Minors: Winter Baseball

Minor Leaguer Tries To Pull Off Aussie Scam
Nov. 15, 2011
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. [...] Continue Reading »

Dee Gordon Runs To Winter Player Of The Year Honors
Mar. 4, 2011
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. [...] Continue Reading »

Prospects Emerge In Latin Leagues
Nov. 12, 2010
Ben Badler takes a look at four prospects who aren't household names but are raising their stock in winter ball with strong showings. [...] Continue Reading »

Mitchell Gets Back On Track In AFL
Nov. 4, 2010
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. [...] Continue Reading »

Nine Prospects To Watch In Winter Ball
Nov. 2, 2010
Ben Badler takes a look at nine of the most noteworthy prospects to follow in the Latin American winter leagues. [...] Continue Reading »

Minor Making Adjustments To Pro Ball
Nov. 16, 2009
His friends call him Mikey, and some call him a reach with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2009 draft. The Braves call Mike Minor their top pitching prospect and are pleased with his work in the Arizona Fall League, which amounts to much more than leaving the first inning of the Rising Stars Game without recording three outs. [...] Continue Reading »

Veal Deals In AFL
Nov. 9, 2009
Overcoming personal tragedy and his own wildness, Donald Veal is reclaiming some of his lost prospect stock with an impressive performance in the Arizona Fall League. [...] Continue Reading »

Desme Does The Desert
Nov. 2, 2009
Athletics farmhand Grant Desme reflects on his ridiculous Arizona Fall League start, as he has 10 home runs halfway through the league season—just four homers short of the league record. [...] Continue Reading »

Crow, Scheppers Team Up In AFL
Oct. 26, 2009
Aaron Crow and Tanner Scheppers both were projected first-round picks, but they failed to sign and went to independent ball to re-establish their value. Both were drafted in 2009 and finally signed in September. Now they are teammates on the Surprise Rafters in the AFL. [...] Continue Reading »

Separating the Sox
Oct. 19, 2009
Boston's shortstop duo in the Arizona Fall League—Jose Iglesias and Casey Kelly—couldn't be more different. [...] Continue Reading »

Updated 2009 AFL Rosters
Oct. 13, 2009
Opening Day rosters for the Arizona Fall League. [...] Continue Reading »

Ackley Ready To Debut In AFL
Oct. 12, 2009
The Mariners will get their first look at Dustin Ackley—the No. 2 overall pick in the 2009 draft—in professional action when the Arizona Fall League gets started Oct. 13. [...] Continue Reading »

AFL Rosters Are Announced
Aug. 25, 2009
Initial rosters for the 2009 Arizona Fall League season as announced by Major League Baseball on Aug. 25. [...] Continue Reading »

Sandoval Mashes Way To Winter POY
Feb. 27, 2009
After batting .396/.449/.677 with 12 home runs in 52 games in the Venezuelan League, Pablo Sandoval is Baseball America's 2009 Winter Player of the Year. [...] Continue Reading »

All Winter League Team
Feb. 27, 2009
We pick our 2009 Winter League all-stars. [...] Continue Reading »

Tune Up For A Pair Of Twins
Feb. 9, 2009
A pair of Minnesota Twins prospects are tuning up for the 2009 season as key members of the Caribbean Series champions Venezuela. [...] Continue Reading »

Caribbean Series Notebook
Feb. 7, 2009
The two most dominant pitching performances in the first four days of the Caribbean Series have been thrown by a pair of guys, Venezuela's Brad Knox and Mexico's Edgar Gonzalez, still looking for work for the 2009 season less than two weeks before pitchers and catchers report for spring training. Both pitchers are hoping that their achievements in the Caribbean Series help them get an invitation to spring training. [...] Continue Reading »

Venezuela Clinches Caribbean Series
Feb. 7, 2009
Venezuela clinched the 2009 Caribbean Series championship tonight with a 5-3 win over host Mexico before an overflow crowd at Mexcali's Estadio Casa GEO. Venezuela is undefeated after five games, with one game remaining, while Mexico's record stands at 3-2. [...] Continue Reading »

Venezuela Wins Again
Feb. 6, 2009
Two truths about the 2009 Caribbean Series, being held in Mexicali, Mexico, were evident on Day Four of the annual six-game series. First, the Venezuelan team is the class of the series, and they proved it with their fourth straight win in the series, with today's victory coming against the Dominican Republic team, 3-2. The second truth is that every game in the Series is being to be competitive and hard-fought, as seen in both games but especially in the 12-inning night game won by Mexico over Puerto Rico, 5-1 in 12 innings. [...] Continue Reading »

Castilla Mentors Mexican Prospects
Dec. 16, 2008
Vinny Castilla, retired as a player (though still active in winter ball), is managing young players like German Duran and Walter Ibarra in the Mexican Pacific League. [...] Continue Reading »

Fire starter
Nov. 17, 2008
The Braves' Tommy Hanson now is off-limits in trade talks [...] Continue Reading »

Blazing A Trail
Nov. 10, 2008
Logan Morrison showing what he can do after a year at high Class A Jupiter [...] Continue Reading »

Learning, Hawaii style
Nov. 4, 2008
Phillies outfielder trying to enhance swing in Hawaii [...] Continue Reading »

Arencibia Lookin' Good
Nov. 3, 2008
Arencibia making progress in the Arizona Fall League. [...] Continue Reading »

Rocket Rides Talent In AFL
Oct. 27, 2008
Kary Booher begins his week-long stay in the Arizona Fall League by checking in on some Braves farmhands with the Mesa Solar Sox. [...] Continue Reading »

Castro The Astro
Oct. 21, 2008
For the casual fan of Hawaii Winter Baseball, players aren't quite household names yet, so it's difficult to remember who belongs to what organization and where these players come from. But for Jason Castro, it's pretty easy: He's Castro the Astro from Castro Valley, Calif. [...] Continue Reading »

McBride Handles Shift To Outfield
Oct. 14, 2008
BA correspondent Stacy Kaneshiro checks in from Hawaii with a report on HWB play, including a focus on Indians catcher/outfielder Matt McBride and an update on Giants catcher Buster Posey. [...] Continue Reading »

Jeffress Back on Track
Oct. 13, 2008
Brewers prospect Jeremy Jeffress is eager to use AFL as a springboard to future success. [...] Continue Reading »

Hawaii Winter Baseball Notebook
Sep. 30, 2008
Perhaps the laid back atmosphere of Hawaii is just what Buster Posey needs. Since the Giants made him the fifth overall selection in the June draft, Posey has zipped through their minor league system like one of his throws to second base. [...] Continue Reading »

Hawaii Winter Baseball Rosters
Sep. 22, 2008
Rosters for the 2008 Hawaii Winter Baseball season. [...] Continue Reading »