Dominican baseball player of the week: Wilin Rosario

Rockies rookie and Dominican baseball player Wilin Rosario is the latest winner of the Dominican Player of the Week here on the Dominican Baseball Guy blog. I dare you to write a sentence that has more derivations of 'Dominican baseball' than that last one.

The Dominican Rosario has a slew of minor league awards, but this appears to be his biggest award while playing in the big leagues. He was a Futures Game selection twice, a post-season and mid-season all-star in the AA Texas League, and won a few other minor league awards. The Dominican Baseball Guy got a chance to see Wilin Rosario play while he was in the Texas League.

He was considered a top-100 prospect at the start of the 2011 season. After six years in the minors, he made the jump from AA to the majors at the end of last year, and has never looked back. He has been an every day player for the Rockies this year, and has home runs and a .274 average, while playing the most important position on the field, catcher.

Last week, he hit a ridiculous .448, with 13 hits, 2 home runs, and 5 RBI. He should be the starting catcher for the Rockies for many years to come.

Dominican baseball player Wilin Rosario is from Bonao, Dominican Republic.

Dominican baseball player Wilin Rosario playing catcher at the Texas League All-Star game,
I promise he is there, photo by monstersweare on Flickr

Dominican Player of the Week: Juan Francisco of the Atlanta Braves

The Dominican Baseball Guy has awarded Juan Francisco of the Braves as his Dominican Player of the Week. Juan hit .375 with three home runs last week, and got some votes for player of the week in the National League.

It is no secret Juan Francisco is one of the favorite players of the Dominican Baseball Guy.  He was playing with the Gigantes del Cibao in 2009, the year I followed the Gigantes for the entire Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) season.  That year he won the MVP of the Dominican Winter League, and he also won it in 2009.  He was either at the top or close to the top of the LIDOM in home runs, RBI, and average in both of those years.

He had a slower year this past off-season in the LIDOM.  As he has gotten closer and closer to securing a regular big league gig, his playing time in LIDOM has gone down.  He had played in 81 big league games going into this season for the Reds, but they decided to trade him this off-season.

His power is his calling card.  Juan is one of the best guys to see in batting practice.  Kids line the outside of the stadium waiting for him to hit them balls, which they will use to play at their own games and practices.  During games, the stadium always stopped for Juan Francisco, aka "El Diamante."  Not sure where the nickname came from, but during that year the announcers started calling him "The Diamond of Bonao."  Francisco is from Bonao, Republica Dominicana.  I saw him hit one shot in San Francisco de Macoris at the Julian Javier stadium that I swore went over the lights.  We all lost it in the lights, and people were saying "he hit it to the moon."

Lots of people say that he is a below average fielder and that he strikes out a lot.  And he does.  But the Dominican Baseball Guy still thinks he is going to be a star, as I predicted two years ago when I first saw him play in Dominican Winter League action.  I think his power and his clutch play will be enough to outweigh deficiencies elsewhere.  He won a lot of games for the Gigantes that season with late inning heroics.  And, after all, I cannot go back on my prediction now.

The only other Dominican player to receive votes in the player of the week race in either league was Rafael Furcal of Loma de Cabrera, Dominican Republic.

Dominican player of the week Juan Francisco bats in the Midwest League in 2007, photo by Joel Dinda on Flickr

Dominican Republic baseball player Joel Peralta re-signs with Tampa Bay Rays

Joel Peralta has played in the Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) for 12 strait years, so it meant a lot when he skipped his home country winter league this off-season.  He re-signed with the Rays for one year and $2.75 million.

Rays' manager Joe Maddon expected good last year, but what he got from Peralta was great.  He did not allow a run in 17 of his final 18 appearances, and lefties batted only .157 against him.  He also had six saves when closer Karl Farnsworth went out due to injury.

Fellow Rays' reliever JP Howell says he is happy to have Peralta back.  Howell says that his energy is contagious, and every time he looks at him he feels energized.

The Dominican Baseball Guy saw Peralta play several times in LIDOM action in 2009 for the Gigantes del Cibao.  Sitting in the right field stands, the Gigantes bullpen is inches from the fans.  And the Dominican Baseball Guy attests that Peralta has contagious energy.

Seeing him in person, one can see an always upbeat attitude and love for the game from Peralta.  He would often throw balls with the right fielder in between innings to warm him up (as seen below).  Peralta always threw fouls balls to the stands, and often laughed and joked with fans.  He also kept his bullpen mates alive.  And when he was ready to pitch, he zoned in and became totally serious.  Exactly the kind of attitude needed on a baseball diamond.

