Since the start of the winter leagues in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico last weekend, the big four winter competitions in Baseball are now underway. The lone name familiar to European Baseball on the rosters in the Dominican Winter League is outfielder Bologna’s Eddy Garabito, who is playing for Toros del Este.
Meanwhile the league in Venezuela is running for two weeks now. Italian third baseman Alex Liddi is the lone European player down there. The 22-year-old is playing for Cardenales de Lara. A 1-for-18 slump last week is hurting his stats. However he seems to get his timing back with a pair of two-hit games last weekend. Overall he is batting .244 (OBP .326/SLG .341) with four doubles, five runs scored and four RBI in twelve games.
Back north in the United States, German catcher Kai Gronauer is the only European player in the Arizona Fall League. While his defense and play calling skills getting praise, he is struggling offensive-wise against some of the top prospects in the game. He only has one hit in five games so far, although he made that one count with a tie-breaking RBI triple in the eighth of a Mesa Solar Sox win over Peoria Javelinas. German national team and Georgia State head coach Greg Frady paid him a visit last weekend. Maybe this will help Gronauer to get things going in the AFL.
an update on Alex Liddi.
Liddi went 3 for 3 with two doubles and two BBs in the Cardenales de Lara 11-0 win over Aguilas del Zulia. He also had 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored, but was picked off on first base after his first hit (a single in the second). He also had some nice interventions on defense, and is showing a good glove on 3rd Base. With the night, he improved to .295 AVG, .392 OBP, .432 SLG with 6 RBIs, 8 Runs scored, 3 Stolen Bases, 6 2Bs and a 7/10 BB/K ratio. Tho he is still searching for his first Home Run (but it’s good to point out that the LVBP is not a Home Run friendly league, at least not as the other winter leagues, the leader here have 3 HRs). Liddi is first on his team on doubles (also first in the league), 3rd on BA, 1st on XBH (also 1st in the league), second in BBs, 1st in RBIs (Shared w/ other 2)and 1st in Runs scored.
Greetings from Venezuela