While the attention of the baseball world remains fixated on the never-ending news machine that is the MLB offseason, some well-known prospects are making cases for 2016 roster spots in winter leagues across the Caribbean.
Over the next few slides, we’ll move away from the rumor mill and look at a handful of prospects making waves in various offseason leagues.
Some prospects choose not to play when the season ends. For many, it’s just more games in which they can lower their stock or become injured.
But for others, the winter presents a wonderful opportunity to stay hot coming off their minor league seasons or rekindle some of the fire they may have lost while suffering through rough campaigns.
Tyler White of the Houston Astros and Joey Rickard of the Baltimore Orioles are hoping that fine minor league seasons and solid stretches of at-bats in the winter leagues will lead to success this spring. If so, don’t be shocked to see either player on a big league roster when camp breaks for Opening Day.
For the Detroit Tigers’ Steven Moya, winter competition has given him an opportunity to regain some of the shine he lost over the last season. Texas Rangers’ Hanser Alberto is hoping to accomplish the same feat, as he struggled mightily in his first taste of the majors last year.
We get it: It’s hard to get hyped for winter league stats. But stick with us. The following players won’t show up in many headlines over the coming months, but their play this winter could lead to banner moments in 2016.