Dominican baseball player Vlad Guerrero getting in baseball shape quickly

Dominican baseball player Vladimir Guerrero could be in the majors soon.  The 16 year big leaguer is working out at the Blue Jays Spring Training facility in Florida, and the team says he is making great strides.  Guerrero recently signed with the Blue Jays, and was expected to spend several weeks to months getting into shape.

But the Blue Jays just sent their DH Adam Lind to the minors, so Guerrero could be coming to the big league club sooner than initially thought.  He is still expected to make his way through the Blue Jays minor league system, before appearing with the big league club.

Guerrero says that he is happy to be back where he started his career in Canada, and that the atmosphere north of the border reminds him of the Dominican Republic:

"The people in Montreal, the fans, were very different. I felt like I could walk down the street like I was in the Dominican. Nobody would attack me or anything like that. They'd say hi and I felt very, very comfortable on the streets. Then again, when I got to the ballpark, then they became fans -- that's what I really liked about it."

Vladimir Guerrero is from Nizao, Dominican Republic.

Dominican baseball player Vladimir with the Orioles last season.  Photo courtesy of Keith Allison on Flickr

First Brazilian plays in MLB and Dominican player Vladimir Guerrero could be his teammate

Yan Gomes became the first Brazilian to appear in an MLB game on Thursday.  He went 2-3 in his debut for the Blue Jays after being called up from AAA earlier in the day.

For Gomes, it is an honor to be the first Brazilian to play in the MLB:

"Growing up in Brazil you would never think of that, so coming out here and having it, it seems like it happened so fast.  So I definitely have to take it in.  I'm really proud of it, it's an honour to represent my country."

His strong performance at the plate last year in AAA and this year in Spring Training earned him the promotion.  Gomes came up to replace the suspended Brett Lawrie at third base for the Jays.  He is hoping to prove himself while Laurie is on suspension, but a return to the minors seems inevitable at this point.  If he keeps up his strong hitting he could catch on as a major league utility player (Gomes plays catcher and several other positions).

In other news, Dominican player Vladimir Guerrero could be joining Gomes soon, if both are on the Jays big league roster.  It seems that Guerrero is performing well in the minors and could be fast tracked to the big league club.

Vladimir Guerrero is from Nizao, Dominican Republic.

Dominican baseball player Vladimir Guerrero could be on the Blue Jays major league roster soon.
Photo by to by Keith Allison on Flickr

Dominican beisbol player Vladimir Guerrero signs with Blue Jays

Dominican beisbol player Vladimir Guerrero has signed a minor league deal to play with the Blue Jays.  He was most recently rumored to sign with the Indians, and before that there were rumors he was Miami Marlins bound.  But alas the Blue Jays scooped him up, hoping to add depth to a lineup that is third worst in the American League in batting average.

Guerrero will report to the Blue Jays Spring Training complex in Florida for an extended Spring Training.  He then will join one of the Blue Jays minor league affiliates and if he does well there, he should be with the big league club sooner rather than later.

The Dominican Baseball Guy is surprised to see that it has taken this long for him to get picked up.  He hit .290 as a DH last year for the Orioles in 562 at bats.  And he is only two years removed from a .300, 29 HR, and 115 RBI season with the Rangers.

And as Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos says, "there's no such thing as a bad minor league signing."

The Blue Jays really do not have much to lose.  If he makes the big league club they get him for cheap.  And if he does not pan out, they only have to pay him a minor league salary.

Dominican beisbol player Vladimir Guerrero es Nizao, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican beisbol player Vladimir Guerrero pictured last year with the Orioles.
He recently signed with the Blue Jays, photo by Keith Allison on Flickr

Dominican beisbol player Vladimir Guerrero works out for Indians

Dominican beisbol player Vladimir Guerrero showed up at the Indians Dominican baseball academy on Monday for a workout.  He is one of the all-time top Dominican beisbol players in history, by the Dominican Baseball Guy's estimation and most others.  "Vlad" Guerrero is thought to be a sure fire Hall of Famer by most as well.

