In the Premier12 tournament, team USA moved on to the Super Round on Monday and Cody Ponce got the start. He had a rough first inning, which led to a 5-1 loss to Korea. Ponce went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk, with no strikeouts. He threw five shutout innings in the tournament opener last Monday.
Robbie Glendinning went 0-for-4 in team Australia’s 3-2 loss to Japan on Monday. In Tuesday’s action against Mexico (they’re playing in Japan so the game is over already), he went 1-for-4 with a single in his team’s 3-0 loss. The opposing starting pitcher was former Pirates prospect Eduardo Vera. Glendinning went 2-for-6 with two walks and a sacrifice fly in the first two games of the tournament.
In Colombia, Edgar Barrios made his first start on Sunday night and went 0-for-4 while playing second base. In the season opener he played the final three innings at shortstop. His role this winter is likely going to be as a backup middle infielder, used often late for his speed and defense. Barrios had a tough season in the GCL due to injuries, posting a .380 OPS in 19 games. He was basically rehabbing at the level he was due to play this year.
In yesterday’s winter article, we mentioned that Erik Gonzalez suffered a fracture on his left foot. He’s going to meet with the Pirates medical staff today for further evaluation, so we should have word soon for an approximate return time.
The league in Puerto Rico begins on Friday. We announced that Ike Schlabach, Chris Sharpe and Dylan Busby will all be participating in the league. Another name from the Pirates in the league will be Yacksel Rios, who pitched ten games for the Pirates in September after he was picked up off waivers. The 26-year-old right-hander is from Puerto Rico, so he already had a team before this winter. The three prospects will be on Gigantes de Carolina, while Rios is on Indios de Mayaguez
The leagues in the Dominican and Mexico were off on Monday.
