Rangers Winterball Roundup – 12/21

Tigres de Aragua third baseman Yangervis Solarte went 1-for-3 with a double on Friday evening. Lone Star Dugout takes a look at all of the day's winterball action in the Texas Rangers' system.

Dominican Winter League

Nelson Cruz took home the hat trick for Cibao on Friday, striking out three times in four hitless at-bats.

Despite the rough outing, the 32-year-old Cruz has performed well in 10 winterball contests. He’s 11-for-38 (.289) with a double, a home run, six walks, and seven strikeouts.

Licey’s Engel Beltre (.250/.329/.398) was 0-for-3 with a strikeout. After getting out to a fantastic start and even leading the Dominican Winter League in batting average at one point, Beltre has cooled of late. He’s just 5-for-34 (.147) over his last 10 contests.

Despite the slump, Beltre currently tops the circuit with seven triples.

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Venezuelan Winter League

Playing in front of more than 15,000 fans on Friday, Magallanes shortstop Elvis Andrus went 1-for-3 with a hit-by pitch. He was also caught stealing for the third time in six attempts.

Through 14 contests, Andrus is 12-for-55 (.218) at the plate with three doubles and a home run. He’s drawn six walks and struck out nine times.

Aragua third baseman Yangervis Solarte (.286/.353/.396) was 1-for-3 with a double, his team’s only extra-base hit of the game. The two-bagger was his 11th of the season.

Lara’s Guilder Rodriguez scored a run after appearing as a ninth-inning pinch-runner. He didn’t have a plate appearance.

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Liga Paralela (Venezuela Minor League)

The Liga Paralela season concluded on Friday with Magallanes finishing off Tampa Bay in the best-of-three championship series.

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Mexican Pacific League

Jose Felix (.297/.321/.405) got the start at catcher for Guasave and was hitless in four at-bats.

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Puerto Rican Winter League

The Rangers-laden Leones de Ponce club currently sits at the bottom of the Puerto Rican Winter League with a 12-21 record. Ponce did earn a 2-1 victory over Caguas on Friday.

Leones catcher Zach Zaneski (.194/.265/.226 in 12 games) got the start behind the plate and singled once in four at-bats. The Rhode Island product was particularly impressive defensively, gunning down all three of Caguas’ attempted base stealers.

Sidearming lefty specialist Alexander Claudio (5.19 ERA/.319 BAA) struck out the only batter he faced, earning his fourth hold of the campaign.

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Australian Baseball League

Brisbane’s Hirotoshi Onaka singled once in four official at-bats, striking out once. The Japan native now has a .266/.389/.329 slash line in 21 games. He’s drawn 16 walks and struck out 25 times during the campaign.

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