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December 12, 2012

Minor League Update

Five Prospects Who Struggled In the 2011 Caribbean Winter Leagues

by Jason Martinez

Aside from a fairly uneventful game between the Dominican Winter League and Venezuelan Winter League All-Stars, it was another slow night with only two games in Puerto Rico. So let's stick with yesterday's topic -- struggling prospects of the Caribbean Winter Leagues -- and take a look at five prospects who were terrible last winter, but eased concerns -- if there were any at all -- by putting up much better numbers during the 2012 regular season.

• Anthony Gose, OF, Toronto Blue Jays (Venezuela): 10-for-55, 3B, 6 BB, 11 K, 2 SB. A 2nd Round draft pick by the Phillies in 2008, Gose had hit a total of six homers in 245 minor league games when he was traded in July 2010. During his first full season with the Blue Jays, he homered 16 times in 137 games for Double-A New Hampshire while also showing off the plus-speed (70 SB) he had always been known for. The 154 strikeouts was a major concern, however, and a signal that he could be exposed as he moved up the ladder. As it turns out, the crafty veteran pitchers in the Venezuela were able to take advantage of the holes in his swing and hold him to a .492 OPS over 18 games last offseason. He rebounded with a solid performance in Triple-A (.785