Once the winter leagues really get going, we will have as many recap articles as possible without stretching to post an article like I am doing right now. This is just an update of the last week in Mexico and a reminder of the dates for each league to start. In the past, we have averaged about 4-5 articles per week throughout the winter action until it gets light near the end, then we usually do a weekend recap. Anyway, we have a new Pittsburgh Pirates prospect in action in Mexico, and I re-posted the schedule from last week’s update article.
Fabricio Macias made his debut this week and he has now played five games after coming into Saturday night’s game in the eighth inning as a pinch-runner. Interestingly enough, he pinch-ran for former Pirates prospect Tito Polo, who unless he got injured on the play, is faster and a better defender than Macias in center field. Macias went 2-for-17 with two singles and a stolen base in his first four games. He laid down a sacrifice bunt in his only plate appearance on Saturday, but it put the winning run on second base and his team won in ten innings on a walk-off single.
Randy Romero went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored on Saturday night. It was his tenth game of the season. He’s now hitting .375/.422/.425 in 45 plate appearances, with two doubles and three steals. It’s a really intriguing start from a player who was in the FCL this season, and is known more for his speed/defense/arm.
Here are the league Opening Days:
Venezuela – October 23rd
Dominican – October 27th
Nicaragua – November 4th
Puerto Rico – November 6th
Colombia – November 11th
Panama – December 9th
Australia – mid-December (date not set yet)
Judging by those dates, expect winter league articles to pick up around October 28th, since the league in Venezuela probably won’t have much to talk about right away. If it does, then the date will move up a few days.
