Winter league notes

Now that the Dominican Winter League season has started, we have a pretty good picture of the Pirates prospects who will play winter ball this year. The following players appear on winter league rosters, have actually appeared in a winter league game and were a part of the Pirates’ minor league organization this year:

MEXICAN LEAGUE

Venados de Mazatlan

RHP Collin Balester
RHP Felipe Gonzalez
RHP Eduardo Vera
1B Stetson Allie

Yaquis de Obregon

INF Dean Anna

VENEZUELA

Aguilas de Zulia

RHP Julio Vivas

Bravos de Margarita

RHP Matt Nevarez
1B Jose Osuna

Cardenales de Lara

RHP Jhondaniel Medina

Leones del Caracas

C Ramon Cabrera

Navegantes del Magallanes

RHP A.J. Morris

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Aguilas Cibaenas

OF Willy Garcia

Estrellas de Oriente (managed by Class AAA Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor)

RHP Wirfin Obispo

Tigres de Licey 

OF Mel Rojas Jr.

Toros del Este

SS/2B Alen Hanson
OF Andy Vasquez

There are more Pirates players listed on rosters, both in the Caribbean leagues and the Australian Baseball League, but they have not appeared in games yet. I am checking into whether they actually intend to play. Tony Sanchez, who was scheduled to play in the Dominican, is not yet listed on a roster. 

Allie is hitting .300 with a .400 on-base percentage and a .400 slugging percentage. In 30 at-bats, he has three doubles and a 10/4 K/BB ratio.

Balester, who returned this June a year after Tommy John surgery, has pitched in three games. He has three scoreless innings and two saves. Morris has allowed four runs, three earned, and four hits in three innings across three games.