Minors: Winter Baseball: Winter Wonders

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 »

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 »

Winter Wonders: Bonifacio Wins POY
Mar. 5, 2008
Ben Badler's Prospects Pulse wraps up the winter ball season with our Winter Player of the Year and a cautionary note about a top prospect's winter workload. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Wonders: Playoffs Update
Jan. 10, 2008
New manager Eddie Diaz turned the Deer's season around and led Mazatlan into the Mexican Pacific League playoffs. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter League Playoff Update
Jan. 23, 2007
Daily updates on the winter league playoffs. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Wonders: Oct. 12
Oct. 12, 2006
Amaury Marti ranks as maybe the most interesting prospect playing in the Hawaii Winter Baseball league. [...] Continue Reading »