Winter Ball Wraps Up; Several Sounds Sharpened Skills In Latin America
Date Posted: 10/12/2009

Last Updated: February 1, 2010

The 2009-10 winter leagues have wrapped up their postseasons and several members of the 2009 Nashville Sounds team, as well as past Sounds players, were among the participants.

Sounds outfielder Brendan Katin (pictured) -- who led Nashville with 24 home runs and 92 RBIs during the 2009 campaign -- played in the Venezuelan Winter League this off-season, where he posted a .246 average (16-for-65) with one homer and seven RBIs in 22 games for Zulia.

Second baseman Hernan Iribarren, who played for Nashville in each of the last two seasons, hit .309 (54-for-175) with 34 runs scored, two home runs, and 21 RBIs in 48 contests for Lara. He was joined on the Cardenales by shortstop Alcides Escobar (.393, 68-for-173 in 45G).

Iribarren slowed down a bit in the VWL postseason, hitting .133 (2-for-15) in 10 games.

Infielder Adam Heether, another two-year Sounds vet, batted .214 (15-for-70) with two home runs and 15 RBIs in 21 games for Caracas, where he was joined in December by third baseman Mat Gamel, who is batted .211 (8-for-38) with one homer and four RBIs in 11 contests.

Notable former Sounds also playing on the Venezuelan diamonds this off-season include pitchers Hector Almonte (2004), Joe Bateman (2008), Jesus Colome (2009), Francisco Cordova (1999, 2001), Kenny Ray (2007), Nic Ungs (2008), catcher J.C. Boscan (2006), infielder Jose Macias (2007), and outfielders Tony Alvarez (2003-04) and Jay Gibbons (2008).

No 2009 Sounds players participated in the Mexican Winter League. However, two offseason acquisitions played on the diamonds of Mexico.

Shortstop Luis Cruz -- a waivers pickup who is likely to serve as Nashville's everyday shortstop in 2010 -- batted .314 (64-for-204) with four home runs and 22 RBIs in 53 games for Culiacan.

Outfielder Trent Oeltjen, a minor league free agent who will compete for a backup spot in the Brewers' outfield in spring training, hit .348 (32-for-92) with five RBIs in 23 games for Hermosillo.

Left-hander Kameron Loe, a free agent signee, pitched for Aguilas and went 3-1 with a 3.20 ERA (9er/25.1ip) in six games (five starts).

Former Sounds improving their skills in Mexico include pitchers Francisco Cordova (1999, 2001), Elmer Dessens (1998, 2007), Dennis Sarfate (2005-07), Dan Serafini (2000), and Jose Silva (1998-99), catcher Humberto Cota (2001-04), and infielder Jose Macias (2007).

Several Sounds players are also in action in the Dominican Winter League.

Veteran infielder Erick Almonte -- who has re-signed with the Brewers for 2010 and will likely return to the Sounds -- batted .325 (51-for-157) with four home runs and 26 RBIs in 49 games for Gigantes del Cibao, where he was teammates with left-hander Sam Narron (0-2, 3.38 ERA, 9er/24.0ip, in 6G/5GS).

Almonte followed up his solid winter league regular season by batting .323 (10-for-31) in eight playoff contests.

Reliever Juan Sandoval pitched for Estrellas del Oriente and has logged an 0-1 record, one save, and a 3.24 ERA (6er/16.2ip) in 19 relief outings.

Left-hander Lindsay Gulin pitched for Estrellas del Oriente and has posted an 0-0 record and 9.00 ERA (4er/4.0ip) in one start.

Recent Brewers minor league free agent signee P John Halama enjoyed a solid winter campaign for Aguilas, logging a 4-3 record and 2.95 ERA (15er/55.0ip) in nine starts.

Former Sounds participating in the Dominican League include pitchers Greg Aquino (2007), Jose Capellan (2005, '07), Wilton Chavez (2006), Nelson Figueroa (2003-04), Al Reyes (2002), Marino Salas (2007), Duaner Sanchez (2002-03), and Luis Villareal (2006), catcher Vinny Rottino (2005-08), infielders Ozzie Chavez (2006-08), Enrique Cruz (2006), Abraham Nunez (1998-2000, '02, '08), and Enrique Wilson (2000), and outfielder Nelson Cruz (2005-06).

The Puerto Rican Winter League began play in mid-November.

Catcher Martin Maldonado -- who joined the Sounds for a seven-game stint in late June and early July -- batted .189 (10-for-53) with three home runs and eight RBIs in 22 games for Mayaguez.

Catcher Carlos Corporan, who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks this off-season, hit .352 (25-for-71) with one home run and 11 RBIs in 25 contests for Caguas, then added a .231 (7-for-31) mark in seven playoff games.

Former Sounds participating in the Puerto Rican League include pitchers Hector Almonte (2004), Hansel Izquierdo (2004), Jason Kershner (2006), Wes Littleton (2009), Bill Simas (1995), and Luis Villarreal (2007), infielders Luis R. Figueroa (2000-01) and Carlos Rivera (2003-04), and outfielder Armando Rios (2002).

Related Links:
 • MLB.com Winter League Coverage