The New York Yankees have had a number of players playing in LINDOM the Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League. Now that the winter ball season is over they presented this Friday the game schedule for the series or mini playoff that the Eastern Stars and Lions of the Chosen One will play to define the last qualification quota for the semifinal round. They playoffs with start tomorrow. The Greens and Reds will face off at San Pedro de MacorÃs.
Then, it will continue on Monday at 6:00 in the afternoon, at the Quisqueya Juan Marichal Stadium in Santo Domingo, and if necessary a third match will return to the Sultana del Este Park. Los Gigantes del Cibao, winners of the regular series with a 16-14 record, will wait for the winner of this series to start their semifinal on January 2. The other semifinalist round will be between Ãguilas Cibaeñas and Toros del Este, in the Don José Manuel Fernández in memoriam Autumn Winter Baseball Championship and as an option to the BHD-León Cup. Most of the New York Yankees players play for the Toros del Este. Those players are Gary Sanchez, Domingo German, and Miguel Andujar.
Of the three only Miguel Andujar impressed at all. Gary Sanchez started off well looking impressive but his last two games dragged his batting average down to just .245 when he went 2 for 20. Even though the winter league is a small sample his 19 strikeouts are concerning. In 62 plate appearances, he did hit 2 homers. If we were to give Sanchez a report card for winter ball it would be a C.
More concerning was the performance of Domingo German, most due to the fact he will probably be the Yankee’s second starter at the beginning of the season behind Gerrit Cole. German has not pitched in over a year after returning from suspension. In his first game in winter ball he was impressive going four strong innings not issuing a run. Germán faltered as the season went along, failing to get out of the first inning in his next appearances. He finished with a 7.16 ERA in 16.1 innings. He struck out 18, but walked nine and hit four batters. Not good going into a season when the Yankees will depend upon him. Winter ball report card: D.
A more encouraging report is for the Yankees Miguel Andujar. Andujar played like the “Miggy” we had become familiar with before his disastrous 2019 season was derailed by shoulder surgery. He was replaced with Gold Glove-like ball from Gio Urshela, replacing Andujar and leaving him with no permanent place to play. During winter ball he missed a few weeks due to muscle but he looked sharp when he returned to the team, finishing with a .308/.333/.410 line. He remained the Andújar that Yankees fans have come to know, only walking twice and pounding out 12 hits with four doubles on the season. It could be the only thing he has done is to increase his trade value. Report Card B+.
Lesser Yankee players shined in winter ball
Centerfielder Estevan Florial, playing for Leones del Escogido. Florial, who has played one game above the High-A level (it was with the Yankees this summer), held his own alongside major leaguers and those on the cusp of playing in the majors. In 18 games, he slashed .280/.373/.420. His 27% strikeout rate was still high, but he hit the ball much harder as the season went on. He is one of the most promising Yankees going forward. Once the Yankees number one prospect he slipped in recent years but may now be back to contributing. He had 14 hits with one homer. Report Card B+.
The most impressive New York Yankees prospect so far in winter ball is Luis Medina who has been nearly unhittable. Pitching for Indios de Mayagüez he has been in complete control of his opponents through his first three games, tossing 11.2 innings and recording 25 strikeouts. Medina has allowed just four hits, four walks, and zero runs. These stats were up to last week with one start to go. He finished the season with an ERA of 0.00. Yankee report card: A.
Besides having a discouraging outcome for Domino German, the Yankees have other worries. Deivi Garcia after having his Major League Debut late in the last season. he has struggled mightily in winder ball. Never finding any rhythm he tossed just six innings, finishing with a 7.50 ERA and just three strikeouts against five walks. Not a great sign for the Yankees. Luis Gil began the season with Tigres del Licey and pitched two games for the team. In those two appearances, Gil recorded 5.2 innings pitched, a 6.35 ERA, with four strikeouts and three walks. Albert Abreu tossed 19.1 innings with a 2.79 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP but still gave up far too many walks.
Nestor Cortes found himself with the Yankees again after agreeing to a minor league deal earlier this month. In five starts, he pitched 18.1 innings, recording an impressive 27 strikeouts against five walks. He finishes with a 4.91 ERA and is heading to the playoffs with Estrellas Orientales. His excellent pitching led to a Ne York Yankee contract where he can hopefully help a bullpen that is not longer potent with the loss of Tommy Kahnle and the questionable pitching of Adam Ottavino.