The Tigres de Aragua team featured players from the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, a couple players from the Independent Leagues, and some Minor League free agents.
Aragua finished 34-20 and four games out of first, only 3.5 short of the Championship game. They combined for a .303 AVG with 11 doubles, 12 triples, 55 home runs, 325 RBIs, 370 runs, 247 walks, 283 strikeouts, 39 stolen bases, .395 OBP, and a .466 SLG. The Tigres ranked number one of each one of those categories except triples (seven short) and stolen bases (68 down).
Frederick Parejo (Batavia) played in 26 games batting .267 (20-for-75) with a .333 OBP and .347 SLG. The 18-year old right-handed swinger had six doubles, nine RBIs, 26 total bases, scored eight runs, and walked eight times. He struck out 12% (nine) of the time and committed two errors. Parejo played nine games in centerfield, eight in left, five in right, and the rest were multiple position games in the outfield.
The second-year Cardinal affiliate was one of the teams starting outfielders and bounced around across all three positions throughout the winter season. He wasn't absolutely hot, but started out real well and calmed as the season went on until he left in early December. Parejo had six multi-hit games, which included a 3-for-4 performance on November 4, and two multi-RBI games. After his Stellar game on November 4, he hit the wall and had only two hits in his final 23 at-bats (.087). He had a four-game hitting streak that ran between October 23-26, where he went 7-for-14 (.500) with one double, two RBIs, and one run scored. Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 6-2, 2 RBIs)
Parejo could end up starting the 2009 season out at Single-A Quad Cities, especially with the season he had in 2008. He probably won't be a quick rising prospect through the organization as the farm system is locked up with plenty of outfield talent.
Juan Lucena (Springfield-Free Agent) played in 32 games batting .344 (33-for-96) with a .407 OBP and .438 SLG. The 25-year old right-handed swinger had seven doubles, one triple, 22 RBIs, 42 total bases, scored 16 runs, and walked eight times. He was perfect in stolen bases attempts with one, struck out only twice (2%), and committed two errors. Lucena played 12 games at third base, seven at second, two at first, four as designated hitter, two games as a pinch hitter, and four between third base, first, and second. (Runners left ins coring position, 2-outs: 21-9, 13 RBIs)
The former St. Louis Cardinal prospect was hot pretty much all season and even earned a promotion to the big league Aragua squad mid-season, when Springfield Cardinal Jose Martinez left for personal reasons and another middle infielder went down with an injury. Lucena opened the 2008 winter season with a seven-game hitting streak going 13-for-25 (.520) with two doubles, eight RBIs, and scored six runs. He had nine multi-hit games, four of which were three hitters, and eight multi-RBI performances. His best game came on December 5, when he went 3-for-4 with one double, one triple, and drove in two RBIs.
As some may already know Lucena was released from the organization before 2008 minor league spring camp and has since been looking to for another team to play for. If he is ever signed he could provide a great veteran minor league presence for any team that needs to fill a hole in their middle infield.
Jose Garcia (Batavia) played in 30 games batting .297 (19-for-64) with a .423 OBP and .500 SLG. The 20-year old right-handed swinger had seven doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs, 32 total bases, scored 22 runs, and walked 12 times. He was 4-for-6 in stolen base attempts, struck out 9% (6) of the time, and committed seven errors. Garcia played 11 games at second base, ten at third base, and one as shortstop, left field, designated hitter, or even pinch hitter.
The third-year Cardinal affiliate was consistent throughout the season at the plate, never really dipped. Garcia did begin the season as a starting infielder for the team as was later moved to the bench in November, playing behind Juan Lucena and a few others. Between October 19-23, he had a three-game hitting streak going 6-for-16 (.375) with two doubles, one home run, two RBIs, and six runs scored. Garcia had six multi-hit and three multi-RBI games. His best game came on October 19, when he went 3-for-6 with one double, one home run, drove in two runs, and scored four times for Aragua. Garcia finished fourth on the team in runs scored. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 8-1, 3 RBIs)
Garcia could be looking at a make or break season in the Cardinals organization. This will be his fourth season in the farm system and with the amount of middle infielders in the system (not including the upcoming draft) he could be looking at being squeezed out during or after the 2009 season (check Juan Lucena). If Garcia can bring the production and glove work, he had during the 2007 season and past couple winter seasons, he could extend his stay in the Cardinals farm.
