Detroit Tigers: Your Guide to 2020 Winter League Ball
![Aug 21, 2020; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Isaac Paredes (19) throws to first base in the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fmotorcitybengals-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2017-2F07-2F14796479-850x560-47e8eaf396d42e8957363f88fecea9a3.jpg)
A few Detroit Tigers have players playing in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Let’s check out what they been up to so far and who else you can look forward to seeing in winter league ball.
As a fan of baseball, winter league action allows you to continue to enjoy baseball all year round. Several Detroit Tigers have been playing in winter ball since the season ended and we wanted to provide an update on what they have been up to and where you can catch them play.
Mexican Pacific League
Third baseman Isaac Paredes, who has been playing for the Venados de Mazatlán in the Mexican Pacific League, has been on fire. So far in 63 at-bats in 18 games, he has put up a slash line of .365/.447/.571 with an OPS of 1.019. To answer the question, he has been playing third base and no reps at second base. The equivalency of the talent he has been playing against is around High-A ball.
https://twitter.com/Liga_Arco/status/1334755045565472768?s=20
If you want to catch any of the action, check out the link if you don’t mind watching the games in Spanish.
LIDOM (Dominican Winter League)
I have been covering the league for Prospects Live once a week and checking out games nearly every other day. In terms of Detroit Tigers players to recap, it is mainly farmhands but names you should be familiar with.
- Due to a series of games being canceled, Los Tigres del Licey has been in limited action but Sergio Alcantara (.385/.385/.385), Jorge Bonifacio (.300/.462/.400), Dawiel Lugo (.167/.231/.167) are the Tigers who we saw play in 2020. Bonifacio chose to be a free agent after the Tigers outrighted him to Triple-A and the same for Lugo.
- Tigers farmhand Drew Carlton, who was last pitching in Erie, is pitching for Leones del Escogido. So far, Carlton has pitched 8 innings, allowing 7 hits, one run, and has six strikeouts. Former Tiger Fernando Rodney is also pitching in winter ball. To me, that is pretty cool.
Former Mariners closer Fernando Rodney strikes out former Mariners prospect Gabriel Guerrero.
— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) December 2, 2020
Rodney 1IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, K pic.twitter.com/T3IaBdUao4
ABL (Australian Baseball League)
The ABL kicks off December 16th and it is filled with Detroit Tigers who are in the minor league system. Here’s who they are and what teams they are playing for.
- Perth Heat: Ulrich Bojarski OF. We last saw him in Lakeland in 2019.
- Sydney Blue Sox: Outfielders Cam Gibson, Jacob Robson, and RP Joe Navilhon. Both Robson and Navilhon were at Toledo in 2019 and Gibson was in Erie.
https://twitter.com/SydneyBlueSox/status/1331359249260187649?s=20
- Worth noting that former slugger Manny Ramirez is playing for the Blue Sox and what’s even bigger news is Rachel Balkovec who was the first-ever female MLB hitting coach for the Yankees, will be a coach on the staff.