Winter Wonders: Strong Finish For Teheran
Winter wonders focuses on two very different prospects, top Braves pitcher Julio Teheran and Twins indy ball refugee Chris Colabello.
Winter wonders focuses on two very different prospects, top Braves pitcher Julio Teheran and Twins indy ball refugee Chris Colabello.
Once unnoticed, Chris Colabello is on a faster track now.
Giants farmhand Angel Villalona got $2.1 million to sign in 2006 but has not played in a U.S. league since 2009. He was arrested on murder charges in September 2009 and had been unable to obtain a work visa to travel to the U.S., but a cash settlement and dropping of the charges in the Dominican Republic has given Villalona a second chance.
Ben Badler names 10 players who stood out in winter ball.
Mariners prospect James Paxton has come back strong from a midseason knee injury to show well-above-average velocity for a lefthander. He's continuing his season in the Arizona Fall League.
After leading the Venezuelan League in home runs with 15 for Magallanes, Cubs first baseman Bryan LaHair can add another line to his resume: Baseball America's 2012 Winter Player of the Year.
We look at a trio of players who helped their stock with strong winter ball performances.
On first glance, Juan Oramas looks the part of a typical soft-tossing southpaw pitcher. The 21-year-old hurler for the Hermosillo Naranjeros of the Mexican League stands only 5-foot-10 and tips the scales about 20 pounds less than his listed weight of 215. Looks can be deceiving.
Former Phillies infielder Kevin Jordan is trying to help build baseball in Australia as manager of the Brisbane Bandits in the Australian Baseball League.
The Seattle Mariners have close ties to the Lara club in Venezuela.
A journeyman minor leaguer was desperate enough to play in the Australian Baseball League that he packaged himself with Pirates outfielder Xavier Paul. The only problem: Paul had no idea about the deal.
In a year when few high-profile prospects headed south to play in Latin American winter leagues, one who not only played but excelled was Dodgers shortstop Dee Gordon, making him a clear choice for our Winter Player of the Year award.
Scott Thorman is spending this offseason just like every other winter for the last few years—playing ball in Mexico in preparation for a non-roster invitation to some team's big league camp.
Yunesky Maya has dominated the Dominican League, a performance the Nationals hope is more indicative of his talent than the Cuban righthander's pro debut in 2010.
The first 10 teams make selections in the major league phase of the 2010 Rule 5 draft, starting with Pittsburgh and infielder Josh Rodriguez.
Here are some prospects who are making good use of their time in winter ball.
We take a look at four prospects helping themselves with strong showings in winter ball.
Ben Badler takes a look at four prospects who aren't household names but are raising their stock in winter ball with strong showings.
Since his first full season was wiped out because of an injury, White Sox outfielder Jared Mitchell is in the Arizona Fall League trying to get things back on track. After the White Sox made Mitchell the 23rd-overall pick in the 2009 draft, he got off to a great start in low Class A, hitting .296/.417/.435 over his first 139 plate appearances. Mitchell was exciting White Sox brass with his play during spring training heading into the 2010 season and there were discussions about jumping him to Double-A out of camp. But the White Sox' plans were derailed when Mitchell tore a tendon in his left ankle on March 12 making a leaping catch against the wall to rob the Angels' Juan Rivera of extra bases.
Ben Badler takes a look at nine of the most noteworthy prospects to follow in the Latin American winter leagues.