Juan Francisco is having a ball in the Dominican League.
Cincinnati Reds' prospect Juan Francisco has been putting his power on display to all who care to watch in the Dominican League over the past few months, as his eight home runs and 29 RBIs as a member of the Gigantes del Cibao lead the league. The Dominican League consists of six teams, each with a multitude of players, mostly Caribbean natives and/or major-league prospects looking to fine tune their game during the offseason.
Francisco, a 22-year-old who is considered one of the organization's top left-handed power hitters, has put up a .270 average to go with his league leading totals in 31 games. In 2009, the 22-year-old Francisco spent most of the year at double-A Carolina before getting a late season call-up to Louisville. After Louisville's season ended, Francisco made his major league debut with Cincinnati. Bats' fans got to see Francisco's offensive skill firsthand in his 22 games with the Bats, as he punished triple-A pitching with a .359 average and five round trippers. While Francisco spent most of the season playing third base, he has broadened his defensive horizons in the Dominican, seeing time on the hot corner, as well as in left field.
Joining Francisco on the Gigantes squad are two Dominican-born Reds' pitching prospects who spent some of 2009 with the Bats, Enerio Del Rosario and Pedro Viola. Del Rosario signed with the Reds as an undrafted free agent in 2005, and has become such an emerging relief pitcher that he was recently added to the team's 40-man roster. After starting this past season in single-A, Rosario became quite the bullpen asset, keeping his ERA under two in Sarasota, Carolina, and Louisville. The right-hander's success has continued in his homeland over the last few months, posting a 2.37 ERA in 19 innings without allowing a homer.
Viola actually joined the Reds' 40-man late last season when he saw action with Cincy in nine games in September. The southpaw spent most of 2009 with Louisville, and started the season on fire coming out of the pen, but tailed off as year went on. His numbers wound up being very pedestrian in 54 games (2-2, 5.47), but his 57 strikeouts in 49.1 innings make him an intriguing choice as a left-handed reliever. This is Viola's second year with the Gigantes, and he has been solid, as opponents are batting just .111 off him in 10 appearances.
Fellow 2009 Louisville Bats' pitchers Ben Jukich and Sam LeCure are also currently residing in the Dominican while playing for Bats' manager Rick Sweet on the Aguilas Cibaenas. Jukich has been enojoying an excellent season, leading the league with a 1.71 ERA in seven starts, including an eight-plus inning shutout shutout performance in his last start on November 29th. Jukich, a southpaw, was on the Bats' roster for the duration of the 2009 season, becoming one of the team's best once entrenched as a starter (8-4, 3.15 in 17 starts).
LeCure, who spent virtually all of 2009 in Louisville, has only made four appearances, getting dinged for an 8.59 ERA. The right-hander hasn't pitched since November 2nd, leading some to believe that perhaps he has some sort of Visa issue.
The Dominican League runs through December 21st, so check back for status updates on how life is treating these youngsters.
Reds' prospects in the Arizona Fall League
Comments
You have incorrectly stated Ben Jukich's ERA. It stands at 1.71 after his 8.1 inning game on November 29. It is the lowest ERA in the ENTIRE CARIBBEAN LEAGUE (Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, DR.
Also, Sam LeCure and Jeff Kennard are no longer with the team and Rick Sweet was just fired yesterday (November 30).
Way to report the late-breaking news on Rick Sweet. Looks like he has been replaced by Tony Pena. I figured something like that was the case with LeCure and Kennard, but they were still listed on the roster, so I wasn't sure. I have changed Jukich's incorrect ERA, good catch. Thanks for reading and being a more observant reporter than myself.
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