As much as the Dominican Baseball Guy hates to say it, the great Guerrero is showing his age.  He has been in the big leagues for sixteen years.  With that said, he did hit .290 with 13 homers and 63 RBI in 145 games last year.  Not bad for an off year, but he is a .318 lifetime hitter.

Well, the Dominican Beisbol Guy would sure love to see him in the majors for another season.  Vladimir Guerrero es de Nizao, the Dominican Republic.

Dominican beisbol player Vladimir Guerrero still had a pretty darn good
year last year with the Orioles, photo by Keith Allison on Flickr

Dominican baseball player Vladimir Guerrero to the Marlins, Dominicano Vlad Guerrero a Marlins?

It is no secret that Vladimir Guerrero has been one of the favorite Dominican baseball players of the Dominican Baseball Guy for many years.  He remains in third place all-time among Dominican baseball players in hits, RBI, and home runs, and is second for lifetime average at .318.

Last year, Guerrero signed a one year free agent deal with the Orioles.  By most accounts he had a bad year.  But if you look at the numbers, they are really not that bad.  He hit .290 in 500+ at bats, and had 13 home runs and 63 RBI.  Now these numbers are certainly off his career average, but most MLB players would take these numbers, particularly the .290 average.  The guy hit .290, and this was a bad year.

So it goes for an aging superstar like Dominican baseball player Vladimir Guerrero.  He is unsigned this off-season thus far, but recently told Dominican newspaper EL Caribe that the Marlins and Ozzie Guillen had contacted him.  Most think he is DH at best, and wonder what a National League team would be doing talking to him.  But, Vladimir says that he is still a player that should play every day, even if it is as an outfielder.

It is a wait and see game to see if the Marlins sign him, or if any other team picks him up.  The Dominican Baseball Guy anxiously awaiting to see where he lands.  Pelotero Dominicano Vladimir Guerrero es de Nizao, Republica Dominicana.

Dominican baseball player Vladimir Guerrero hopes to play another year, by Rich Anderson on Flickr

Dominican Player of Week 2: Alexi Ogando

Alexi Ogando only pitched one time during week two, but combined with his week one performance he is worthy of the Dominican Baseball Guy's player of week 2.  Ogando started the season by shutting out the Mariners in six innings pitched, in his first career start.  He followed that up with seven innings and no runs against the Tigers.  In his first two starts of his career here is his line: 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 innings, 8 K.

Ogando has been featured in two recent posts from the Dominican Baseball Guy, so just check the tags at the bottom of this post to see those.  After going through a long legal process in which he was accused of visa fraud, Ogando debuted last year and was one of the best relievers in baseball.  He ended with a 1.30 ERA in 42 innings.  He was not scheduled to start for the Rangers this season, but moved into the rotation after some injuries.  It will be hard for Ron Washington to move him back to the bullpen if he keeps this pace up.  Ogando is from San Pedro de Macoris, DR.

Other Dominicans in week 2: Neftali Feliz (Azua, DR): 3.1 innings, 3 saves, 0.00 ERA, Vladimir Guerrero (Nizao, DR) 8-25, Manny Ramirez (Santo Domingo): retired from MLB

Alexi Ogando, by Red3Biggs

Alexi Casilla and Edward Valdez Players of the Week

For the last week of the regular season (December 13-19) in the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM), Alexi Casilla and Edward Valdez won the player of the weeks honors.

Alexi plays for the Gigantes and has been an established Major Leauger with the Twins for the last four seasons. At times he plays everyday with the Twins, but injuries and other factors have pushed him into a bench player at times.  He is a quality talent in the LIDOM though.  He played in 40 of 49 games this year, and hit .303 while playing excellent defense at 2B and SS.  Alexi is from San Cristobal, DR.

Edward Valdez has been with Escogido in the LIDOM.  He has made it as far as AAA in the last two seasons and he is currently under contract with the Rockies.  He has been used as a starter and long reliever.  Maybe we will see him with the Rockies in the next few years.  Edward is from Nizao, DR.