A Long Winter

We cover the Arizona Fall League pretty heavily for a couple of reasons: 1) it's in the U.S. and gets more written coverage than other leagues and 2) it has a more stable year-to-year talent pool (seemingly). That's not to say the other leagues aren't real baseball; it's just harder to know how the Dominican Winter League stacks up against the minors than the AFL. There's several important prospects playing winter ball in those other leagues though.

• Oscar Taveras - Playing in the Dominican Winter League, Taveras accumulated 152 ABs with a .316/.379/.507 batting line. He played for the Aguilas Cibaenas which counted Manny Ramirez and Miguel Tejada as teammates to Taveras.
• Anthony Garcia - Rated the Cardinals' #10 prospect, Garcia spent his winter accumulating 102 at bats in the Puerto Rican Winter League. He hit .279/.377/.433. Teammates included Yadier Molina, Astros 2012 top draft pick Carlos Correa and former Cardinal Felipe Lopez.
• Jermaine Curtis - Continuing his no-power, all walks showing, Curtis played in the Mexican Winter League with a .298/.404/.366 line over 51 games and 191 ABs.
• Nick Additon - Left hander Additon, last seen with the AAA Memphis team, joined Curtis in the Mexican league throwing 53 innings over 10 starts. He struck out 49 and walked 21.
• Richard Castillo - Castillo threw 24 innings in the Venezuelan Winter League allowing 14 walks and 13 strikeouts. He was used in relief (across 26 games) and was hit around pretty regularly.
• Silfredo Garcia - One of the emerging talents in the lower minors to keep an eye on, Garcia struck out 72 and walked just 4 batters over 66.1 regular season IP. In the Venezuelan league this winter, he worked 20 innings as a relief pitcher striking out 11 and walking 5 with strong ground ball tendencies. It was likely a nice step up in competition for Garcia who might slot into the Cardinals A-ball affiliate at Peoria next season.
• Hector Hernandez - The lefty pitched 27.2 innings in the Puerto Rican league. He walked 13 and struck out 14.
  
• Jorge Rondon - One of the Cardinals high velocity pitchers in the upper minors, Rondon struck out 19 and walked 13 in 28.2 innings pitched.
• Eduardo Sanchez - Sanchez was teammate to Rondon in the Venezuelan league. It was a positive showing for the once heralded prospect hampered by injuries. Sanchez struck out 20 and walked 9 in 18 innings. The command is still iffy but we've seen worse, at times, from Sanchez.

Stats as of 1/7/2013.