The Indios de Mayaguez (1-2) beat the Cangrejeros de Santurce (1-2) 2-0 last night with two key performances from Mets minor leaguers. T.J. Rivera was 0 for 2 with two walks and scored the only two runs of the game for the Indios. Rivera is now 4 for 10 with three walks in the first three games of the 18-game round robin playoff schedule in the Puerto Rican League.
New Mets signee Andrew Barbosa pitched a gem for the Indios picking up the win after going five one-hit innings. He walked two batters and struck out three in his first playoff appearance. He had a 1.42 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 6.1 innings during the Puerto Rican regular season. Here is my write up on getting to know Barbosa.
Asdrubal Cabrera made his winter league debut at shortstop for the Leones del Caracas last night after being the designated hitter in every game prior. He went 2 for 5 with a double, RBI, and run scored last night in the Leones 11-3 win. The Leones are now down in the series 2-1 in the best-of-7 first round series in the Venezuelan League playoffs.
The Tigres de Aragua lost last night 12-11 in ten innings, they now trail their best-of-7 series 2-1 to the Bravos de Margarita. Wuilmer Becerra continued his great winter league for the Tigres going 3 for 5 with a double, RBI, HBP, and a run scored. He is now 5 for 12 with two runs scored during the postseason after hitting .405/.416/.500 in the Venezuelan regular season. He has also hit safely in 19 of 24 games during winter ball action.
The Tigres del Licey moved to 7-1 in the Dominican League playoffs after beating the Toros del Este last night 3-2. Alejandro De Aza went o for 4 with a walk and two strikeouts. He is now 6 for 22 with three walks since joining the Toros.
Jenrry Mejia faced three hitters in the Tigres win getting one out while allowing a single and a walk. Lefty reliever Chase Huchingson came in for the Tigres with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and got the only batter he faced to pop out to shortstop.
Xorge Carrillo went 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch and a run scored as the Aguilas de Mexicali won 7-4 to sweep their first round playoff series in the Mexican Winter League.
I enjoy reading your articles Michael. I wish the winter league games would be broadcast on MLB Network so we would have some baseball to watch. Is the Venezuelan league competition level around A+/AA?
I’m very thankful the Mets didn’t lose Becerra in the rule 5 draft. This young man is going to be a star. Thanks for these articles, Michael. I really enjoy keeping up with the Mets Minors, and I couldn’t do that without your excellent articles. One question; do you think Nimmo will do enough for a possible call up this season? I value your thoughts.
Some are available to watch online and I tweet them out when they are. I think Venezuela is close to AA. Puerto Rico as well with DR is closer to AAA. And the Mexican League is closer to A.
Thank you for the kind words. I am really mixed on Nimmo because I personally believe he still can be a useful piece but the scouts I talked to this year were way down on him. Big thing for him this year is to stay healthy and hit at AAA, he is still very young (younger than Conforto).