In Colombia, Harold Ramirez has played three games this winter after being released a couple weeks ago by his team in Mexico. So far, he is 3-for-12, with a double, walk, RBI and two runs scored. In Mexico, he hit .245/.268/.321 in 15 games, which looks worse when you realize Mexico is a high offense league. Ramirez has played the last two winters in Colombia.
No other Pirates have played yet in Colombia, though Tito Polo and Luis Escobar are both on rosters. If you missed it the other day, Oderman Rocha is in the league and picked up a win, but he was just released by the Pirates.
On Monday night in the Dominican, Willy Garcia continued to struggle this winter, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout and error before being lifted for a pinch-hitter. He is now hitting .146 in 41 at-bats, with one extra-base hit(a double) and just two walks, which has his OPS below the .400 mark. Garcia had a breakout season last winter with a .776 OPS and 17 extra-base hits in 38 games.
Alen Hanson didn’t get off the bench on Monday until the 14th inning, grounding out as a pinch-hitter in his only at-bat. His team ended up winning 6-5 in 15 innings. Hanson is hitting .266 through 19 games, with two walks, a double and a homer.
Mel Rojas Jr. went 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored. He is hitting .236 through 19 games, with nine walks and ten extra-base hits.
Pedro Florimon went 1-for-5 with a walk and three strikeouts. He is hitting .179 through 39 at-bats, with 16 strikeouts.
Andy Vasquez came on as a pinch-runner in the tenth inning, then flew out to left field in his only at-bat, before being pinch-hit for in the 15th inning.
Josh Wall threw a scoreless inning, giving up two singles. In 14 innings over 14 appearances, he has a 3.86 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
Gustavo Nunez went 0-for-2, dropping him to a .193 average through 18 games. He is 1-for-15 this month and has yet to pick up an extra-base hit.
Francisco Diaz has signed as a minor league free agent with the New York Yankees, officially ending his time with the Pirates after four seasons. He seemed like someone who the Pirates would re-sign, as he works well as a mentor for young catchers and pitchers, but he will likely get a better opportunity to play in the Yankees’ system. Diaz was 4-for-13 in nine games this winter.
Adam Frazier and Team USA are going to the semifinals of the Premier 12 tournament at the Tokyo Dome, where they will face Mexico on Friday. Frazier went 1-for-3 on Monday against Netherlands, collecting a double, run scored, an RBI and he dropped down a sacrifice bunt.
