Off-season League Updates: Franco, Alfaro, Gonzalez, Hoskins, Cozens notes

It’s another round of updates from around the globe for Phillies playing in off-season leagues. While some players like Roman Quinn are done with their time abroad, other like Jorge Alfaro and Severino Gonzalez are just getting their extra time on the diamond under way. Read ahead for all the details.

Dominican Winter League-

Maikel Franco, image- Jay Floyd

Maikel Franco is batting .267 with two home runs and four RBI in 11 games thus far with the Gigantes.  The 23-year-old tallied a .280 average with 14 homers and 50 RBI this year as a rookie for the Phillies.

Joely Rodriguez is 0-2 with a 3.32 ERA and a .194 batting average against in eight games for the Gigantes. The lefty had a 6.12 combined ERA in 32 total outings for Reading and Lehigh Valley this year. Rodriguez was acquired from Pittsburgh last off-season in a swap for Antonio Bastardo.

In six games righty Jimmy Cordero has a 2.16 ERA while striking out nine and walking six in 8 1/3 innings for the Leones, striking out seven and walking one. Cordero, 24, was acquired from Toronto in the Ben Revere trade this season. In 13 games with Double-A Reading, he posted a 2.12 ERA with 18 strike outs in 17 innings.

Center fielder Roman Quinn has completed his time in the DR League.  With Licey, he posted a .212 average with two homers, seven RBI and eight steals in 25 games. Quinn tallied a .306 batting average with four homers, 15 RBI and 29 stolen bases in 58 games with Reading this year prior to being sidelined with an injury. The 22-year-old switch-hitter was the Phillies’ second round pick in the 2011 draft.

Backstop Logan Moore is batting .222 with three doubles and eight RBI in 16 games. The 25-year-old lefty hitter posted a .661 OPS in 69 combined games with Reading and Lehigh Valley this year. Moore was the Phils’ 9th round draft pick in 2011.

Also with Licey, Emmanuel Burriss batted .206 with three RBI in 12 games.  The 30-year-old switch-hitting shortstop was signed by the Phillies as a minor league free agent last month.

In 13 games for the Toros, shortstop Malquin Canelo posted a .214 average with two doubles, three triples and three RBI. The 21-year-old sported a .281 average with eight home runs, 47 RBI and 17 steals in 126 combined games for Lakewood and Clearwater in the 2015 regular season.

In 14 relief outings with the Toros right-handed pitcher Hector Neris has a 1-1 record with a 3.77 ERA. He has struck out 13 and walked four in 14 1/3 innings in the DR League.  In 32 games at the big league level this year the 26-year-old.

Infielder Angelys Nina is hitting .273 with a homer and eight RBI in 37 games with the Toros. The Phillies signed Nina as a minor league free agent last month. Last season in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, the 27-year-old batted .300 with four home runs and 50 RBI in 114 games.

Nefi Ogando, a righty hurler, has a 0-2 record with a 2.70 ERA with a .308 batting average in eight games for the Aguilas. The 26-year-old appeared in four big league games this season after posting a 2.86 ERA and a 7.9 K/9 mark in 44 minor league appearances this year.

Ulises Joaquin has a 1-0 record, a 3.09 ERA and a .214 batting average in 13 outings for the Aguilas. The 23-year-old righty reliever had a 4-2 record with 16 saves, a 2.96 ERA and an 8.7 K/9 mark in 46 appearances for Clearwater this year.

Also with the Aguilas, Ranfi Casimiro has no decisions, a 1.96 ERA while striking out 14 and walking six in 23 innings of work. The six-foot-eight 210-pound righty had a 9-7 record with a 3.35 ERA and two complete games in 23 starts for Lakewood this year.

Venezuelan League-  

For La Guaira, Jorge Alfaro is batting .083 with an RBI through for four games since joining the team last week.  The 22-year-old righty hitting catcher was one of the highly touted prospects received from Texas in the Cole Hamels trade last summer.

Severino Gonzalez, image- Jay Floyd

Severino Gonzalez also recently joined La Guaira.  In two starts, the righty hurler has a 0-1 record with a 4.05 ERA while striking out three and walking none in 6 2/3 innings.  In seven big league games this year, the 23-year-old tallied a 7.92 ERA.
 
Carlos Tocci is still sidelined with a broken hand after being hit by a pitch. Prior to the injury, Tocci posted a .333 average with a triple, four RBI and two stolen bases in 11 games. The 20-year-old posted a .287/.339/.363 slash line in 127 combined games with Lakewood and Clearwater this year.

Outfielder Herlis Rodriguez is batting .200 with five RBI in 31 games for the Tigres. The 21-year-old lefty batter posted a .284 average with 10 home runs and 61 RBI in 120 games for Class A Lakewood this year.

