Other than signing a veteran for the starting rotation, there wasn't much happening this week. Following the jump, I will touch on how a few players are doing in winter ball.
Next week I will return with more on my interview with Elizabethton's A. J. Pettersen.
I also want to wish everyone at Twinkie Town a joyous holiday season.
Last spring the Twins signed Aaron Bates several weeks after the season began. Bates went on to have one of the best seasons of any hitter in the International League, hitting for a .316 average. Bates is lighting it up in the Puerto Rican Winter League, hitting .356 average in 45 at bats. Twins second baseman Alexi Casilla is hitting .336 average in 119 at bats for Gigantes in the Dominican League. Casilla has also stolen six bases in seven tries. Recently claimed shortstop Pedro Florimon is hitting .324 average in 74 at bats in the Dominican League.
Angel Morales missed a lot of time last summer and is working his way back in winter ball in his native Puerto Rico. Morales is hitting .186 average in only 43 at bats. Fellow Puerto Rican, Eddie Rosario is hitting .214 average in 42 at bats for his Puerto Rican team. Second baseman Jacob Younis is hitting .273 in 66 at bats for Sydney in the Australian Baseball League.
The Twins recently signed a basket full of pitchers (eleven if my math is correct) who have had a cup of coffee in the big leagues. Luis Perdomo is the only one who has seen considerable action early this winter. He is pitching very well in the Dominican League against teams with players who have some major league experience. Perdomo has appeared in 18 games (21.1 innings) with a 2.11 ERA, 16 strikeouts and only 3 walks.
Other pitchers seeing action early this winter include Anthony Slama, Esmerling Vasquez, Lester Oliveros, Pedro Guerra and Deolis Guerra. Slama has appeared in 12 games (11.2 innings) in the Mexican League wth a 2.31 ERA, 14 strikeouts and 4 walks. Vasquez has appeared in 12 games in the Dominican League (9.0 innings) with a 3.00 ERA, however, he has only 5 strikeouts and 7 walks. Oliveros is pitching very well in the Venezuelan League, appearing in 19 games (18.1 innings) with a 1.47 ERA, 18 strikeouts and 8 walks. Pedro Guerra made 15 appearances (3 starts) in Venezuela (27.1 innings) with a 3.95 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 9 walks. His teammate with Magallanes, Deolis Guerra, has made 17 relief appearances (26.2 innings) with a 3.71 ERA, 23 strikeouts and 7 walks.
Thats it for today, Merry Christmas everyone!