Mariners have large contingent involved in fall, winter leagues this offseason
Wednesday, September 14, 2011 | 8:25 pm
Operating on the theory that players can get bigger and stronger in the weight room but must keep playing games if they’re to improve on the field, the Mariners will have a huge contingent in winter ball this offseason.
Mariners minor league director Pedro Grifol said 75 players, ranging from a few on the big-league team to some from the Dominican and Venezuelan summer programs, will take part in various winter leagues.
“We want to get bigger and stronger but we also want to be better on the field,” Grifol said. “Guys need to play baseball.”
The Mariners won’t have 75 actually playing in the various leagues. Many young players are on the lists of teams in their home countries but will get rare, if any, playing time.
Still, there are some notables to follow this fall and winter.
Among those scheduled to begin the season with Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League are outfielders Michael Saunders and Casper Wells, third baseman Alex Liddi, first baseman Johan Limonta and right-handed pitchers Erasmo Ramirez, Jarrett Grube, Stephen Pryor and Scott Patterson. Also, right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen said he would join the Lara team later in the offseason.
Seven from the Mariners will play for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League -- pitchers Danny Hultzen, Steven Hensley, Brian Moran and Forrest Snow, shortstop Nick Franklin, outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang and catcher Adam Moore. Franklin is designated as a priority player, meaning he’ll get most of the starts at shortstop.
Outfielders Denny Almonte and James Jones, catcher Steven Baron and pitcher Jandy Sena will play in the Australian Baseball League.
Mariners personnel also will fill the staff on the Lara team in Venezuela.
Grifol, who managed the Everett AquaSox from 2003-05, will manage the Cardinales with current Mariners bullpen coach Jaime Navarro as pitching coach, minor league hitting coordinator Jose Castro as bench coach, Class A High Desert manager Jose Moreno as third-base coach and rookie-level Peoria manager Jesus Azuaje as first-base coach. High Desert athletic trainer Eddie Tamez and Class AA Jackson performance coach Rob Fumagalli also will work with the Lara club.
Mariners minor league director Pedro Grifol said 75 players, ranging from a few on the big-league team to some from the Dominican and Venezuelan summer programs, will take part in various winter leagues.
“We want to get bigger and stronger but we also want to be better on the field,” Grifol said. “Guys need to play baseball.”
The Mariners won’t have 75 actually playing in the various leagues. Many young players are on the lists of teams in their home countries but will get rare, if any, playing time.
Still, there are some notables to follow this fall and winter.
Among those scheduled to begin the season with Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League are outfielders Michael Saunders and Casper Wells, third baseman Alex Liddi, first baseman Johan Limonta and right-handed pitchers Erasmo Ramirez, Jarrett Grube, Stephen Pryor and Scott Patterson. Also, right-hander Tom Wilhelmsen said he would join the Lara team later in the offseason.
Seven from the Mariners will play for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League -- pitchers Danny Hultzen, Steven Hensley, Brian Moran and Forrest Snow, shortstop Nick Franklin, outfielder Chih-Hsien Chiang and catcher Adam Moore. Franklin is designated as a priority player, meaning he’ll get most of the starts at shortstop.
Outfielders Denny Almonte and James Jones, catcher Steven Baron and pitcher Jandy Sena will play in the Australian Baseball League.
Mariners personnel also will fill the staff on the Lara team in Venezuela.
Grifol, who managed the Everett AquaSox from 2003-05, will manage the Cardinales with current Mariners bullpen coach Jaime Navarro as pitching coach, minor league hitting coordinator Jose Castro as bench coach, Class A High Desert manager Jose Moreno as third-base coach and rookie-level Peoria manager Jesus Azuaje as first-base coach. High Desert athletic trainer Eddie Tamez and Class AA Jackson performance coach Rob Fumagalli also will work with the Lara club.
Most recent Mariners blog posts
Comments
(