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez has completed his time competing for the Aguilas.  In seven starts, he posted a 0-4 record with a 4.13 ERA for the Aguilas. In his most recent appearance, MAG allowed seven runs (six earned) in 1 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old right-hander appeared in six minor league games this year after dealing with shoulder issues.

Elvis Araujo has a 3-3 record along with a 4.20 ERA in 18 appearances for the Aguilas. The 24-year-old left-hander posted a 2-1 record, a 3.38 ERA and an 8.8 K/9 mark in 40 games at the big league level this year.

Lino Martinez has a 0-1 record, a 4.80 ERA and a .354 batting average against in 15 games for the Aguilas. The 23-year-old lefty had a 2-0 record with a 5.06 ERA in eight combined games for the rookie level Gulf Coast League Phillies and Class A Advanced Clearwater this year.

Catcher Gabriel Lino has a .186 batting average with five doubles, a triple and seven RBI in 34 games for the Cardinales. The 22-year-old sported a .215 batting average with 17 RBI in 53 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year.

In 11 appearances right-hander Alexis Rivero has a 0-2 record with a 4.63 ERA for the Tigres. In 41 combined games with Lakewood and Clearwater this year the 21-year-old posted a 4-2 record with 10 saves, a 2.54 ERA and an 8.4 K/9 mark.

After joining the Leones this weekend, first baseman Brock Stassi has gone 3-for-8 (.375 avg).  The Double-A Eastern League MVP previously played in Puerto Rico this off-season but asked for and was granted his release from the Indios.

Australian Baseball League-

In 27 games for the Sydney Blue Sox, first baseman Rhys Hoskins sports a .315/.375/.574 slash line.  In his last eight games, Hoskins has gone 15-for-34 (.441 avg).  The 22-year-old was a 5th round draft pick by the Phils last year. He batted .319 with 17 home runs and 90 RBI in 135 combined games for Lakewood and Clearwater this year.

Through 26 games with Canberra, outfielder Cord Sandberg has a .239 average with a home run, seven RBI and a stolen base. The 20-year-old was one of nine minor league Gold Glove Award winner as a member of the Lakewood BlueClaws this year. Sandberg was a 3rd round draft pick in 2013.

Mexican Winter League-

For the Yaquis, right-handed pitcher Victor Arano has a 3-0 record along with one saves, a 0.83 ERA in 21 games. In 21 2/3 innings, Arano has struck out 18 and walked three. The 20-year-old sported a 4-12 record with a 4.72 ERA in 24 games with Clearwater this year.

Clemente League (Puerto Rico)-

Outfielder Dylan Cozens has a .333 average with two homers and five RBI in 11 games since joining the Indios.  The 21-year-old posted a .350 average with three homers and nine RBI in 11 games after joining Double-A Reading late in the regular season this year.  The skilled lefty batter was the Phils’ 2nd round pick in 2012.

Jesmuel Valentin is batting .276 with six doubles, eight RBI and three stolen bases in 27 games for the Indios. The 21-year-old infielder missed a majority of the 2015 regular season following a criminal case related to domestic violence and a subsequent suspension by the Phillies. Valentin, a switch-hitter, batted .271 with a home run and 14 RBI in 31 games for Clearwater.

Hoby Milner has a 1.23 ERA in 11 games with the Indios. In 7 1/3 innings, the lefty has struck out six and walked five.  The 24-year-old was a 7th round pick in 2012. He posted a 3.52 combined ERA in 30 appearances for Clearwater and Reading last season.

Righty Reinier Roibal has a 1-1 record with a 2.14 ERA in five starts for Santurce. This year with Reading the 26-year-old posted a 6-1 record with a save and a 1.66 ERA.

Third baseman Jan Hernandez is batting .215 with a triple and two RBI with Caguas. The 20-year-old posted a .211 average with 10 homers and 35 RBI in 57 games this year with Class A short-season Williamsport. Hernandez was the Phillies’ 3rd round pick in 2013.

Nicaraguan League-

Hurler Austin Davis is shining for the Boer team.  In six starts, the lefty sports a 1-1 record along with a 1.05 ERA.  The 22-year-old has struck out 42 and walked six in 34 1/3 innings of work.  Davis, who pitched with Lakewood this year, was the Phillies’ 12th round pick in the 2014 draft.

 

Stats are current through games on Saturday, with the exception of the Australian League, which includes Sunday stats.

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Jay Floyd

Jay has been covering baseball as a professional reporter since 2009. Radio, television, podcasting, print & web features, you name it- he has done it. You can check out more from Jay on his site, PhoulBallz.com.

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