Detroit Tigers outfielder Victor Reyes homered in his Dec. 8 debut for Caribes de Anzoategui in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Then, the 27-year-old secured player of the week honors for the first time in his career. Reyes hit .421 (8-for-19) with two doubles, one triple, two homers, nine RBIs, three walks and two strikeouts in his first five games, with a 1.447 on-base plus slugging percentage.
Reyes is scheduled to continue playing through Dec. 22.
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He hadn’t competed in Venezuela since the 2018-19 offseason. He was traded (with Asdrubal Cabrera, who is hitting .382 in 14 games) from Leones del Caracas to Caribes de Anzoategui in September before the Venezuelan League began its season.
Reyes homered off right-hander Alexis Tapia, a 26-year-old from Tigres de Aragua, in his debut game for his first career home run in Venezuela. The next day, he did the same against righty Carlos Zamora, a 23-year-old from Tigres de Aragua.
His second homer, a three-run blast, gave Caribes de Anzoategui a 4-2 lead in the seventh inning.
Reyes has played all five games in right field.
The 2021 season was Reyes’ fourth in the big leagues. He hit .258 for the Tigers with 10 doubles, four triples, five home runs, 22 RBIs, eight walks and 55 strikeouts in 76 games. Reyes played all three outfield positions but primarily served as a right fielder.
His season ended Sept. 26, when he landed on the injured list with a right groin strain.
Reyes, a 2017 Rule 5 draft pick, has a .268 batting average with 13 homers in 302 career games. The Tigers tendered him a contract in salary arbitration, so he is returning for 2022. He is projected by MLB Trade Rumors to receive $1.3 million and has an opportunity to win an outfield spot in spring training.
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Zero walks for Jimenez
Right-handed reliever Joe Jimenez‘s career has been haunted by command inconsistencies.
Last season, Jimenez used the “Pocket Path” in daily warmups to learn the correct arm action and throwing mechanics. The product — also used by reliever Michael Fulmer to clean up his mechanics — is endorsed by pitching coach Chris Fetter.
And the “Pocket Path” seems to be working for Jimenez, as displayed in the 26-year-old’s three relief appearances for Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican Winter League. He has pitched 3⅓ scoreless innings with zero walks and five strikeouts. One hit is his only blemish.
Jimenez has three saves.
Pitching 52 games in 2021, Jimenez recorded a 5.93 ERA with 35 walks and 57 strikeouts in 45⅓ innings. He had a 27.1% strikeout rate and 16.7% walk rate. When Jimenez throws strikes, he has the tools to be dynamite reliever.
The Tigers still believe in Jimenez because of his arsenal, despite his 5.72 ERA in his five-year career. That’s why the organization tendered him a contract for the 2022 season and is projected to pay him $1.8 million in salary arbitration. His underlying metrics portray him as a much better pitcher than the back of his baseball card indicates.
With a strong performance in Puerto Rico, Jimenez will put himself in a favorable position entering spring training. He should make the Opening Day roster, if he throws strikes.
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Paredes keeps rolling
There’s no slowing down infielder Isaac Paredes, one of the most feared hitters in the Mexican Pacific Winter League.
The 22-year-old is hitting .295 (33-for-112) with six doubles, four home runs, 23 RBIs, 30 walks and 16 strikeouts in 34 games for Venados de Mazatlan. He has played nine games at third base and the others as the designated hitter.
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On Dec. 6, Paredes received player of the week for hitting .476 with 10 hits, three home runs in six games. He won the league’s batting title last winter, hitting .379 with four homers in 42 games.
Last season, Paredes played 23 games for the Tigers and 72 games for Triple-A Toledo. He hit .208 in the majors with one home run, five RBIs, 10 walks and 11 strikeouts. For the Mud Hens, he hit .265 with 11 homers, 42 RBIs, 56 walks and 47 strikeouts.
Paredes has a .215 batting average, two homers, 11 RBIs, 18 walks and 35 strikeouts in his 57-game MLB career. He will compete for a spot in the infield during spring training, likely as a utility player on the bench.
Other players
• Left-handed reliever Miguel Del Pozo is pitching for Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League. The 29-year-old has fired six scoreless innings with three walks and seven strikeouts in six appearances. Already on the 40-man roster, Del Pozo will contend for a spot in the bullpen in spring training.
• Right-handed reliever Nivaldo Rodriguez is pitching for Criollos de Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League. The 24-year-old, expected to begin 2022 in Toledo, has tossed 4⅔ scoreless innings with three walks and eight strikeouts in two games (one start).
• Right-handed reliever Angel Reyes is pitching for Gigantes de Carolina in the Puerto Rican Winter League. The 24-year-old has a 10.80 ERA with seven walks and six strikeouts over 6⅔ innings in eight outings. He spent 2021 with High-A West Michigan.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.