Spanish Baseball League: Week 1

Summary

The Spanish Baseball League started play in balmy late March weather last weekend, signaling the start of the European baseball season. The continent’s other leagues will be starting in the weeks ahead, with Czechia, Italy, and Germany all celebrating Opening Day this coming weekend.

On Tenerife, the defending champion Marlins started the 2022 SBL season with 27 runs on their way to an Opening Day sweep. Astros Valencia, who lost to the Marlins in last year’s championship series, did the same, scoring 19 runs while allowing just one opposing runner to reach home on their way to two early victories.

CB Viladecans filled up the scoresheet on Week 1, scoring a combined 31 runs in a Catalunya derby.

Results (box scores linked)

CBS Toros Pamplona v. Astros Valencia (1-8, 0-11)

CBS Antorcha v. Tenerife Marlins (2-13, 5-14)

Beisból Navarra v. San Inazio (9-6, 2-12)

CB Viladecans v. CBS Barcelona (22-1, 9-2)

Miralbueno v. Sant Boi ( 12-4, 9-13)

Highlights

The Marlins hit six home runs, with OF/C  Joel Borges the only player to hit more than one. The part-time backstop went a combined 5-for-7, two homers and six RBI.

Also of note for the Marlins: Jesus Montaño, who turned heads at last year’s U18 European Championship thanks to a .563/.579/1.000 slash line, went 1-for-3, with one run scored and one RBI. He also reached base on a walk. According to Perfect Game, which released its inaugural European prospect rankings earlier this month, Montaño is one of Europe’s Top-10 prospects.

Miguel Catalán drove in seven runs on three hits (all doubles) in CB Viladecan’s 22-1 victory over CBS Barcelona. He drove in another run in Game Two.

Miralbueno and Sant Boi combined for 16 doubles.

San Inazio shortstop Leopoldo Correa went a combined 6-for-8 in Week 1 action, including his first home run of the season. The former Tampa Bay Rays farmhand drove in four runs and scored another four himself.

Valencia’s pitchers struck out 24 Pamplona batters on Day 1. If the records are correct, Valencia’s staff needed just 68 pitches to wrap up Game 1 (and 94 in Game 2).

Standings