The winter league located in the Dominican always draws some impressive names, and this year is no different. There is a good mix of current big leaguers like Jonathan Villar, Darin Ruf, Cameron Maybin, and Yasmani Grandal, with plenty of impressive prospect talent. Last season the Rookie of the Year and MVP went to uber prospect Gregory Polanco, and there is a player headed to the Dominican that just may have a shot to do the same.
Leones del Escogido will have Joc Pederson patrolling center field for them this winter. The Los Angeles Dodgers prospect played in 18 games at the big league level in 2014, but struggled hitting just .143, all singles. Escogido will also feature two former Boston Red Sox prospects, one considered former as the hype over Jose Vinicio has really cooled over the past couple years as he has really struggled at the plate, and the other being Michael Almanzar who is now with the Baltimore Orioles. Almanzar was selected in the Rule-5 draft by the Orioles from the Red Sox, spent the first half of the season “injured” before not being able to make the active roster and being returned to the Red Sox. The Red Sox were so happy about it, they then sent him back to Baltimore along with Kelly Johnson for Jemile Weeks and Ivan DeJesus. Almanzar is listed as a first baseman/third baseman but really fits best as a future DH. Rafael Montero struggled in his eight starts in the big leagues, and didn’t fair much better in the minors this year, but that was in one of the best hitting parks in all of baseball in Las Vegas. He will spend the winter in the Dominican pitching for Escgido.
Tigres del Licey will have one of the most exciting outfields to watch in the league with Jorge Bonifacio, Rymer Liriano, and Nomar Mazara all on the team. Bonifacio only hit 28 extra base hits in the Texas League this season, but he has some real raw power, and the arm that could make him a solid right fielder in the future. He is still raw at the plate and is a long way from being on par with the defense the current Kansas City Royals roll out every day, but Bonifacio could end up being a solid middle of the order bat within a few years. Rymer Liriano made it to the big leagues with the San Diego Padres this season, where he strougled some, but did flash some good power in the minor leagues. Liriano was once considered to have one of the better arms among minor league right fielders, but after missing all of 2013 to Tommy John Surgery, he just doesn’t seem to have the same strength in that arm anymore. He has gone from a sure fire right fielder to spending most the season in left field. The ball really jumps off his bat, but his overall athleticism and defense might be his best attributes. Mazara is a 19 year old right fielder who reached Double-A this season. He has a solid arm, but nothing special, and his speed and overall fielding ability leave something to be desired. He certainly needs to grow into his body, as he is currently listed at 6’4” and just 195 lbs. There are some real holes in his swing currently, but has some solid power potential.
In the infield for the Tigres is one of the main pieces of the deal that sent David Price to the Detroit Tigres, Willy Adames. Adames now fits in as one of the top prospects in the Tampa Bay Rays system, but is still just 19-years old in Low-A. Adames should be able to stick at short, but also has the arm to move over to third base if needed. He has solid gap power and has demonstrated a good eye at the plate. He is a solid prospect, but the fact he is widely ranked second on Rays prospect lists speaks to the weakness of that system currently.
In the bullpen, the Toros del Este will feature fireballing righty Arquimedes Caminero. Caminero has one of the best fastballs of any relief prospect, but really lacks a quality secondary pitch and his command is almost non-existent. Cristhian Adames can’t hit much, and he showed that by collecting just a single hit in 15 big league plate appearances in his late-season call-up to the Colorado Rockies, but he is a solid defensive shortstop. With his hit grades all coming in well below average, there is little hope for him to ever be a big league regular, but he can certainly be a good utility infielder, as he can play both positions up the middle as well as third. The shortstop to watch with the Toros is Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Alen Hanson. Hanson stole 25 bags in Altoona this year and put up a triple-double in extra base power with 21 doubles, 12 triples, and 11 home runs. The Boston Red Sox have a loaded system, even after Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Xander Bogaerts graduated from the prospect list. One reason for the strength of the system is the emergence of Manuel Margot. Margot will likely man center field at times for the Toros, but in the minors this season he had a triple slash line of .293/.356/.462 while stealing 42 bags over two levels. Margot has a chance of being a supreme defensive center fielder, and could add even more pop as he adds some muscle weight.
Orlando Calixte has some issues getting his visa this season, which limited him to just 96 games, but should have no such trouble as he suits up for the Estrellas de Oreinte. He struggled at the plate some, hitting just .241. He is a very good defensive shortstop and I have seen him look solid at third on the back fields too. He does not project like a power hitter, but he certainly has some pop and can hit the occasional impressive home run.
The Gigantes del Cibao will bring back Hanser Alberto this season. You will not find Alberto on any prospect lists, and rightfully so, but he is a guy that always jumps out to me when I see him play. He is listed as a shortstop, but plays a lot at third, and reminds me of a broke man’s Adrian Beltre. He does not have the power numbers you would like to see with that comp, but his body and aggressiveness at the plate make it an easy comp to make. While Alberto isn’t on any prospect lists, Tyler Naquin and Maikel Franco certainly are. Naquin hit over .310 this season in Double-A and is a very good defensive outfielder. Naquin reached Double-AA in his first full season in 2013, but was limited to just 76 games there this year due to injury. Franco has some real power potential, but he did not hit a single one in his 16 games with the Philadelphia Philies this season. He is a decent third baseman, but his real upside comes with the bat, where it would not come as a shock if he leads the Liga de Beisbol Dominicano in home runs this season.
Aguilas Cibaenas do not have much in terms of prospects, but they will feature a guy that was the acting player/coach in the Chicago Cubs system this year in Manny Ramirez.