Prospects: Winter Baseball: Winter Wonders

2012 Baseball America Winter Player Of The Year: Bryan LaHair
Feb. 16, 2012
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. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Wonders: Brian Bogusevic Gets Some Needed At Bats
Jan. 3, 2012
We look at a trio of players who helped their stock with strong winter ball performances. [...] Continue Reading »

Padres' Oramas Finding His Way In Mexico
Dec. 22, 2011
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. [...] Continue Reading »

Mariners Keep Lara Club Stocked All Winter
Nov. 21, 2011
The Seattle Mariners have close ties to the Lara club in Venezuela. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Notebook: Thorman Working To Get Back
Jan. 12, 2011
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. [...] Continue Reading »

Maya Rebounds With Standout Winter
Dec. 21, 2010
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. [...] Continue Reading »

Rodriguez Leads Off Active Rule 5
Dec. 9, 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. [...] Continue Reading »

Tracking Prospects Among Winter Leaders
Dec. 1, 2010
Here are some prospects who are making good use of their time in winter ball. [...] Continue Reading »

Lesser-Known Prospects Emerge In Latin Leagues
Nov. 16, 2010
We take a look at four prospects helping themselves with strong showings in winter ball. [...] Continue Reading »

Ramos Hits Way To Winter Player Of The Year
Mar. 5, 2010
In 2008-2009, Wilson Ramos helped Venezuela win the Caribbean Series, batting .317/.331/.475 in the regular season and .385 in the first four games of the Caribbean Series. In 2009-10, Ramos took his play up significantly, batting .332/.397/.582 and ranking among the league leaders in RBIs and total bases (first, 49 and 119); slugging percentage (second) and home runs (third, 12). For his performance, Ramos has earned Baseball America's Winter Player of the Year Award. [...] Continue Reading »

DR Wins Caribbean Series
Feb. 24, 2010
The Leones del Escogido nearly didn't make the 2010 Caribbean Series, but once they got there, they weren't going to be denied their third championship as a franchise and 18th for the Dominican Republic overall. [...] Continue Reading »

Instructional League Notebook: Sept. 28
Sep. 28, 2009
Eight organizations got together to form a four-team, co-op Advanced Instructional League, as a sort of replacement for Hawaii Winter Baseball. Bill Mitchell details it in this instructional league notebook. [...] Continue Reading »

Relying On Guts
Jan. 9, 2009
Not long ago, give or take 18 months, any conversation discussing a safe projection of Cardinals righthander P.J. Walters always centered around one phrase: In the majors, he's probably a reliever. Now, after a mostly encouraging run through the high minors in 2008 and a dominating performance in the Puerto Rican League, look who's running with a full head of steam entering a season that could end with a precious 40-man roster spot. Even better, the majors are in reach. [...] Continue Reading »

Fun Again
Jan. 8, 2009
Used to be, Justin Maxwell lost a lot of sleep at night as he worried about this and that, the replay of that evening's game running through his mind over and over again. Now the Nationals prospect patrols the outfields of the Puerto Rican League, where he tries to make up for lost time after yet another season marred by injuries. His 2008 campaign was abbreviated to just 43 games. [...] Continue Reading »

Worth A Look
Dec. 18, 2008
The buzz of the offseason likely will stay on the heels of others, of bigger names, of more talented prospects, even though he created quite the ruckus this year in winning the Texas League batting title. But just when it seemed safe to assume the winter would quiet down around third baseman Jesus Guzman comes this line next to his name out of the Venezuelan League: .400/.500/.696. [...] Continue Reading »

Instructional League Notebook
Oct. 10, 2008
Correspondent Bill Mitchell checks in on the younger talent on hand in the fall in Arizona's instructional league camps, including returns to the field for 2008 first-round picks Eric Hosmer and Ethan Martin. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Leagues Notebook: Nov. 16
Nov. 16, 2007
Braves' outfielder Brandon Jones has been playing a lot of center field in the Mexican Pacific League this winter for Navajoa, though he is unlikely to replace Andruw Jones in Atlanta anytime soon. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Notebook: Nov. 9
Nov. 9, 2007
Heath Phillips proves there is more than meets the eye. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter League Notebook: Nov. 2
Nov. 2, 2007
Neil Walker is finding the Mexican Pacific League to be a life-changing experience. [...] Continue Reading »

Arizona Instructional League Notebook
Oct. 10, 2007
The Rangers are getting a chance to get acquainted with new acquisitions at the team's instructional league. [...] Continue Reading »

Chris Kline's Winter Wonders
Jan. 30, 2007
The teams are now set for the Caribbean Series. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Wonders: Jan. 24
Jan. 24, 2007
Alberto Gonzalez' defensive prowess is helping him catch notice, even more so now that he's been traded to the Yankees. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Wonders: Dec. 8
Dec. 8, 2006
Chip Cannon has made some adjustments that paid off during the Arizona Fall League season. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Wonders: Nov. 6
Nov. 6, 2006
A pair of Yankees pitching prospects are adjusting to pro ball in Alaska. [...] Continue Reading »

Winter Wonders: Oct. 24
Oct. 24, 2006
Not many prospects or managers had to think long before deciding to accept a trip to the Hawaii Winter Baseball League. [...] Continue Reading »