Seattle Mariners Winter League Update

Jul 14, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; World infielder Ji-Man Choi (51) catches the ball as USA infielder George Springer (4) during the 2013 All Star Futures Game at Citi Field. USA defeated World 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

We continue our look at the winter leagues by heading out of the country. The Caribbean Leagues are home to four different offseason leagues. The Venezuelan, Mexican and Dominican Leagues have been playing for a few weeks while the Puerto Rican League just got underway a couple of days ago.

Let’s start with a quick glance at the Mexican, Dominican and Puerto Rican leagues where there are currently only three Mariners prospects playing.

In the Mexican League (Liga Mexicana del Pacifico), James Gilheeney is playing for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo. In five starts, Gilheeney is 2-1 with a 2.49 ERA. He’s allowed 21 H over 25.1 IP, striking out 17 and walking four. The Mexican League runs through December.

The Dominican Winter League also features one Mariner for now. 1B Jordy Lara is playing for Aguilas Cibaenas. In seven games, he’s 4-for-19 (.211) with 5 RBI. Two of his four hits have been homers.

And in the Puerto Rican League, only Emilio Pagan is involved from the Mariners organization. In his first two appearances out of the bullpen, Pagan pitched five innings, striking out four, allowing one earned run and earning a win for the Gigantes de Carolina. The Puerto Rican League goes through January.

Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional (Venezuelan League)

The Mariners have nine different players on five of the eight teams in this winter league.

Tigres de Aragua

Ji-Man Choi: .234/.345/.340, 13 G, 10 R, HR, 7 RBI

Kyle Hunter: 10 G, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 3.38 ERA, .263 BAA, 1.31 WHIP

Rayder Ascanio: 1 G, 1 R (entered as pinch-runner)

Cardenales de Lara

Gabriel Noriega: .347/.373/.418, 26 G, 15 R, 5 2B, 7 RBI

Osmel Morales: 1 G, 2 H, 2 ER, BB (No outs recorded)

Bravos de Margarita

Manny Pina: .275/.324/.420, 20 G, 6 R, HR, 12 RBI

Moises Hernandez: 9 G, 12.1 IP, 15 H, 11 ER, 8.03 ERA, .326 BAA, 1.54 WHIP

Caribes de Anzoategui

Mayckol Guaipe: 12 G, 12.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 2.13 ERA, .167 BAA, 0.79 WHIP

Leones del Caracas

Victor Sanchez: 5 G, 23 IP, 23 H, 6 ER, 5 BB, 14 K, 2-0, 2.35 ERA, .258 BAA, 1.22 WHIP

Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Australian Baseball League

On the other side of the Pacific, they are playing baseball “down under”. I personally would love the opportunity to be a part of a franchise down in Australia, whether covering the teams or running one.

There are two players in the Mariners organization participating in the Australian League, playing for the Adelaide Bite. But before I get to them, there are also a couple of players with Northwest ties of note.

Salem, Oregon native Joey Wong (Sprague High School / Oregon State University) is a member of the Perth Heat. The 24th-round pick in the 2009 draft by the Colorado Rockies played for the team’s Double-A affiliate in 2014.

Portland, Oregon native Rocky Gale (North Salem High School / University of Portland) is on the Adelaide Bite with the members of the M’s organization. The 24th-round pick of the 2010 draft by the San Diego Padres, spent 2014 in Triple-A El Paso.

As for the Mariners:

Will Mathis was the Mariners’ 25th-round pick in the 2013 Draft out of New Mexico. Mathis spent 2014 in High Desert going 5-8 with a 4.86 ERA. So far in Australia, he has pitched 3 IP allowing five hits including a homer, three runs and hit a batter.

Troy Scott was the 18th-round pick by Seattle in the 2013 Draft out of Riverside Community College in California. Scott made one appearance at Class A (Short) Everett (3 IP, 4 H, 3 ER) before finishing with Pulaski (Rookie ball) where he went 2-3 with a 4.57 ERA in 10 games, allowing six homers in 41.1 IP. So far he has pitched 2.1 IP allowing just one walk.