Winterball Roundup - 10/12

Fabio Castillo earned the save with a perfect inning in his Arizona Fall League debut on Tuesday, but Martin Perez's first game in Venezuela wasn't quite as successful. Lone Star Dugout takes a look at all of the day's winterball action.

Arizona Fall League: Surprise 8 - (@) Peoria Javelinas 6
1-0, 1.0 GU

Reliever Fabio Castillo was a nice breakout story late in the 2010 regular season, and he continued to impress at Fall Instructional League. The right-hander was recently added to the Arizona Fall League roster to take the place of injured hurler Tim Murphy.

Castillo made a successful AFL debut on Tuesday, working a perfect inning on five pitches. The 21-year-old induced three groundouts while throwing all fastballs between 94-96 mph. He earned the save.

Centerfielder Engel Beltre batted leadoff and went 1-for-5 with a bunt single and two runs scored. The prospect also committed a throwing error.

Catcher Jose Felix, who is more known for his glove than his bat, batted ninth and was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a strikeout. Davis Stoneburner entered the game late as a pinch-runner and was plunked by a pitch in his only plate appearance.

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Venezuelan Winter League

Rangers top prospect Martin Perez earned the opening-day start for Magallanes in what would eventually become a disastrous game. Perez’s club dropped a 16-4 decision, and the 19-year-old hurler didn’t get out of the second inning.

In all, Perez went 1.1 innings, giving up six runs on six hits. He walked one and fanned one. The southpaw worked a scoreless first inning and retired the first hitter he faced in the second. But Perez’s outing ended after he surrendered three consecutive doubles, a walk, and two straight singles.

The Tiburones de La Guaira (La Guaira Sharks) are always filled with a handful of Rangers farmhands. This winter is no different. Shortstop Renny Osuna batted leadoff and went 0-for-3 with two walks, a strikeout, and a stolen base. Nine-hole hitter David Paisano played center and was 0-for-3 with a pair of punchouts.

Left-hander Joe Ortiz has spent the last few winters working as La Guaira’s lefty specialist. The 5-foot-7 hurler recorded a groundout and gave up a single before he was lifted from the game. He didn’t allow a run.

The 20-year-old Ortiz had an excellent season at Single-A Hickory this year, posting a 1.50 ERA while striking out 59 versus only five walks in 42 innings. Ortiz misses bats and dominates lefties with a sharp slider that he commands extremely well.

Hernan Iribarren and Guilder Rodriguez are presumably free agents-to-be, but they also played for their respective clubs on Tuesday. Iribarren played left field and went 1-for-5 with a stolen base. Rodriguez entered at second base as a late-game defensive replacement.

Other Rangers products listed on Venezuelan Winter League rosters include Guillermo Moscoso (Caracas), Jonathan Rojas (Anzoategui), Edward Alfonzo (Anzoategui), and Max Ramirez (La Guaira).

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Mexican Pacific League

The circuit kicked off its 2010 campaign on Tuesday, but there will be no Rangers players participating this season.

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Dominican Winter League
The Dominican Winter League will begin its season on October 22.

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Puerto Rican Winter League
The season in Puerto Rico will also commence on October 22.

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