Baby Bombers Excelling in Winter Leagues

From the Caribbean to Arizona to Hawaii, Alumni are demonstrating their skills

By: Robert Pimpsner

November 4, 2007 – The World Series is over and baseball is going into its “off” season, sort of.  The 2007 Winter Leagues are well underway and Baby Bomber Alumni are scattered throughout the Caribbean, Hawaii and Arizona.  The first league to get started was the Hawaiian Winter League, which resumed play again in October.  Arizona was up next as was the Caribbean leagues.

                The Hawaiian Winter League (HWB) features just one Staten Island Yankee alumni, that being pitcher George Kontos.  Kontos was the winning pitcher of the 2006 NY-Penn League Championship series, where he went six innings and struck out eleven.  In 2007 the young right-hander split time between the bullpen and the rotation for the Florida State League’s Tampa Yankees.  The former SI Yankee has pitched in six games for the Honolulu Sharks, starting all six.  He holds a 3-3 record with a 3.60 ERA in 25 innings pitched but also has struck out 33, including an eleven strikeout performance on October 17.

                The second league to open up shop this season is affectionately nicknamed “The Scouts Paradise” , that being the Arizona Fall League (AFL).  This year the Yankee entries are featured on the roster of the Peoria Javelinas.  Of the seven aspiring Bronx Bombers, three have stepped out onto the field at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark.  Eric Wordkemper is the lone alumni pitcher on the roster and is following up on a spectacular year with the Tampa Yankees and Trenton Thunder with a good stint in the AFL as he is 1-0 for the Javelinas with a 3.86 era in six games.

Also featured on the roster are two members of the 2005 NY-Penn League Championship team in the persons of Brett Gardner and Reegie Corona.  Baby Bomber fans would remember Corona as he hit the championship winning hit to left field to give the Staten Island Yankees their third title.

Brett Gardner has hustled up the later as he finished this season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the International League.  This is Gardner’s second trip to the AFL and is making the most of this opportunity.  In 18 games this fall the speedy outfielder is batting .354 with two triples and 13 stolen bases in 14 attempts.

Reegie Corona is making his first trip to the prospect laden league as he is making the move to shortstop after spending the past few seasons at second.  Corona split the 2007 season between the Tampa Yankees and the Trenton Thunder, batting .258 between the two.  So far this fall he is batting .214 in 12 games

                The Caribbean Leagues are in full swing with ex-Staten Island Yankees spread throughout the three leagues.  In the Dominican Winter League eighth Baby Bomber alumni are listed on the rosters of six teams.  Ricardo Gomez and Bernie Castro were teammates on the 2001 Staten Island Yankees and are teammates once again on the Aguilas Cibaenas.  Erick Abreu (2004), Wilkins De La Rosa (2006), Guillermo “Bryan” Villalona (2005) and Octavio Dotel (2006 – rehab) are listed on the roster of the Leones del Escogido, while Anderson Garcia (2001) and Robinson Cano (2001/2002) are teamed on the Estrellas de Oriente.

                Guillermo “Bryan” Villalona has appeared in one game this winter, allowing two runs to score while not recording an out.  Ex-Baby Bomber turned Phillies minor leaguer, Anderson Garcia has pitched 4.1 innings in four games and allowed just two earned runs with a 0-1 record.  Bernie Castro is batting .333 so far with two homeruns and two stolen bases.

                In the Venezuelan Winter League former Baby Bombers Jose Gil (2006/2007) and Wilmer Pino are listed on the roster of the Caribes de Anzoategui while Edgar Soto (2004/2006) and Edgar Omana (2006) are playing for the Aguilas de Zulia.  Soto has pitched only a third of an inning and allowed two runs to score for a 54.00 ERA while Omana has held the opposition scoreless in 1.2 innings.  Rosman Garcia (1999), made his return to affiliated ball this season as he was signed by the Baltimore Orioles.  Garcia has appeared in six games, pitching 13 innings and allowing only one earned run for the Tigres de Aragua.  Rounding out the list is third base prospect Marcos Vechionacci (2004).  Vechionacci ended the 2007 season in Double-A and has continued to provide great defense.  While his offensive numbers were down again this season he has turned things on for the Navegantes del Magallanes, batting .327 in 16 games with two homeruns.

                It is a productive winter for Baby Bomber alumni as they work on their tools to one day reach the majors.