Here's a weekly review from BigGuy:
ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE: The Yankees have sent 7 players to play in the AFL this offseason for the Surprise Rafters. The season opened Tuesday. Surprise leads its division with a 4-1 record.
Ian Kennedy--RHP: Kennedy got the opening day start and pitched well going 4 innings allowing only 1 run on a double and sac fly. He allowed only 1 other hit, a single in the 2nd inning. He had 4 K's--0 walks.
Zach Kroenke--LHRP: Had an impressive season at AAA SWB going 7-1 with a 1.99 ERA out of the bullpen. Opening day he threw 1 inning allowing 1 run, 1 hit, adding 1 K--1 walk. He also pitched Friday going 2 scoreless innings, but he did give up 3 singles, with 1 K. So far 2 games, 3.0 IP, 0 runs, 4 hits, 2 K--1 walk.
Mike Dunn--RHRP: Dunn split time between AA and AAA SWB going 4-3 with a 3.31 era. He had 99 K--in 73 innings pitched in 09. Dunn picked up a save in his 1st game Wed., going 1 scoreless inning. He did not allow a hit and had 1 K--1 walk. Dunn threw another scoreless inning in the Rafters' first loss Saturday going 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, but 2 walks and 1 strikeout. Overall 2.0 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts--3 walks.
Grant Duff--LHRP, Duff was 4-3 between Tampa and AA Trenton in 09 with a 3.22 ERA at AA Trenton. Duff made 2 appearances in the week. He threw 2 scoreless innings, alowing 1 hit, 1 walk.
Austin Romine--C: Romine hit .276 with 13 homers, 72 rbi in 118 games for A Tampa in 09. So far in 3 games at the AFL Romine has a .425 BA, 2 rbi, 2 runs, 6 singles.
Brandon Laird--INF: Laird hit .266 with 13 homers, 75 rbi in 124 ghames at A Tampa in 09. Laird's been red hot so far in the AFL. He went 4-6 with 3 rbi and 2 runs scored Wed. He followed that up going 5-5 with 3 runs and a rbi. Friday he went 1-5, but the hit was a 3-run homer. Overall .625 BA, 7 rbi, 6 runs, 1 HR, 1 double.
Colin Curtis--OF: Curtis split time in 09 between AA Trenton and AAA SWB. At SWB he hit only .235 with 6 homers, 29 rbi in 70 games. He got off to a good start opening day going 3-6 with 2 rbi and a double. He had a solo homer ( 1-5) Thursday, with a double (1-4) on Friday. So far .316 BA, 4 rbi, 4 runs, 1 HR, 2 doubles.
VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE:
Jesus Montero--C-- Maganelles-- Montero, the highly touted catching prospects split time between A Tampa and AA Trenton in 09. He hit .337, 17 HR, 70 rbi. Montero attended the Florida instructional league and showed no ill effects of his finger injury. He played in 2 games behind the plate and homered in both games. So far in the winter league he's 1-8 in 2 games.
Romulo Sanchez--RHP--Caracas--Sanchez finished the season strong for AAA SWB with a couple outstanding playoff games. Overall in 09 at SWB 64.2 IP, 66 hits, 64 K--34 walks. In 2 games he's thrown 2 scoreless innings, 0 hits, 2 K's--2 walks.
Reegie Corona--INF--Maganelles--Corona hit .257 with 6 homers, 28 doubles and 40 rbi between AA and AAA in 09. In 5 games so far. Corona is batting .294 (5-17), with 2 doubles, and 2 runs scored.
Luis Nunez--INF--Zulia----Nunez hit .276 in 09, splitting time between A Tampa and seeing action off the bench at SWB. So far in winter ball, 6 Gms, .273 BA, 4 rbi, 1 double.
Josh Schmidt--RHP-- Zulia--Schmidt had a fine year at AA Trenton in 09 with a 8-4 record, 1.61 ERA, 96 K--38 walks. He's off to a great start in winter ball. On opening day start for Zulia he went 5 innings, allowing only 1 hit. He had 5 K's with no walks. He continued his outstanding pitching Saturday night going 6 more shutout innings allowing only 2 hits, with 1 K--1 walk.
Pat Venditte--Switch pitcher--Zulia. Venditte split time between low A and advanced A Tampa in 09. He was 4-2, 1.87 ERA, 87 K--9 walks. He's made 1 relief appearance so far picking up a win. 2.0 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts.
Edwar Gonzalez--OF--Lara--Nunez hit .232 at AA Trenton in 09 with 26 doubles, 37 rbi. He's off to a slow start in winter ball, 6 gms, .136 BA.
Marcos Veccionacchhi--INF--Maganelles--Vecchi hit only .213 at AA Trenton in 09 with 18 doubles. Only 2 at bats so far in winter ball 1-2.
MEXICAN WINTER LEAGUE:
Walter Ibarra--INF--Hermosillo--Ibarra split time between Charletson and A Tampa in 09 hitting .262 with 10 doubles. He's been used sparingly so far in 4 games, he's had 2 hits in 5 at bats, with a double and rbi.
DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE:
Wilkins Arias--Aguilas--RHP: Aria was 5-4 at Trenton in 09. He tossed 61.2 IP, 53 hits, 26 runs, .231 BAA. So far in winter ball he's made 1 appearance picking up a win with 1 scoreless inning. He did not allow a hit. 0 K--1 walk.
Also on Domincan rosters, but not seeing action as of yet:
Toros del Este: Humberto Sanchez RHP, Eduardo Nunez SS, Josue Calzado RHP
Tigres del Licey: Juan Miranda 1B, Jairo Heredia RHP, Hector Noesi RHP
Gigantes del Cibao: Gabriel Tatis RHP
Estrellas de Oriente: Noel Castillo RHP, Wady Rufino INF
