The Dominican Winter League is one destination for the rising stars and promising young Major League players to hone their skills between seasons. Here are three hitters and three pitchers who did well this winter and could use it to springboard into 2014.
Outfielder Zoilo Almonte played with Aguilas Cibaenas. He hit .316/.343/.454 with 4 HR, 20 RBI, 22 R, 6 SB in 43 games. The Yankees prospect split 2013 between Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as he hit .297/.369/.421 with 6 HR,36 RBI, 30 R, 4 SB in 68 games at SWB and hit .236/.274/.302 with 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB in 34 games with the Yankees. He originally signed with the Yankees in 2005 as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. Almonte will be 25 on June 10.
Outfielder Gregory Polanco was one of four on this list who played for Leones del Escogido. He hit .331/.428/.494 with 5 HR, 28 RBI, 28 R, 7 SB in 44 games. The Pirates prospect split 2013 between Class A Advanced Bradenton, Double A Altoona and Triple Indianapolis as he hit .312/.364/.472 with 6 HR, 30 RBI, 29 R, 24 SB in 57 games at Bradenton, hit .263/.354/.407 with 6 HR, 41 RBI, 36 R, 13 SB in 68 games at Altoona and hit .222/.222/.222 with 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 R, 1 SB in 2 games at Indianapolis. He originally signed with the Pirates in 2009 as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. Polanco will be 23 on September 14.
Shortstop Erik Gonzalez was the second player on Leones del Escogido. He hit .325/.341/.454 with 1 HR, 20 RBI, 23 R, 3 SB in 45 games. The Indians prospect split 2013 between Class A Lake County and Class A Advanced Carolina as he hit .259/.307/.439 with 9 HR, 49 RBI, 59 R, 10 SB in 93 games at Lake County and hit .242/.259/.366 with 0 HR, 27 RBI, 16 R, 1 SB in 39 games at Carolina. He originally signed with the Indians in 2008 as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. Gonzalez will be 23 on August 31.
RHP Carlos Pimentel is the third Leones del Escogido player. He was 5-0, 1.67 ERA, 32 K, 1.09 WHIP in 37.2 IP over 11 games. The former Rangers prospect split 2013 between Double A Frisco and Triple A Round Rock as he was 8-7, 4.09 ERA, 122 K, 1.19 WHIP in 116.2 IP over 22 games at Frisco and was 0-0, 1.59 ERA, 11 K, 1.32 WHIP in 11.1 IP over 6 games at Round Rock. He originally signed with the Rangers in 2007 as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in November 2013. Pimentel turned 24 on December 1st.
LHP Sean Nolin is the final member of the Leones del Escogido quartet. He was 2-2, 3.38 ERA, 24 K, 1.31 WHIP in 26.2 IP over 6 games. The Blue Jays prospect split 2013 between Double A New Hampshire, Triple A Buffalo and the Blue Jays as he was 8-3, 3.01 ERA, 103 K, 1.23 WHIP in 92.2 IP over 17 games at New Hampshire, was 1-1, 1.53 ERA, 13 K, 1.30 WHIP in 17.2 IP over 3 games at Buffalo and was 0-1, 40.50 ERA, 0 K, 6.00 WHIP in 1.1 IP in 1 game with the Blue Jays. He was originally drafted by the Blue Jays in the sixth round in 2010.
RHP Hector Noesi played for Tigres del Licey. He was 3-1, 2.30 ERA, 33 K, 1.00 WHIP in 43.0 IP over 9 games. He split 2013 between Double A Jackson, Triple A Tacoma and the Seattle Mariners as he was 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 K, 0.73 WHIP in 11.0 IP over 2 games at Jackson, was 3-3, 5.83 ERA, 49 K, 1.42 WHIP in 66.1 IP over 15 games at Tacoma and was 0-1, 6.59 ERA, 21 K, 1.98 WHIP in 27.1 IP over 12 games with the Mariners. He originally signed with the Yankees in 2004 as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. He was traded to the Mariners in January 2012. Noesi turned 27 on January 26.
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