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For the last time in 2018, here is a Monday roundup of storylines, stats and highlights from Marlins players who are staying active this offseason. All of the previous weekly updates are contained in this thread.
Stats updated through Sunday’s games.
Australian Baseball League
A tip of the cap to Marlin Maniac’s Kevin Kraczkowski for drawing my attention to right-hander Zech Lemond in a recent article. The former Padres third-round draft pick landed in the Marlins farm system last year and performed pretty well between High-A Jupiter and Double-A Jacksonville (2.29 ERA, 51.0 IP, 47 K).
Lemond is currently halfway around the world with Australia’s Canberra Cavalry. Their season doesn’t align with the Caribbean winter leagues, starting and ending at later dates. So far, he has posted a 2.25 ERA and 1.33 WHIP through 12 innings (nine appearances).
Making the Opening Day roster would be a huge stretch, but there’s a strong chance that he at least appears in a few Grapefruit League games during spring training.
Dominican Winter League
Final regular season stats
- RHP Nestor Bautista (Toros del Este)—22.50 ERA, 3.50 WHIP in 2.0 IP
- INF Samuel Castro (Toros del Este)—.300/.417/.450 in 25 PA
- LHP Jarlin García (Toros del Este)—4.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP in 6.0 IP
- OF Gabriel Guerrero (Estrellas de Oriente)—.272/.279/.417 in 104 PA
- LHP Mike Kickham (Estrellas de Oriente)—1.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP in 5.1 IP
- 1B Peter O’Brien (Toros del Este)—.200/.359/.360 in 64 PA
- OF Magneuris Sierra (Toros del Este)—.250/.289/.250 in 39 PA
- INF Christopher Torres (Águilas Cibaeñas)—.333/.500/.333 in 4 PA
Of the five Toros players who are Marlins property, only García stuck on the roster for the round-robin postseason tournament. He contributed two scoreless innings in Thursday’s loss to Escogido.
Venezuelan Winter League
Final regular season stats
- SS Álex González (Leones del Caracas)—.200/.333/.200 in 5 PA
- RHP Elieser Hernández (Aguilas del Zulia)—did not play (dengue fever)
- LHP José Quijada (Caribes de Anzoategui)—4.09 ERA, 1.73 WHIP in 11.0 IP
- OF Harold Ramírez (Leones del Caracas)—.381/.459/.556 in 185 PA
- SS Miguel Rojas (Tiburones de La Guaira)—.345/.387/.397 in 63 PA
Since hanging up his cleats a few weeks ago, González is back with the Marlins in a community relations role. Already test-driving Our Colores!
Ramírez was firmly in the league’s MVP conversation before the Marlins removed him from action. Fortunately, Leones del Caracas competed hard without him to finish at 34-29, and the outfielder will rejoin them for a postseason run.
Puerto Rican Winter League
Final regular season stats
- INF Isan Díaz (Gigantes de Carolina)—.272/.348/.368 in 132 PA
- INF Yadiel Rivera (Indios de Mayagüez/Criollos de Caguas)—.193/.264/.253 in 91 PA
Excited to see how Díaz handles the bright lights as his team enters the Round Robin. Let’s hope he isn’t too worn down after playing 152 total games in 2018.