Cardinals Winter League Notebook 10-31-19: Chris Ellis Strikes Out One & Picks One Off Over One Scoreless Inning; Hunter Cervenka Strikes Out One & Holds One Inherited Runner On Base Over One & A Third Hitless/Scoreless Innings; Alexis Wilson Singles Twice & Drives In One Run

Cardinals Winter League

Tsuyoshi Nishioka Signs With Tochigi For 2019 Season

NPB On Reddit Twitter

Hayato Sakamoto Hits His Fifth Career Leadoff Home Run In Interleague Play, Tying Him For First All-Time With Tsuyoshi Nishioka

NPB On Reddit Twitter

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 4-12-18: Brandon Dickson Strikes Out Five Over SIx Scoreless Innings; Carlos Peguero Singles

Brandon Dickson - Orix Buffaloes

Alejandro Mejia (former DSL-Hiroshima) entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted ninth.  0-for-1 with one strikeout.

Hiroshima beat Hanshin 5-1

Carlos Peguero (former Memphis-Rakuten) started in right field and batted third.  1-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Brandon Dickson (former St. Louis-Orix) started and pitched six innings.  He allowed three hits, no runs, one walk, and struck five out.

Orix beat Rakuten 3-2

Tsuyoshi Nishioka Is Confident He Can Be Opening Day Starting Shortstop For Hanshin

NPB Reddit On Twitter

MLB Scouts Keep Tabs On Young Players At Asia Professional Championship

There were no elite players like Shohei Otani or Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, but the Asia Professional Baseball Championship served as a good showcase for MLB scouts to try and identify some up-and-coming, and possibly future MLB, talent.

Japan Times

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 6-26-16: Brandon Dickson & Hector Luna Both Have Rough Days

Brandon Dickson (former St. Louis-Orix) started and pitched 5.1 innings.  He allowed nine hits, five earned runs, three walks, and struck three out for the losing decision (5-6).

Nippon Ham beat Orix 6-0

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Hiroshima) started at third base and batted fourth.  0-for-4 at the plate.

Hiroshima beat Hanshin 4-3

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 4-14-16: Hector Luna Singles, Scores One Run, & Sets New Record For Errors By A Third Baseman

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Hiroshima) started at third base and batted fourth.  1-for-5 with one run and committed four errors.  Luna set record for most errors committed by a third baseman in a single game: Yakyu Database

Hiroshima beat Chunichi 10-1

Zach Petrick (former Memphis-Yokohama) entered in the eighth and pitched one inning.  He allowed two hits, two earned runs, and one home run.

Hanshin beat Yokohama 5-2

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 4-12-16: Zach Petrick Strikes Out One Over One Hitless/Scoreless Innings; Hector Luna Singles & Drives In One Run

Brandon Dickson (former St. Louis-Orix) started and pitched seven innings.  He allowed nine hits, four runs (three earned), five walks, threw one wild pitch, and struck five out for the losing decision (2-1).

Nippon Ham beat Orix 4-0

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Hiroshima) started at third base and batted fourth.  1-for-4 with one RBI.

Hiroshima beat Chunichi 3-1

Zach Petrick (former Memphis-Yokohama) entered in the sixth and pitched one inning.  He allowed no hits or runs, and struck one out.

Hanshin beat Yokohama 4-3

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 4-10-16: Hector Luna Singles Twice & Drives In Two Runs

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Hiroshima) started at third base and batted fourth.  2-for-5 with two RBIs, one run, and two strikeouts.

Hiroshima beat Hanshin 8-7

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 4-9-16: Hector Luna Collects Three Singles & Two RBIs

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Hiroshima) started at third base and batted fourth.  3-for-5 with two RBIs, one stolen base, and one strikeout.

Hiroshima beat Hanshin 6-2 in 10 innings

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 5-17-15: Rainel Rosario Hits A Solo Home Run; Hector Luna Singles, Walks, & Scores Two Runs

Rainel Rosario (former Springfield-Hiroshima) started in left field and batted sixth.  1-for-3 with one home run, one RBI, one run, and one strikeout.

Hiroshima beat Yokohama 2-1

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Chunichi) started at third base and batted fourth.  1-for-3 with two runs and one walk.

Chunichi beat Hanshin 6-1

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 5-16-15: Brandon Dickson Strikes Out Four Over Seven Scoreless Innings For The Win; Hector Luna Singles & Doubles; Rainel Rosario Collects Two Singles

Rainel Rosario (former Springfield-Hiroshima) started in left field and batted fifth.  2-for-4 with one run and one strikeout.

Yokohama beat Hiroshima 2-1

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Chunichi) started at third base and batted fourth.  2-for-3 with one double.

Chunichi beat Hanshin 1-0

Brandon Dickson (former St. Louis-Orix) started and pitched seven innings.  He allowed five hits, no runs, one walk, and struck four out for the winning decision (5-3).

Orix beat Nippon Ham 2-0

Former Cardinals Playing In NPB 5-15-15: Hector Luna Drives In One Run

Hector Luna (former St. Louis-Chunichi) started at first base and batted fourth.  0-for-3 with one RBI, one sac fly, and one strikeout.

Hanshin beat Chunichi 2-1

Rainel Rosario (former Springfield-Hiroshima) entered late in the game as a pinch hitter and batted ninth.  0-for-1 at the plate.

Yokohama beat Hiroshima 6-5

Hector Luna Scratched From Lineup After Injurying Self In Pregame Batting Practice

Hector Luna was scratched from tonight's game against the Yakult Swallows after he hurt his right knee while taking pre-game batting practice. Changes to the line-up were made about five minutes before the start of the game.

Yakyubaka

No Serious Discussions Between Marlins, Giants About Mark DeRosa

Rumors were flying this week about the Marlins eyeing a potential deal with the Giants for Mark DeRosa. But (A) sources who have spoken to both teams report they've had "no serious discussions" about that swap, (B) the Marlins -- whose third basemen are hitting .304 with an .812 OPS so far -- appear to be in no rush to address that position, and (C) DeRosa is back on the disabled list with lingering wrist issues, so it's all a moot point anyway. For now.

ESPN

Troy Glaus Staying Home Even After Offers Came In

Free-agent Troy Glaus is at home spending time with his kids and playing golf (his agent Mike Nicotera reports he's down to a one handicap) after turning down some opportunities this winter.

Sports Illustrated

Dennys Reyes Remains, In Limbo

Dennys Reyes won’t opt out of his contract with the Red Sox.

But the left-handed reliever has not yet been assured a roster spot either.

Boston Herald

Nick Punto Head-First Slides His Way To St. Louis

Last week Nick Punto left the Twins as a free agent to sign a one-year deal with the Cardinals and in doing so provided perhaps the most obvious example of the front office overruling the manager's wishes during Ron Gardenhire's decade-long tenure in Minnesota. Some day when Gardenhire retires and is asked about his favorite players I'll be shocked if he doesn't mention Punto right alongside stars like Torii Hunter and Joe Mauer.

Aaron Gleeman.com

Twins Ready To Do Without Insurance Policy Nick Punto

No Twins offseason would be complete without a Nick Punto discussion.

Star Tribune