Friday, December 14, 2012

COLABELLO, ALDRIDGE, HERRERA, ALFONZO HITTING THE LONG BALL IN WINTER LEAGUES; AMERICAN ASSOCIATION SELLS THREE MORE

I do not know when the official word will come, but it is impossible to imagine the Minnesota Twins will not have longtime Can-Am League star first baseman Chris Colabello in their major league spring training camp.

Colabello, who finally had his contract purchased out of Worcester, MA in time to drive in 98 runs for Class AA New Britain, CT last season, is the No. 2 hitter in the Mexican League (.348), is tied for fifth in RBI (39) and ranks sixth in homers (14).

Free agent outfielder Cory Aldridge, who once played in the Atlantic League (Newark, NJ) and was at Salt Lake City (Triple-A) for the Angels last season, is the Mexican League's home run leader (18 in only 188 at-bats) and ranks third in RBI (40).

Independent players also are making loud noise with their performances in Venezuela. The hottest hitter could well be outfielder Javier Herrera, just signed out of the Frontier League (Southern Illinois) by San Francisco. Herrera slugged seven homers in his first 10 games while hitting .414. He also has spent time in the Oakland farm system and played for Rockford, IL (Frontier) and Yuma, AZ (Golden League) prior to this season.

Catcher Eliezer Alfonzo, still trying to get back to the majors, has 10 round-trippers (tied for fourth in the league). The free agent's Indy time was spent at St. Paul, MN, now in the American Association.

ANOTHER TRIO OF AMERICAN ASSOCIATION PLAYERS SOLD

We remarked in last week's Independent Baseball Insidercolumn that American Association teams had had eight players taken by major league organizations since the season ended. That count is now up to at least 11 with the sale of left-handed pitcher David Quinowski to Baltimore today (Friday). Quinowski was with the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs much of 2012 although he also played for Gary, IN (American Association) and Somerset, NJ (Atlantic League).

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