Winter Ball Participants

Slowey pitching in Dominican winter ball | indians.com: News

Dominican Republic

• SS Juan Diaz
• OF Tim Fedroff
• RHP Fabio Martinez
• RHP Kevin Slowey

Slowey was acquired last winter from the Rockies in the wake of Fausto Carmona's arrest for identity theft, but he got hurt (stress fracture in his rib cage) and only was able to throw 49 rather poor innings for the Clippers. I doubt the Indians will keep him around, for he's eligible for arbitration, and guys with his profile are usually brought in on minor-league deals.

Martinez is another guy that probably will be non-tendered, but Diaz and Fedroff could play prominent roles on next year's club. If the Indians keep Asdrubal Cabrera, Diaz would probably be the #2 shortstop on the organizational depth chart (with Cord Phelps more of a second baseman and Jason Donald more of a utility guy). Fedroff is ready for a shot in the majors, and will most likely battle for a fourth outfielder spot.

Puerto Rico

• RHP Rob Bryson
• RHP Matt Langwell
• RHP Joseph Colon
• LHP Giovanny Soto
• C Roberto Perez
  

Some semi-interesting pitching prospects here, led by Soto (Akron) and Colon (Lake County). Bryson is only 24 years old, but was one of the prospects the Indians received for CC Sabathia in 2008. Langwell could show up in Cleveland next year if the Indians have injury problems in the bullpen.

Venezuela

• 1B Jesus Aguilar
• IF Gregorio Petit
• RHP Hector Rondon
• RHP Toru Murata

Now that know that Lonnie Chisenhall isn't playing winter ball, Rondon is the guy I'm most interested in following. He came back from two consecutive elbow surgeries (Tommy John, then surgery on a fractured elbow) and pitched well in 7 innings split between the AZL club and Akron. He's thrown a grand total of 17 innings between 2010 and 2011, but before the elbow injuries was considered one of the best pitching prospects in the organization. I find hard to believe that he'll go back to the rotation in 2013 given his paucity of innings in 2011-2012, but perhaps he could help the club out of the bullpen.

Aguilar has gone from a being a guy with big power and nothing else to in my mind a legitimate first base prospect. He improved his plate discipline in his second season in High-A, and upon his promotion to Akron didn't miss a beat. I think he'll start the 2013 season with the Aeros again (with Lars Anderson in AAA), and if things go well could get some at-bats with the Indians next September.