Cardinals Sign 19-Year Old RHP Fidencio Flores Out Of La Trinidad Academy, Nicaragua; Jem Argenal & Johnny Polanco In Extended Spring Training

Fidencio Flores, a 19-year right-hander, a native of El Sauce, Leon, is the new addition unique to the St. Louis Cardinals.

La Prensa

Jem Argenal: Returns Home For Fall Ball

The Cardinal Nation

Nicaraguan National Championship 6-23-09

World Cup

(Alvaro Lopez, courtesy of Gerald Hernandez)


Boer-Managua's Alvaro Lopez was selected to represent the country in the upcoming World Cup opening play in September. Other names included are Jimmy Gonzalez, Ronald Garth, Armando Hernandez, and Diego Sandino. Nicarguan National Championship

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Two More Signed By Major League Baseball Organizations

The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed outfielder Rommel Mendoza and the Atlants Braves have picked up outfielder Ramon Flores.

(Rommel Mendoza, courtesy of Gerald Hernandez)

Mendoza played in 76 games going 87-for-289 (.301) with 23 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 49 RBIs, 66 runs, 20 walks, 11 stolen bases, and 43 strikeouts. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Royals and played two seasons in the Dominican Summer League (2006-07) before being releases before last season. The right-handed hitter hit .214 (12-for-56) with one double, nine RBIs, eight runs, eight walks, one stolen base, and nine strikeouts in 19 games. Mendoza will begin his 2009 season in the Venezuelan Summer League.

(Ramon Flores, courtesy of Gerald Hernandez)

Flores played in 27 games going 30-for-85 (.353) with five doubles, two triples, two home runs, 17 RBIs, 11 runs, nine walks, and 14 strikeouts. He has been watched by MLB scouts previously, but just now signed a contract, will begin his professional career in the Dominican Summer League.

Mendoza and Flores both played for Costa Caribe and were eliminated over the past weekend from the Nicaraguan National Championship. The team finished 26-22 to move into the second round of the tournament but came up short with an 11-17 record and seven games out of first. They become the fifth and sixth players signed out of the league this season; which follows Elmer Reyes (Atlanta Braves), Johnny Polanco (St. Louis Cardinals), Oscar Bravo (Seattle Mariners), and Denis Estrada (Chicago Cubs), who were all signed earlier on.
Nicaraguan National Championship Announcement

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Nicaraguan National Championship

Granada (14-12) and Masaya (12-14) will face off today (Tuesday) for the final spot in the third round of the Nicaraguan National Championship. These are make-up games postponed due to weather: La Prensa

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Other News & Notes

Former DSL Cardinal Walter Santos is having a setback in in recovery and will not return to particpate in the Nicaraguan National Championship with Boer-Managua.

Cheslor Cuthbert is currently training and preparing for the upcoming July 2 signing period.

Former DSL Cardinal Edwin Conde is particpating in a baseball tournament in Nicaragua, not much more info on this tournament at this time.

Cardinals Sign RHP Johnny Polanco Out Of Nicaragua, Assign Him To The Venezuelan Summer League

(Picture taken by Christian Blanco)

While Ronald Garth completed a cycle of low-order your Seattle Mariners, the lad of 17 years, Johnny Polanco, affixed his signature yesterday to play in the organization of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Garth concluded that it had a limited future in the organization, so I decided to ask her to return to low and Nicaragua to study at university, not discard the possibility of playing in the national championships.

"The Mariners have signed important infield prospects in recent years, so my future as a player in the organization was uncertain. However, they told me they would like to keep me tied to the organization in any other way, so let's see what happens. But for now my priority will be studying. I guarantee my future beyond baseball, "said Garth, who is already in the country.

Meanwhile, in Sebaco, the scout for the Cardinals nica, Christian White (Blanco), completed the signing of Johnny Polanco shooter, academia by Alex Torres and the coach in July took an important part Reyes in its development.

"De Polanco we liked their physical structure, also has a line that reaches 88 miles and a good curve and change of speed," said Blanco, who in recent years has managed the Cardinals for a player like Edgard Montiel, Edwin Conde , Walter Santos and latest Argeñal Jem and Johnny Polanco. The latter two debut in the Summer League is coming to Venezuela to start. (Full Story Translated From Link Directly Below)

Thanks To Good Friend Of The Site, Gerald Hernandez, Who Wrote & Posted The Story

Added Info & Tidbits:

Polanco is the third player in the past six months that has signed out of the country of Nicaragua and the second to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals. Jem Argenal, who signed with the Cardinals in November, and Elmer Reyes, who signed with the Atlanta Braves, are the other two.

Polanco most recently participated in the Nicarguan National Championship pitching for Chale Solis de Matagalpa. He finished with a 0-1 record and 9.00 ERA. He faced 33 batters giving up seven hits (only one extra base hit, a double), nine earned runs, 12 walks, and striking out one over nine innings. Matagalpa competed in the Group B Division of the tournament and had a 20-28 record, falling just four games short of the second round.

