Dominican Oscar Taveras was recently named the MVP of the Texas League. He actually dropped off a little from his A-ball numbers last year and only hit .322 with 22 homers, 89 RBIs, 10 steals and a .380 on-base percentage for Springfield.
The Cardinals prospect Taveras has been on the Dominican Baseball Guy's radar all season. He played in the Texas League where the Dominican Baseball Guy was able to see him play live a few times against the Corpus Christi Hooks. He definitely 'looks' like an MLB player. Along with his batting numbers, he shows plus fielding ability in the outfield.
In addition to the Texas League player of the year award, he won a Texas League player of the week award this season and was selected to the MLB Futures Game. He also won two Dominican Baseball Player of the Week awards here on my site.
He is from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Expect to see him in the big leagues next year at some point.
Showing posts with label Corpus Christi Hooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Corpus Christi Hooks. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Dominican player of the week: Oscar Taveras
Sometimes there are no Dominican players in the big leagues that have big weeks, so I have to go down and find a minor leaguer for the Dominican player of the week award. And that was the case this week. No Dominican major league player had a stand out week, and the Dominican Baseball Guy saw Oscar Taveras play live and have a huge game. So, the Dominican player of the week is Oscar Taveras. Amazingly, this is the second time he has won the Dominican player of the week award, after a he won based on strong performance in the Futures All-Star game earlier this year.
Taveras is in the Cardinals organization and is currently playing with the Springfield Cardinals in the AA Texas League. He is destroying the Texas League, leading the league in average and hits, and in the top five in home runs, RBI, doubles, triples, and slugging percentage. No, those are not typos, he is just that good.
I was able to see him play against the Corpus Christi Hooks on Monday, and he looked like an MLB player. He went 2-5 and had a game clinching two run home run in the top of the ninth. And he looked great in center field. I know this is the era of 'money ball' and statistics rule all, but Taveras definitely 'looks' like an MLB player.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak had some strong words about him earlier this year. "I don't like to call anyone untouchable," said Mozeliak, "but if there's a player we value in that kind of category, it's Oscar Taveras." It was planned that Taveras would join the big league Cardinals in late 2013, but with his great performance this season there have been internal discussions within Cardinals management to move him up this season.
He is from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. No word on whether or not he is related to former big league Dominican player Willy Taveras.
Taveras is in the Cardinals organization and is currently playing with the Springfield Cardinals in the AA Texas League. He is destroying the Texas League, leading the league in average and hits, and in the top five in home runs, RBI, doubles, triples, and slugging percentage. No, those are not typos, he is just that good.
I was able to see him play against the Corpus Christi Hooks on Monday, and he looked like an MLB player. He went 2-5 and had a game clinching two run home run in the top of the ninth. And he looked great in center field. I know this is the era of 'money ball' and statistics rule all, but Taveras definitely 'looks' like an MLB player.
Cardinals GM John Mozeliak had some strong words about him earlier this year. "I don't like to call anyone untouchable," said Mozeliak, "but if there's a player we value in that kind of category, it's Oscar Taveras." It was planned that Taveras would join the big league Cardinals in late 2013, but with his great performance this season there have been internal discussions within Cardinals management to move him up this season.
He is from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. No word on whether or not he is related to former big league Dominican player Willy Taveras.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Corpus Christi Hooks hold on for 5-4 win in roller coaster affair
Lead off hitter Austin Wates went 3-5 with an RBI and designated hitter Kody Hinze had a home run and 2 RBI to lead the Hooks to a win over the Midland Rockhounds on Thursday. Jake Buchanan pitched 6.2 solid innings for the Hooks and allowed 3 earned runs in getting the no decision.
The Hooks closed out a home-stand and moved to 11-9, good for second in the Texas League southern division. The Hooks now hit the road for eight games. The Rockhounds fell to 10-10, but they are still right in the hunt in the Texas League southern division.
The home team scored one run in the first to open the scoring and followed that with two runs in the second, including an RBI from Wates. It was part of a three hit night for the right fielder, that also included a diving catch to rob a base hit in the eighth inning. As a lead off hitter, Wates knows his jobs is to get on base.
"The guys behind me I know are very talented and able to drive me in," Wates said in a post game interview. "That is what I love about this team, if one guy doesn't pick it up, we know someone else will."
The two teams appeared to be evenly matched in the four game series which they split. And it showed in this game, as the Rockhounds did not let the Hooks run away with the win. The Rockhounds answered the Hooks with three runs in the third and fourth innings. Tyler Ladendorf had an RBI in the third and Ryan Lipkin had a two RBI hit in the fourth for the Rockhounds.
That would be all the scoring for the Rockhounds. Kody Hinze tied the game for the Hooks in the fifth. Then the Hooks took the lead for good on a Hinze home run in the seventh. Hinze is ready to continue the team's success tonight on the upcoming road trip.
"Frisco is in first place (in the Texas League southern division), so we have to go get them a little," Hinze said.
The game was an exciting affair, as it featured three lead changes and two ties. The teams also combined to leave 18 runners on base.
James Simmons got the loss for the Rockhounds. Kevin Chapman and Jason Stoffel combined for two innings of stellar relief to close the game out for the Hooks.
NOTES: Dominican baseball players in the game were Jonathan Villar (La Vega, Dominican Republic) for the Hooks, and pitcher Jonathan Ortiz (Bani, Republica Dominicana) for the Rockhounds.
The Hooks closed out a home-stand and moved to 11-9, good for second in the Texas League southern division. The Hooks now hit the road for eight games. The Rockhounds fell to 10-10, but they are still right in the hunt in the Texas League southern division.
The home team scored one run in the first to open the scoring and followed that with two runs in the second, including an RBI from Wates. It was part of a three hit night for the right fielder, that also included a diving catch to rob a base hit in the eighth inning. As a lead off hitter, Wates knows his jobs is to get on base.
"The guys behind me I know are very talented and able to drive me in," Wates said in a post game interview. "That is what I love about this team, if one guy doesn't pick it up, we know someone else will."
The two teams appeared to be evenly matched in the four game series which they split. And it showed in this game, as the Rockhounds did not let the Hooks run away with the win. The Rockhounds answered the Hooks with three runs in the third and fourth innings. Tyler Ladendorf had an RBI in the third and Ryan Lipkin had a two RBI hit in the fourth for the Rockhounds.
That would be all the scoring for the Rockhounds. Kody Hinze tied the game for the Hooks in the fifth. Then the Hooks took the lead for good on a Hinze home run in the seventh. Hinze is ready to continue the team's success tonight on the upcoming road trip.
"Frisco is in first place (in the Texas League southern division), so we have to go get them a little," Hinze said.
The game was an exciting affair, as it featured three lead changes and two ties. The teams also combined to leave 18 runners on base.
James Simmons got the loss for the Rockhounds. Kevin Chapman and Jason Stoffel combined for two innings of stellar relief to close the game out for the Hooks.
NOTES: Dominican baseball players in the game were Jonathan Villar (La Vega, Dominican Republic) for the Hooks, and pitcher Jonathan Ortiz (Bani, Republica Dominicana) for the Rockhounds.
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| Always love this shot from the 1st base line, players, coaches, umpires, and fans |
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| Dominican baseball player Jonathan Villar bats for the Corpus Christi Hooks |
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| Slip slidin, the third run crosses for the Hooks in the 2nd inning |
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| One of the players of the game, Austin Wates, moments after a spectacular diving catch
*All photos by Dominican Baseball Guy. See the full album on the Dominican Baseball Guy Facebook.
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Saturday, April 16, 2011
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:
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:
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