Twins' players grow in Winter Leagues
11/18/2005
MINNEAPOLIS -- An organization that continually seeks avenues of development for its prospects, the Twins' relationship with the Aragua Tigres in the Venezuelan Winter Leagues has been a fruitful one.
For the past several winters, Twins players and prospects have been stocking Aragua's roster. Among those participating this year are pitchers J.D. Durbin, Willie Eyre, Beau Kemp, infielder Luis Rodriguez and outfielders Josh Rabe and Alex Romero.
"Some nights, you face Major League players. Some nights, it's Class A players," said Twins assistant general manager Bill Smith. "It's a good program down there. It's an outstanding opportunity. The Aragua team has treated our players very well. A lot of our players haven't gone once, but multiple times. It's been a good affiliation for us."
Several coaches from Minnesota's Minor Leagues are also on the Tigres' coaching staff providing instruction and also reports back to the organization. Twins Minor League pitching coordinator Rick Knapp has also been visiting the club this week and staying on top of everyone's progress.
For Rodriguez, Romero (no relation to pitcher J.C. Romero), and Minor Leaguers such as Luis Maza and Jannio Gutierrez, it's a chance to play before fans in their native country.
"These are players with a lot of pride to play for their teams in Venezuela," Smith said.
Whether they're in Venezuela, or anywhere in the Caribbean region of Latin America, the stakes are a little higher for players who participate in winter ball. Managers aren't afraid to replace someone if they fail to get the job done.
"In the Minors, development always comes first. Down in the Winter Leagues, they play to win," Smith said. "It's a shorter season. There's a little more focus on winning. This is a good experience for some players. The talent level may not be as high but the competition is equal because they play to win every game."
For the second straight year, Eyre has provided positive results on the mound for Aragua. Through his first 36 innings of work in seven games, the right-handed reliever was 4-0 with a 1.25 ERA. On Minnesota's 40-man roster, he spent the 2005 season at Triple-A Rochester.
Durbin, who is trying to make up for lost innings from a shoulder injury this season at Rochester, has been limited to 12 2/3 innings because of a strain in his side and is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA. He worked in a simulated game Wednesday. Kemp, a reliever, has only worked 7 2/3 innings because of a tender right elbow.
Elsewhere in Venezuelan baseball, Twins right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier has been starting games for the Magallanes club. Guerrier is hoping to battle for the fifth starter's spot in Minnesota next season.
Through five games, Guerrier was 3-2 with a 1.73 ERA while walking five and striking out 19.
"This will hopefully give him some more versatility," Smith said. "It's a great opportunity for him to get some innings, get in a rotation and be ready to compete at the Major League camp."
Well-known Twins pitchers Johan Santana, Carlos Silva, Juan Rincon and prospect Francisco Liriano were not given permission to pitch in winter ball this year. Santana and Liriano are coming off seasons where they pitched a lot of innings while Silva and Rincon are recovering from surgeries.
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
MINNEAPOLIS -- An organization that continually seeks avenues of development for its prospects, the Twins' relationship with the Aragua Tigres in the Venezuelan Winter Leagues has been a fruitful one.
For the past several winters, Twins players and prospects have been stocking Aragua's roster. Among those participating this year are pitchers J.D. Durbin, Willie Eyre, Beau Kemp, infielder Luis Rodriguez and outfielders Josh Rabe and Alex Romero.
"Some nights, you face Major League players. Some nights, it's Class A players," said Twins assistant general manager Bill Smith. "It's a good program down there. It's an outstanding opportunity. The Aragua team has treated our players very well. A lot of our players haven't gone once, but multiple times. It's been a good affiliation for us."
Several coaches from Minnesota's Minor Leagues are also on the Tigres' coaching staff providing instruction and also reports back to the organization. Twins Minor League pitching coordinator Rick Knapp has also been visiting the club this week and staying on top of everyone's progress.
For Rodriguez, Romero (no relation to pitcher J.C. Romero), and Minor Leaguers such as Luis Maza and Jannio Gutierrez, it's a chance to play before fans in their native country.
"These are players with a lot of pride to play for their teams in Venezuela," Smith said.
Whether they're in Venezuela, or anywhere in the Caribbean region of Latin America, the stakes are a little higher for players who participate in winter ball. Managers aren't afraid to replace someone if they fail to get the job done.
"In the Minors, development always comes first. Down in the Winter Leagues, they play to win," Smith said. "It's a shorter season. There's a little more focus on winning. This is a good experience for some players. The talent level may not be as high but the competition is equal because they play to win every game."
For the second straight year, Eyre has provided positive results on the mound for Aragua. Through his first 36 innings of work in seven games, the right-handed reliever was 4-0 with a 1.25 ERA. On Minnesota's 40-man roster, he spent the 2005 season at Triple-A Rochester.
Durbin, who is trying to make up for lost innings from a shoulder injury this season at Rochester, has been limited to 12 2/3 innings because of a strain in his side and is 0-2 with a 5.68 ERA. He worked in a simulated game Wednesday. Kemp, a reliever, has only worked 7 2/3 innings because of a tender right elbow.
Elsewhere in Venezuelan baseball, Twins right-handed reliever Matt Guerrier has been starting games for the Magallanes club. Guerrier is hoping to battle for the fifth starter's spot in Minnesota next season.
Through five games, Guerrier was 3-2 with a 1.73 ERA while walking five and striking out 19.
"This will hopefully give him some more versatility," Smith said. "It's a great opportunity for him to get some innings, get in a rotation and be ready to compete at the Major League camp."
Well-known Twins pitchers Johan Santana, Carlos Silva, Juan Rincon and prospect Francisco Liriano were not given permission to pitch in winter ball this year. Santana and Liriano are coming off seasons where they pitched a lot of innings while Silva and Rincon are recovering from surgeries.
Source: http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/
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