This past fall, he also took part in a showcase of Nicaraguan baseball talent that attract many scouts from many Major League baseball organizations. This same showcase had players such as soon-to-be Cardinal Jem Argenal, top prospect Cheslor Cuthbert, former DSL Cardinal Edgard Montiel, and others. Polanco however did not garner any attention at that particular time. Cardinals' scout Juan Mercado was in attendance for this event.

Nicaraguan National Championship 5-17-09

Boer-Managua beat Costa Caribe 14-7: Post Game and La Prensa

Former DSL Cardinals Walter Santos and Edgard Montiel along with top pitcher Alvaro Lopez all play for Boer.

Boer (3-3) finishes off the weekened series with Costa Caribe (3-3) Sunday, May 17.

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Former DSL Cardinal Edwin Conde and top prospect Cheslor Cuthbert helped Managau win 9-1 in the National Baseball Championship XXX Major 'A': La Prensa

Nicaraguan National Championship 5-16-09

Boer-Managua lost 10-0 to Costa Caribe: Post Game and La Prensa

Alvaro Lopez started and pitched 6.1 innings giving up ten hits and five runs, en route to his third loss (6-3) in league action.

I was told former DSL Cardinals Walter Santos may actually be returning in the coming weeks from his injury.

Former DSL Cardinal Edgard Montiel also plays for Boer.

Boer (2-3) will play the second game of the four-game series vs. Costa Caribe (3-2) Saturday, May 16.

I was also informed another former DSL Cardinal, Edwin Conde, will be playing in the National Baseball Championship XXX Major "A" along with Cheslor Cuthbert.

Updates Out Of Nicaragua

The Nicaraguan Prospect League official site is covering the National Championship which begins on January 31. I may add this into the Cardinals Winter League Notebooks, depending on the coverage.

Recently released DSL pitcher Walter Santos and former DSL Cardinal catcher Edgar Montiel are expected to play for Boer. If nobody caught my past posts, Montiel was awarded 'Rookie of the Year' in the Nicaraguan Summer League. The left-handed reliever, Santos has been getting some attention from the San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners organizations during the winter.

Former DSL Cardinal Edwin Conde is not at this time listed on any of the teams for the National Championship.

Newly signed Cardinal, Jem Argenal expressed his desire to play in the National Championship, but nothing came of it.

As some may know at the end of the Nicaraguan Prospect League, Cheslor Cuthbert apparently quit playing. Word is his representive was upset with the league and pulled him from participation. He is currently held up training for summer play. Cuthbert, who will be available for signing this coming July, is attracting a lot of attention but it's said the Pittsburgh Pirates are the favorites to sign him.

Aritcles On Jem Argenal & Cheslor Cuthbert From Nicaragua

Just wanted to give everyone a little more insite into Argenal & Cuthbert:

Jem Argenal also played for Chinandega during the Nicaraguan Summer League. While former DSL Cardinals' Edwin Conde and Edgard Montiel played for Indios del Boer: Official Site

Showcase Of Nicaraguan Prospects Earlier In The Fall:
The young ballplayers Cheslor Cuthbert (16) and Jen Argeñal (17 years) were, at the discretion of the scouts who were presented Saturday at the "Show Case" in the "Roberto Clemente," Masaya, players who had the skills More interesting that in the near future may be human material firmable by teams of the Major Leagues.

El Nuevo Diario (Via Google)

Published in (I think) late-October:
Despite his 15 years of age, Cheslor Cuthbert hits the ball with the strength of a man, which together with the rest of your abilities are pleased to let about 20 scouts from a dozen organizations in the Major Leagues, Yesterday they were in the showcase players Nicaraguans in the Estadio Roberto Clemente, Masaya.
La Prensa (Via Google)

Nicaraguan Prospect League HR Derby:
Champion will travel to the United States International

The young ballplayers Sheyton Putchie, Osbert Rodriguez, Cheslor Cuthbert and Jem Argeñal advanced to the final stage of the Derby home runs from Nicaragua, whose winner will have the opportunity to compete in the U.S., in the Stadium Tropicana Fields, home of the organization of Big Leagues The Rays of Tampa Bay.
La Presna (Via Google)

Make sure to swing by the Nicaraguan Official Sites for more info:

Nicaraguan Winter League (LNBP)

Nicaraguan Summer League

Nicaraguan Prospect League (LJPN)

Cardinals Sign Nicaraguan 1B/OF Jen Argenal

On Friday, November 28, the St. Louis Cardinals signed 17-year-old first baseman/outfielder Jen Argeñal from Chinandega, Nicaragua.

The Birdhouse

2008 Season Recap: NY Penn League

The New York-Penn League is a short-season Single-A league with 14 teams split into three different divisions – McNamara, Pinckney and Stedler.

Baltimore Sun

Ex-Cardinals Census: Outside The U.S. & Canada

In the final segment of our four-part St. Louis Cardinals census, we look at where 16 former Cards are now playing outside the United States and Canada.

Subscription Required

Edgard Montiel Released, Joins Edwin Conde In Nicaragua

The St. Louis Cardinals organization released Nicaraguan catcher Edgard Montiel, who spent the 2007 season playing for the Dominican Summer League Cardinals.

http://stlcardinals.scout.com/2/742781.html