The Dominican Baseball Guy thought he had several pictures of Peralta playing with the Gigantes del Cibao in 2009, but this is the only one he found at the moment.  Hey, I know it is not the best picture, but at least it is proof that the Dominican Baseball Guy saw Peralta play with the Gigantes.  Joel is from Bonao, Dominican Republic.

Joel Peralta warms up the right fielder from the Gigantes del Cibao bullpen at the Julian Javier
Stadium in San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic, photo by Dominican Baseball Guy

Dominican baseball player Carlos Marmol looks for bounce back year, and farms in the Dominican Republic

Carlos Marmol had an off year last season.  After a huge 2010, when he averaged 15.99 K/9 innings, the Dominican Baseball anointed Carlos Marmol best closer in baseball.  But last season he led the MLB in blown saves with 10.

Marmol is looking to rebound, and spent the off-season working on his farms in the Dominican Republic.  Marmol has been around farms his whole life, and went into the business professionally with his brother a few years ago.  Together they own three farms in the Dominican Republic, 700 head of cattle, as well as horses and chickens.  They sell beef and milk, chicken and eggs, and horses throughout the Dominican Republic.

Farming and ranching is perhaps one of the biggest industries in the Dominican Republic.  Virtually all the beef, milk, chicken and eggs, as well as most of the produce, consumed in the country is sourced locally.  This is due, like most of the problems in the country, to lack of infrastructure and an underdeveloped economy.  It is easier to bring the goods to market if they close.  The roads and ports make it difficult to import large amounts of food items, and if international companies cannot import large amounts of goods, it is not worth it to them.

The new age struggle of processed and prepared foods versus locally sourced foods is not even an issue in the Dominican Republic, because the infrastructure is not there to import large amounts of cheap goods.  The Dominican consumer get hurts because they have have almost no options in regards to fresh food.  Non-nonperishable items are imported in large scale and are readily available, especially in the capital and Santiago.

And so it goes.  The process of growing an economy is a complex process.  I am just the Dominican Baseball Guy, and I am not schooled in macro-economics.  But what I know is that developing countries lack basic infrastructure like electricity and roads, and businesses and schools cannot develop without these infrastructural elements.

The Dominican Baseball Guy is also, not in any way, blaming Carlos Marmol or other Dominican farmers for anything.  The people need these food items, and the local farmers are the ones that must provide them at this point.  So saludos to Carlos Marmol and his brother.  The Dominican Baseball Guy wishes them all the best with their three farms in the Dominican Republic.  Carlos is from Bonao, Dominican Republic.

Dominican baseball player Carlos Marmol owns several farms in the Dominican Republic,
photo by Phil Roeder on Flickr

Corpus Christi Hooks game photos and Dominican baseball players

The Dominican Baseball Guy got the fist chance of the year to catch his hometown Corpus Christi Hooks in action.  Whataburger field in Corpus Christi is one of the best settings in minor league baseball.  This year, the Hooks feature Jimmy Paredes, one of the top prospects in minor league baseball.  They got him in the trade for Berkman to the Yankees last season, and re-signed him this off-season.

Paredes was the only Dominican baseball player on the Hooks to see action in this game.  He went 1-4 and made a few good plays at second base.  The Dominican Baseball Guy got a few good pics of him in action (#24 below).  Paredes is from Haina, Republica Dominicana.

The Hooks took on the Tulsa Drillers.  The Drillers had two peloteros Dominicanos play in the game.  Hector Gomez (San Pedro de Macoris, Republica Dominicana) went 2-6 and scored 2 runs.  Wilin Rosario (Bonao, Republica Dominicana) was 2-5 while playing catcher.

The Drillers won the game 9-6, and there was some good action with the Drillers putting up five runs in the seventh inning.  Since it was Friday, the Hooks had post game fireworks, and a free concert on the outfield starring...wait for it...Neal McCoy.  Yea, he is a country singer whose last hit was in the 90's the Dominican Baseball Guy thinks.

Here are the photos of the Corpus Christi Hooks v. Tulsa Drillers:

Carlos Marmol, best closer in Major League Baseball?

Carlos Marmol grew up on a ranch outside Bonao, DR.  His work ethic perhaps comes from this upbringing.

This will be his first year in which he does not face competition for the closer job with the Cubs.  Carlos made the all-star team in 2008 as a middle reliever, and first had the full time closer job last year.  He excelled greatly in the role saving 38 out of 43.  He also had 138 strikeouts in 77 innings.  That strikeout ratio (15.99 per nine innings) set a new MLB record and helped him win the delivery man of the month award for September 2010.

Carlos was recently featured as one of six Dominicans scheduled to close for their teams in 2011.  His stuff is probably the most electric in the league.  Carlos is from Bonao, DR.

