No Caribbean vacation: While the AFL is a highly structured instructional league, the four leagues south of the border — the Dominican, Mexican, Puerto Rican and Venezuelan winter leagues — offer something completely different for players.
“For me it’s a lot more competitive than the Arizona Fall League; they’re trying to win every single night," Watson said. "If you don’t play well (in the AFL), you still stay. If you don't down there, they'll cut you. They play for keeps every day. It’s a different game.
The styles of the different leagues also come into play, Watson said. The Mexican Pacific League is similar to that country's summer league, where pitchers rely heavily on breaking balls rather than fastballs. It can be a good environment for a player who needs to work on hitting or throwing a breaking ball.
The environment in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela is often closer to the major leagues, with a wider variety of pitching and hitting styles. Venezuela, in particular, can see some big hitting numbers for players.
Current and former Isotopes are present throughout all four countries.
Outfielder Jerry Sands hit .250 with two home runs and 12 RBI in a brief stint with the Licey Tigers (Dominican Republic), while potential future Isotopes outfielder Silverio hit .258 with one homer and six RBI for the Este Toros. His manager was former Isotopes skipper Dean Treanor.
Current Isotopes manager Lorenzo Bundy ran the show this winter for the Navojoa Mayos of the Mexican Pacific League. Former University of New Mexico outfielder Matt Young hit .254 with one homer for the Mayos.
Elsewhere in Mexico, outfielder Trent Oeltjen hit .346 with six homers for Hermosillo, while reliever Franciso Felix was 1-2 with a 5.33 ERA for Culiacan. Among his teammates was shortstop Luis Cruz, who signed with the Dodgers as a free agent this offseason. Cruz hit .340 with 17 home runs and 47 RBI for the Tomateros.
Former Isotope John Lindsey hit .293 for Mazatlan, while Randy Keisler went 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA for Obregon.
Over in Puerto Rico, infielder Ivan De Jesus Jr. hit .328 for Ponce, while Mike Antonini went 2-3 with a 4.38 ERA for Mayaguez, one of five Dodger farmhands to suit up for the Indios.
Down in Venezuela, right-hander Mike Parisi was 1-3 with a 2.09 ERA for Margarita. Infielder Jeff Baisley, an offseason free-agent signee, hit .231 for La Guaira, while prospect Van Slyke hit .194 and former Isotope Jamie Hoffman hit .156.
Outfield of Dreams?: Watson said that overall the Dodgers have impressed with the offseason work by Castellanos, Silverio and Van Slyke, three players with promising futures who seem likely to suit up for the Isotopes this season.
“I think you saw flashes of it before," Watson said of Van Slyke, who broke out in 2011 and dominated the Double-A Southern League. "He matured in his overall approach. You started to see his skills come together. He was a lot more selective offensively.
"We introduced him to first base. We’re challenging the player. I think it helped him slow things down. It was very similar to the year he had two years ago (at Single-A Inland Empire). The ability was always there, it’s just about him being consistent."
Watson said the exact plan for Van Slyke — how much time he will spend at first base versus the outfield corners — will be determined in spring training.
“He’s going to play both," Watson said. "He’s a really good defender in the outfield. Above-average arm. He gets good jumps. At first base he’s still a work in progress. You have to look at the major league roster's needs. From our development side we want to create depth at every position. You look at the Albuquerque and Chattanooga rosters, it’s about providing depth at the big-league level someday."
As for Castellanos and Silverio, they will likely move around the Albuquerque outfield as needed, plus maybe another position or two for Castellanos.
"We’re looking at them to use last year as a catapulting season, apply pressure on us, make some tough decisions," Watson said. "Silverio can play all three spots. Castellanos, he’s been playing a little second base and third base. We want to see what he could do there."
If Van Slyke is going to spend a lot of time at first base, the Isotopes will need a couple more outfielders on the roster.
"Kyle Russell, there's still some adjustments he needs to make before we can lock him in for a spot (in Albuquerque)," Watson said, noting Russell's penchant for high strikeout totals. "He’s another guy who can play all three. We have Cory Sullivan, who signed as a free agent, as well. He's a true center fielder. We have some versatility."
Spring training will kick off Feb. 21 when pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.
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