Here’s a recap of winter league action from Friday and Saturday for Pittsburgh Pirates players. In case you missed it, we posted our weekly winter league report yesterday.
Friday
In Venezuela, Diego Castillo’s team played a doubleheader. He went 0-for-1 with a walk and an RBI on a sacrifice fly in game one. He played shortstop in that game, then switched to second base for the second game and went 1-for-4 with a single.
Newly acquired catcher Ali Sanchez was on the other side of that doubleheader. He caught game two and went 1-for-4 with a single.
In Mexico, Fabricio Macias went 1-for-4 with a single and a walk.
Saturday
In the Dominican, Osvaldo Bido tossed four innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks, with one strikeout. He has a 3.65 ERA in four starts this winter.
Rodolfo Castro made his winter debut at third base and batted lead-off. He went 1-for-4 with a double, run, RBI and stolen base. Check the video below for a look at his defense from yesterday.
In Venezuela, Diego Castillo went 1-for-4 with his first double. He is 5-for-15 with three walks in five games.
In Mexico, Fabricio Macias went 0-for-4 with a walk. He’s hitting .262 with a .696 OPS in 20 games.
Jared Oliva switched teams in Mexico, after not playing for a few days. He had quite the debut with his new team, going 3-for-3 with a walk and his seventh stolen base of the winter. He’s playing in the same outfield as Bligh Madris, who was his teammate for much of the 2022 season in Indianapolis, but now belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays.
The first full day of action in Puerto Rico was rained out, with all three games postponed.
Castro’s glovework
Rodolfo Castro uffff de los @piratasbeisbol pic.twitter.com/ibOrajolgf
— Toros Del Este (@TorosdelEste) November 6, 2022
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball.
When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.
he´s got some JayHay magic in him
how does he do in a run down?
If nothing else you have to love Rodolfo’s enthusiasm for the game!
This guy is light years ahead of a prospect like Castillo, not even close in my opinion both offensively and defensively. They just need to find a way to keep him on his right side in the batters box.
Definitely a building block for the future of the Pirates as our Utility IF. He’s seen a lot of 3B in the past year, but is also very capable at SS and 2B. Better power as a RH hitter, but the ability to Switchhit is a plus.
Definitely has a place on a contending Pirates roster. Hopefully someone close to how Josh Harrison was for us in ‘14 & ‘15.
Sitting in my car on a balmy morning, waiting on my son’s cello lesson to finish, so nice to read John’s coverage of winter league. Thanks, John!
Been there. My son is a 2nd year Viola Performance student at Oberlin College & Conservatory.
How old is your son? Does he want to make it his life’s work?
17, looking into either business (TJ Maxx employee of the month X-Mas season) or early education. He’s playing at school & Wheeling youth symphony. Working on Eagle badge with scouts, too. Hope I don’t sound too proud!
Love the diversity of accomplishments. Appears you have every reason to be proud.