Carlos Marmol in 2010 with the Cubs, by Phil Roeder on Flickr

5 Dominicans to play in Korea Baseball Organization in 2011

The eight teams in the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) have signed 16 foreign players for the upcoming 2011 season, and 5 of the imported players are Dominican.  Like many lower tier sports leagues throughout the world, the KBO has a limit of 2 foreign players per team.  The Dominican Winter Baseball League limits it's teams to 5 foreign players at one time, and other sports leagues such as Major League Soccer also have limits on foreign born players, so this is a common practice designed to ensure that local teams have a majority of local players.

Thanks to True Stories of Korean Baseball for the list of foreign players.  Here are the Dominican players scheduled to appear in Korea this season:

Radhames Liz, P El Seybo, Dominican Republic

Ramon Ramirez, P Puerto Plata

Aquilino Lopez, P Villa Altagracia

Julio DePaula, P Santo Domingo

Oneli Perez, P Bonao

Radhames Liz and Ramon Ramirez both have big league experience.  And The Dominican Baseball Guy has seen several of these players show up in the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM).  They all have some experience in the LIDOM and Ben Jukich, another player on the list, also spent the whole 2009 year in the LIDOM with Aguilas.

Interesting that they are almost all pitchers.  A lack of quality arm strength in domestic players leads the teams of the KBO to import pitchers with 90 mph stuff.

Radhames Liz in 2010 spring training with the Padres, by SD Dirk on Flickr

Several Dominican pitchers scheduled to close for their teams

Six Major League Baseball teams have already penciled in Dominican pitchers to close for their team.  Additionally, their are two other Dominicans that will probably see time in the closer role for their team at some point this season.

Among them are Neftali Feliz (Azua, Dominican Republic), Carlos Marmol (Bonao), and Jose Valverde (San Pedro de Macoris).

See the rest of the Dominican closers and the full article at the Dominican Baseball Examiner

Neftali Feliz pitches, by RWH on Flickr

Houston Astros sign several Dominican players, add to Dominicans on roster

The Houston Astros have added some key arms to their roster this offseason.  First, they resigned Wandy Rodriguez (see the AP article).  The Dominican Baseball Guy thinks Wandy is an ace or at least a number two starter.  He won the Dominican Baseball Guy player of the month for August 2010.  Wandy is from Santiago, DR.

Next, they signed Enerio del Rosario.  He debuted for the Reds last year and should see time in the Astros bullpen this season, after he had a strong winter season in the Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM).  They also resigned Jimmy Paredes, who is on the 40 man roster, but will most likely start next year in the minors.  Parades came to the Astros in the Lance Berkman deal.  Enerio is from Santa Lucia, DR and Paredes is from Haina, DR.  Brian Mctaggart reported these deals here.

Most recently the Astros resigned Alberto Arias (see the details from Sports Blog Nation Houston).  Arias missed all of 2010 with an injury, but should see time in the Astros bullpen if he continues to recover from the rotator cuff injury.  Alberto is from the capital of the DR, Santo Domingo.

These signings are in addition the following Dominican players on the Astros 40 man roster: Fernando Abad (La Romana, DR), Henry Villar (Bonao), Jorge DeLeon (La Cega Azua), and Aneury Rodriguez (Higuey).  There are also several non-roster Dominican invitees to spring training.

Dominican Winter Baseball League MVP and Post Season Awards 2010

The Dominican Winter Baseball League (LIDOM) has finished the regular season and the playoffs are being played right now.  Here is the press release announcing the post season awards.

As the Dominican Baseball Guy predicted, Juan Francisco won the MVP.  The Dominican Baseball Guy also predicted that he would play in the MLB this past season and he did.  Juan won the Rookie of the Year in LIDOM in 2008, the MVP last year, and the MVP this year.  He has had quite a run in his first three years.  This article from the Gigantes del Cibao website sums up his dominance in the LIDOM over the past three years.

This year he was in the top 5 in HR, RBI, Runs, and average.  In just 3 years he has 30 HR, which puts him only 2 behind the Gigantes club leader Nelson Cruz, who took seven years to get to that number.  He is only the third player in LIDOM history to have two 10 HR seasons, and is half way to the career record.  He is also only the 10th player to hit two 400 feet HR in Quisqueya Stadium.  He nearly made the Reds playoff roster this season, and should see more playing time next year after playing in 36 games last season.  Juan is from Bonao, and he is known as "the Diamond of Bonao."

Juan Francisco

The Rookie of the Year went to Eury Perez.  He is in the Nationals system and played last year at single A.  Eury is a speedy center fielder, who had 60 stolen bases during his single A season last year.  He hit .345 and had 21 stolen bases in 37 LIDOM games.  It will be some time before he makes it to a big league club, but he has the potential to be a productive lead off hitter and center fielder.  Eury is from San Luis, DR.

