5 while pinch-hitting in two games and Hernandez only appearing as a pinch runner in one game.
Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico)
The Hurricane Maria shortened season began on Friday with four Red Sox playing in the league. Recently signed infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. had the best start of the bunch, going 5-for-7 over the weekend with a walk for Santurce. (And to update on what De Jesus had been up to while a free agent, he got 69 at-bats in Mexico while waiting for Puerto Rico's league to start--as a number of Puerto Rican players did in the other Caribbean leagues--hitting .217.) Outfielder Joseph Monge will also be playing for Santurce but did not play over the weekend. Both outfielder Rusney Castillo (2-for-11 for Caguas) and shortstop Jeremy Rivera (1-for-7 for Mayaguez) had forgettable opening weekends. The shortened season will run through January 23rd.
Photo Credit: Hector Velazquez by Kelly O'Connor
Will Woodward is a Co-Owner and Senior Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPWill.