Fall/Winter Leagues: Duran has mixed week & playoffs start in some leagues
Action in the winter leagues continued in a week shortened by Christmas. For the full list of Red Sox prospects participating in these leagues, check out our Fall & Winter Leagues page, which will be updated continuously through January. This week's roundup covers the week of December 21 through December 27.
Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League (Puerto Rico)Outfielder and fourth-ranked prospect Jarren Duran started the week hot, going 4 for 9 with four runs, a double, and four RBI over the first two games of the week. After struggling to start the season, those two games raised his average to .289. However, Duran again struggled after his return from the two-day Christmas break, going 0 for 7 over the weekend with four strikeouts and two walks. His season average returned to .250 to start the week, but his on-base percentage remains strong at .405.
Alan Marrero continued his trend of playing in one game a week, going 0 for 2 with a strikeout on Wednesday. Henry Nunez Rijo did not pitch in a game this week and shortstop Matthew Lugo continued his rehab but has yet to be cleared to appear in games.
Dominican Professional Baseball League
The regular season in the Dominican wrapped up right before Christmas and the only Red Sox prospect to see action was Johan Mieses for Este, going 0 for 3 with a strikeout. The playoffs began on Sunday with Leones del Escogido facing Estrellas Orientales. Righty Joel Payamps is the lone Red Sox prospect on Estrellas while Leones has righty Denyi Reyes and Cesar Puello, the latter of whom was the only one to see action, grounding out in his lone at-bat as a pinch hitter.
Mexican Pacific League
Joey Meneses continued trying to help push Culiacan towards a playoff bid. He had a consistent week, getting one hit in each of the five games except for game 1 of the doubleheader on Tuesday, when he went hitless. His one hit on Sunday was a home run that helped propel them to a win. Overall, on the week he went 4 for 19 with two doubles, a home run, 3 runs, 3 RBI, and 3 strikeouts. Culiacan went 2-3 on the week and are on the outside looking in for a playoff spot with the regular season wrapping up on Wednesday.
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Catcher Jhonny Pereda started four games for Caracas in the shortened week, going 2 for 8 with a run, two walks, and two strikeouts. Lefty Oddanier Mosqueda had two holds on Tuesday and Wednesday to start the week, throwing a scoreless inning in each. His third appearance was not as successful, allowing a hit and two walks without retiring a batter.
National Professional Baseball League (Nicaragua)
The league's regular season wrapped up on Wednesday and Nixson Munoz started for Boer on the final day, throwing 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball with three hits allowed and three strikeouts. He finishes the regular season with a 4.24 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 17 innings. The playoffs began on Saturday, but Munoz's Boer squad was the lone team to miss the postseason. Roniel Raudes had earlier left the league with an injury.
Australian Baseball League
Collin Willis played in both games over the weekend for Melbourne. He went hitless on Saturday in four at-bats before doubling in one of four at-bats on Sunday. He struck out once in each.
Photo Credit: Jarren Duran by Kelly O'Connor.
Will Woodward is a Co-Owner and Senior Staff Writer for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @SPWill.