Eury Perez

Another National, Yunesky Maya won the Pitcher of the Year.  He is an established major leaguer who came over to the Nationals last season after pitching for many years in the Cuban National Series, the top Cuban league.  He won the Cuban equivalent of the Cy Young on 2009.  In eight LIDOM starts he was 4-2 with a 1.32 ERA.  He also had 42 K's in 41 innings and just 8 walks.  Maya should fit into the Nationals starting rotation somewhere this year, the only question is where.  Maya is from Pinar del Rio, Cuba.

Yunesky Maya

Here is an article from Federal Baseball Nationals blog that sums up these two and their potential going forward.  Both played for Escogido in the LIDOM this year.

Lastly, Dean Treanor won the Manager of the Year Award.  Treanor managed the Toros to first place in the LIDOM.  He has managed and coached in various minor league teams and organizations since 1988.  He has managed the Toros for the last two years.  Treanor will be managing the Indianapolis Indians of the International League next year (according to this article).  Treanor played baseball at Cal Poly-San Luis Obisbo in the 1970s.

Dean Treanor

Radhames Liz, Matt McBride, and Juan Francisco Players of Week

The Dominican Winter Baseball League is in full swing, 20 games into the 50 game regular season.  The Dominican Baseball Guy always updates the players of the week, so this is the first edition of the Dominican Winter Baseball League Player of the Week.

Radhames Liz won the first player of the week award, and Matt McBride won the player of the week award for the week of November 2-7.  Here is the press release.  Liz has spent parts of three MLB seasons with the Orioles, mostly as a starter.  He was claimed off waivers by the Padres and spent last season with Portland in the Pacific Coast League.  Liz is playing for the Estrellas and from El Seybo, DR.

Matt McBride is in the Cleveland Indians organization and played 31 games with their AAA team last year, which is the highest level he has attained.  McBride carried a hot streak in his brief stink in the International League into the Winter League season.  He is absolutely killing the ball in the Dominican Winter League, with 7 HR and 19 RBI in 21 games.  He is leading the league in HR and RBI.

Juan Francisco won the third player of the week award.  He spent most of last season in the AAA International League, but did spend some time with the Reds.  He just missed their playoff roster.  The Dominican Baseball Guy has said it before, Francisco is a can't miss prospect and is going to have a long MLB career.  He won the Dominican Winter League MVP last year, along with several player of the week awards.  He has more power than anyone the Dominican Baseball Guy saw in the Dominican Winter League last season.  He is having another huge year and the Dominican Baseball Guy predicts he will win the MVP again.  Right now he is 1st in hits, 2nd in doubles, 2nd in HR, 1st in runs, 2nd in RBI.  I will be sure and refer to this post in two months when my prediction comes true.  Juan is from Bonao, DR.

Dominican MLB September 2010 Players of the Month

The Dominican Player of the Month for September could easily go to one of the co-players of the month for August, Albert Pujols or Jose Bautista.  Both had huge months yet again, and Bautista received voted for the AL Player of the Month (see the MLB press release).  So consider them runners up for the Dominican Baseball Guy Dominican Player of the Month for September 2010.

But the Dominican Baseball is going with an little known Dominican for the Dominican Player of the Month for September.  And the award goes to Pedro Alvarez, of the Pittsburg Pirates.  The Dominican Baseball Guy knows, few of you have heard of him...and he plays for the Pirates.  But he had a huge September.  Over the last 30 days of the regular season he had 5 HRs, 24 RBIs, and hit .320.  And he is a rookie, and may still have his rookie eligibility for next year, though the Dominican Baseball Guy is not sure on this.  He did play in 95 games this year, and made it to the big leagues after just two plus years in the minors.  He actually went to Vanderbilt, which is not the most common route to the big leagues for Dominican Prospects.  He did not have the best year in the 95 games he did play, but was hot in September and maybe he has a more consistent year next year.  Pedro is from Santo Domingo, DR.

The Dominican Pitcher of the Month for September 2010 was an easier choice.  Carlos Marmol of the Cubs won the MLB Delivery Man of the Month award (see MLB press release), and he is the Dominican Baseball Guy's Dominican Pitcher of the Month for September 2010.  In September he was 13 for 13 in saves and did not allow a single run.  He finished the season with an MLB record 16K/9 innings.  Carlos is from Bonao, DR and has been in the big leagues for 5 seasons, but just became the everyday closer for the Cubs this year.  He has an interesting side arm style on some pitches that you can kind of see in this picture: