Third part to the St. Louis Cardinals players in winter play will cover those that participated in the Dominican Republic League. Redbirds had three; Amaury Marti, Luis Perdomo, and Elvis Hernandez; who were affiliated in the farm system at the beginning of the winter season that played. The organization lost Perdomo in December in the Rule 5 Draft to the San Francisco Giants. Also appearing were free agents Kelvin Jimenez, D'Angelo Jimenez, and Gustavo Martinez. The Cardinals also picked up Katsuhiko Maekawa after being released from the DWL and pitching in the Venezuelan League.
Both Marti and D'Angelo Jimenez began the season with Tigres de Licey. The Licey finished with a 26-24 record and went on to win the Dominican Republic League championship but ended up in third place in the Caribbean Series. They started the winter season off slow and fired their manager midway through. Martinez also started out the season with Licey but was later loaned to Cardenales de lara in the Venezuelan League, where he finished the season out.
Maekawa started out the winter season with Gigantes del Cibao. Cibao ended with a 30-20 record, good for first in the league. They were eliminated in the Dominican Republic League championship series. Maekawa was released in late-October after pitching poorly. Hernandez made one relaif appearance in late December for the club.
Perdomo pitched for Aguilas Cibaenas and they finished with a 26-24 tied with Licey, but were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
Kelvin Jimenez joined Estrellas de Orientales in November to only watch the team sit in last place all season and end with a 16-34 record.
Amaury Marti (Memphis) played in 46 games batting .314 (54-for-172) with a .390 OBP, .535 SLG, and .925 OPS. The 34-year old (?) right-handed swinger had 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 34 RBIs, 92 total bases, scored 27 runs, and walked 21 times. He was caught stealing in his only attempt, struck out 24% (42) of the time, and committed two errors. Marti played 30 games in right field, eight in left, and eight as designated hitter.
The third-year Cardinal hitter continued tearing up the Dominican Republic League talent much like he did in Mexico and Nicaragua. Marti had two six-game hitting streaks, one running October 31-November 7 (8-for-24, .333) and the other between November 29-December 11 (8-for-21, .381). He had 16 multi-hit games, with four of those going three or more hits. Marti had seven multi-RBI games, including two that were for three. He drove in one or more runs in six straight games coming October 24-October 31. One of his best games came on December 16 when he went 2-for-4 with one triple, one home run, two RBIs, and one run. Marti's final four games of the regular season he went 8-for-15 (all multi-hit) with one double, one triple, two home runs, six RBIs, and three runs. During the DWL playoffs he was just as spectacular, hitting .373 (28-for-75) with five doubles, one triple, four home runs, 11 RBIs, 11 runs, and seven walks in 21 games. Marti went stone cold in the Caribbean Series where he was held to one hit in 15 at-bats and was benched in the final two games. (Runners left in scoring position with 2-outs: 15)
Amaury Cazana, as he's sometimes referred to, is a real questionable situation. With his age and the amount of potential prospects in the outfield up and down the Cardinals' farm system I would expect him to see time again in the Triple-A Mexican League. His one big chance to fully get into the mix seems to have run out last spring when he didn't make too big of an impact at Memphis or even spring training camp. You could consider him the Cardinals Ambassador to the Caribbean region as he garners a great deal of respect among the players throughout the countries.
D'Angelo Jimenez (Memphis-Free Agent) played in 34 games batting .289 (28-for-97) with a .453 OBP, .402 SLG, and .855 OPS. The 32-year old switch hitter had five doubles, two home runs, 18 RBIs, 39 total bases, scored 21 runs, and walked 30 times. He stole 2-of-3 attempts, struck out 24% (23) of the time, and committed six errors. Jimenez played all his games at third base, except for three as designated hitter, two at first base4, and two as pinch hitter.
The one-time Cardinal affiliate was the teams starting third base from the beginning of the season until late November when various other players started to show up. Jimenez had a nine-game hitting streak that ran from October 23-November 2, where he went 13-for-31 (.419) with two doubles, six RBIs, seven runs, and nine walks. He had five multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games. Jimenez had his best game on December 13 when he went 2-for-4 with one double, one solo home run, and two runs scored. He clubbed his first home run, a two-run shot, on November 16. Between October 23-November 17, Jimenez reached base in 19 straight games. He went 1-for-13 in the DWL playoffs and 0-for-6 during the Caribbean Series.
I'm positive Jimenez will be picked up on a minor league contract by a MLB team. But it will most likely come during spring training when teams have figured where they stand on their infield. He really got lost in the shuffle when the Cardinals went out and signed Felipe Lopez to back up Adam Kennedy instead of promoting him.
Gustavo Martinez (GCL-Free Agent) made two relief appearances (October 22 and November 26) posting a 2.70 ERA. The 21-year old right-hander allowed three hits, two runs (one earned), hit one batter, walked three, and struck out two over 3.1 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 4-to-2, let one of two inherited runners score, and had a 1.80 WHIP. Martinez was loaned to the Cardenales de Lara in Venezuelan League after his November 26 game.
Kelvin Jimenez (St. Louis, Claimed By Toronto Then Chicago White Sox) made nine relief appearances posting an 0-0 record, 5.59 ERA, one hold, and one blown save. The 28-year old right-hander allowed 13 hits, eight runs (six earned), two home runs, five walks, and struck out six over 9.2 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 13-to-8, let four of seven inherited runner score, and had a 1.86 WHIP.
The two-year Cardinal pitcher joined the team in early November and pitched sparingly. Jimenez was used as a late inning reliever getting time in the seventh inning in most outings. He did not allow a run in five appearances and no hits in one. His best game came on December 20, when he pitched two innings giving up one hit, no runs, and striking out a season-high three. Jimenez has trouble keeping runners on base and walked a season-high three on November 16.
I was a little disappointed in how Jimenez pitched when he got to the big league level the last two season with the Cardinals after pitching so well at Triple-A. Spending six seasons in the minors then getting a taste of the big time and just couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. Maybe he'll get a better chance with the White Sox, after all the Cardinals fan base probably would of run him out of town if he had another season like the last two.
Both Marti and D'Angelo Jimenez began the season with Tigres de Licey. The Licey finished with a 26-24 record and went on to win the Dominican Republic League championship but ended up in third place in the Caribbean Series. They started the winter season off slow and fired their manager midway through. Martinez also started out the season with Licey but was later loaned to Cardenales de lara in the Venezuelan League, where he finished the season out.
Maekawa started out the winter season with Gigantes del Cibao. Cibao ended with a 30-20 record, good for first in the league. They were eliminated in the Dominican Republic League championship series. Maekawa was released in late-October after pitching poorly. Hernandez made one relaif appearance in late December for the club.
Perdomo pitched for Aguilas Cibaenas and they finished with a 26-24 tied with Licey, but were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
Kelvin Jimenez joined Estrellas de Orientales in November to only watch the team sit in last place all season and end with a 16-34 record.
Amaury Marti (Memphis) played in 46 games batting .314 (54-for-172) with a .390 OBP, .535 SLG, and .925 OPS. The 34-year old (?) right-handed swinger had 11 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 34 RBIs, 92 total bases, scored 27 runs, and walked 21 times. He was caught stealing in his only attempt, struck out 24% (42) of the time, and committed two errors. Marti played 30 games in right field, eight in left, and eight as designated hitter.
The third-year Cardinal hitter continued tearing up the Dominican Republic League talent much like he did in Mexico and Nicaragua. Marti had two six-game hitting streaks, one running October 31-November 7 (8-for-24, .333) and the other between November 29-December 11 (8-for-21, .381). He had 16 multi-hit games, with four of those going three or more hits. Marti had seven multi-RBI games, including two that were for three. He drove in one or more runs in six straight games coming October 24-October 31. One of his best games came on December 16 when he went 2-for-4 with one triple, one home run, two RBIs, and one run. Marti's final four games of the regular season he went 8-for-15 (all multi-hit) with one double, one triple, two home runs, six RBIs, and three runs. During the DWL playoffs he was just as spectacular, hitting .373 (28-for-75) with five doubles, one triple, four home runs, 11 RBIs, 11 runs, and seven walks in 21 games. Marti went stone cold in the Caribbean Series where he was held to one hit in 15 at-bats and was benched in the final two games. (Runners left in scoring position with 2-outs: 15)
Amaury Cazana, as he's sometimes referred to, is a real questionable situation. With his age and the amount of potential prospects in the outfield up and down the Cardinals' farm system I would expect him to see time again in the Triple-A Mexican League. His one big chance to fully get into the mix seems to have run out last spring when he didn't make too big of an impact at Memphis or even spring training camp. You could consider him the Cardinals Ambassador to the Caribbean region as he garners a great deal of respect among the players throughout the countries.
D'Angelo Jimenez (Memphis-Free Agent) played in 34 games batting .289 (28-for-97) with a .453 OBP, .402 SLG, and .855 OPS. The 32-year old switch hitter had five doubles, two home runs, 18 RBIs, 39 total bases, scored 21 runs, and walked 30 times. He stole 2-of-3 attempts, struck out 24% (23) of the time, and committed six errors. Jimenez played all his games at third base, except for three as designated hitter, two at first base4, and two as pinch hitter.
The one-time Cardinal affiliate was the teams starting third base from the beginning of the season until late November when various other players started to show up. Jimenez had a nine-game hitting streak that ran from October 23-November 2, where he went 13-for-31 (.419) with two doubles, six RBIs, seven runs, and nine walks. He had five multi-hit games and five multi-RBI games. Jimenez had his best game on December 13 when he went 2-for-4 with one double, one solo home run, and two runs scored. He clubbed his first home run, a two-run shot, on November 16. Between October 23-November 17, Jimenez reached base in 19 straight games. He went 1-for-13 in the DWL playoffs and 0-for-6 during the Caribbean Series.
I'm positive Jimenez will be picked up on a minor league contract by a MLB team. But it will most likely come during spring training when teams have figured where they stand on their infield. He really got lost in the shuffle when the Cardinals went out and signed Felipe Lopez to back up Adam Kennedy instead of promoting him.
Gustavo Martinez (GCL-Free Agent) made two relief appearances (October 22 and November 26) posting a 2.70 ERA. The 21-year old right-hander allowed three hits, two runs (one earned), hit one batter, walked three, and struck out two over 3.1 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 4-to-2, let one of two inherited runners score, and had a 1.80 WHIP. Martinez was loaned to the Cardenales de Lara in Venezuelan League after his November 26 game.
Kelvin Jimenez (St. Louis, Claimed By Toronto Then Chicago White Sox) made nine relief appearances posting an 0-0 record, 5.59 ERA, one hold, and one blown save. The 28-year old right-hander allowed 13 hits, eight runs (six earned), two home runs, five walks, and struck out six over 9.2 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 13-to-8, let four of seven inherited runner score, and had a 1.86 WHIP.
The two-year Cardinal pitcher joined the team in early November and pitched sparingly. Jimenez was used as a late inning reliever getting time in the seventh inning in most outings. He did not allow a run in five appearances and no hits in one. His best game came on December 20, when he pitched two innings giving up one hit, no runs, and striking out a season-high three. Jimenez has trouble keeping runners on base and walked a season-high three on November 16.
I was a little disappointed in how Jimenez pitched when he got to the big league level the last two season with the Cardinals after pitching so well at Triple-A. Spending six seasons in the minors then getting a taste of the big time and just couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. Maybe he'll get a better chance with the White Sox, after all the Cardinals fan base probably would of run him out of town if he had another season like the last two.
Luis Perdomo (Springfield, San Francisco Giants via Rule 5 Draft) made eight relief appearances posting an 0-1 record and 11.81 ERA. The 24-year old right-hander allowed nine hits, nine runs (seven earned), hit one batter, walked three, and struck out three. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 5-to-7, let one of seven inherited runners score, and had a 2.25 WHIP.
The former Springfield Cardinal alternated good and bad outings throughout the winter season. Perdomo gave up three runs on three separate occasions, leaving five without a run. He also didn't give up a hit in three of his outings. On October 19, he came in with bases loaded and kept them all on.
Perdomo was considered by some a sleeper pick in the December Rule 5 Draft over the winter. Not sure how well he'll fit in making the jump from Double-A to the majors. There's always the possibility he makes a return to the Cardinals farm system before spring camps conclude. So be sure to keep an eye out on him this spring.
Katsuhiko Maekawa (Memphis?) made two starts (October 17 and 24) posting an 0-2 record and 24.30 ERA. The 30-year old left-hander allowed six hits, nine earned runs, one home run, six walks, and struck out three over 3.1 innings. He had a ground out-to-fly out ratio of 4-to-2 and a 3.60 WHIP. Maekawa was released shortly after his second start and caught the attention of Cardinals scouts during his stay. He joined Caribes later in November and pitched under Enrique Brito, who gave the go ahead on signing him.
Elvis Hernandez (Palm Beach) made one relief appearance (December 20) pitching 2/3 of an inning, giving up one hit, no runs, and walking one for the hold. The 23-year old right-hander got one ground out, one fly out, and had a 3.00 WHIP.
Others who came close to making appearances:
Albert Pujols (St. Louis) had planned to play for Gigantes del Cibao late in December, but elbow surgery ended his World Baseball Classic warm-up session.
Tony Cruz (Palm Beach) was selected in the 5th round of the Dominican Republic League draft by Estrellas Orientales. He later requested to pass so he could participate in the Hawaii Winter League.
Francisco Samuel (Palm Beach) was selected in the 4th round of the Dominican Republic League draft by Estrellas Orientales. But during the Florida State League playoffs he suffered a muscle pull which put an end to his winter plans.
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