Domnit Bolivar (Quad Cities) played in 27 games batting .333 (21-for-63) with a .394 OBP and .556 SLG. The 19-year old right-handed swinger had six doubles, one triple, two home runs, 16 RBIs, 35 total bases, scored 14 runs, and walked six times. He was 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts, struck out 25% (16) of the time, and committed 11 errors. Bolivar played 14 games at shortstop, three at second base, two in right field, two as designated hitter, and one game at each of the following...left field, first base, third base, pinch hitter, and pinch runner.
The third-year Cardinal prospect was Aragua's starting shortstop for most of the first month of play and moved in beside Jose Garcia on the bench. After the first game he had a five-game hitting sdtreak going 7-for-17 (.411) with two doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs, three runs. Bolivar hit both his home runs in back-to-back games (October 18 and 19). He had five multi-hit and four multi-RBI games. One of his best games came on October 20 when he went 2-for-3 with one double, one triple, and two RBIs. Bolivar lead Aragua errors and tied for fourth in stolen bases. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 4-1, 1 RBI)
Bolivar will most likely again make a return to Single-A Quad Cities and continue to make improvements like he has in the past. His glove needs a lot of work if he intends to play somewhere in the infield for the Cardinals organization. I wouldn't be surprised if he received some work in the outfield if the errors add up like past seasons.
Kleinenger Teran (GCL) played in 23 games batting .184 (7-for-38) with a .279 OBP and .289 SLG. The 19-year olf left-handed swinger had one double, one home run, seven RBIs, 11 total bases, scored seven runs, and walked four times. He struck out 11% (4) of the time and committed one error. Teran played ten games at first base, four at third, two in left field, and five as a pinch hitter.
The third-year Cardinal player spent most of the winter coming off the bench, only starting in three games. Teran collected his first hit and RBI in the same game on October 29. On November 4, he legged out his first double and had his only multi-RBI game. Teran clubbed his only home run on November 15. Between December 3-12, he had three straight games with an RBI. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 2-1, 2 RBIs)
Teran appears to be headed back to the rookie-level GCL Cardinals in 2009 for another go around, manning the hot corner. His fielding has improved a lot, he just needs to get the bat swinging and could make a push for Johnson City in the coming summer.
Ismael Cardona (Batavia) played in 14 games batting .143 (4-for-28) with a .226 OBP and .143 SLG. The 19-year old right-handed swinger had four RBIs, four total bases, scored three runs, and walked twice. He struck out 21% (6) of the time and committed no errors. Cardona played all his games behind the plate except for one, as the designated hitter.
The second-year Cardinals affiliate started in eight of his appearances. Cardona collected his first hit, drove in his first run, and scored two of his three runs on October 30. Three out of four of his RBIs were with two-outs. (Runners left in scoring position, 2-outs: 4-2, 3 RBIs)
Cardona had a long long 2008 season, he was promoted to the states from Venezuela and bounced around the organization playing in four different levels for the St. Louis Cardinals. Where he is placed in 2009 really depends on how well Luis de la Cruz has recovered from his injury that took him out of the 2008 season.
Jesus Montero (VSL) played in 21 games batting .105 (4-for-38) with a .227 OBP and .105 SLG. The 17-year old right-handed swinger had one RBI, four total bases, scored three runs, and walked five times. He struck out 29% (11) of the time and committed one error. Montero played all his games as the catcher except for three, played in the designated and pinch hitter role.
The first-year VSL participant was alternated with Ismael Cardona in the back-up catcher role. Montero scored his first run on October 23, collected his first hit on November 19, and drove in his first and only run (with two-outs) on December 4. He scored two of his three runs on December 12. (Runners left ins coring position, 2-outs: 7-1, 1 RBI)
Montero is most likely headed back to the Venezuelan Summer League in 2009, but could again be playing behind Yorbel Alcala and Limbert Rivas.
Cardinals 2008 Hitters Part One
Cardinals 2008 Hitters Part Two
Cardinals 2008 Hitters Part Three
Cardinals 2008 Starting Rotation
Cardinals 2008 Bullpen
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