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Off-season League Phillies Notes

So you've been wondering about off-season baseball leagues and how Phillies players are doing. Well, except for the Arizona Fall League, which started and ended its schedule earlier than normal this year, there has been very limited action thus far.

Deivy Grullon, image- Jay Floyd
The Dominican Winter League features Deivy Grullon competing for the Aguilas. In just four games, the catcher has posted a .143 average with two RBI.

Roughly 10 days into its schedule, the Venezuelan Winter League hasn't seen any Phillies impact. Catcher Gregori Rivero, who played in the Phils system last year, is 0-for-1 with a walk for Zulia.
The other leagues in Australia and Puerto Rico are set to open their schedules soon.

On Friday night, the Roberto Clemente League in Puerto Rico will get underway. Lefty pitcher Gabriel Cotto is expected to be featured on the Carolina roster while catcher Willie Estrada is included on the Mayaguez roster.

Cotto pitched in the Gulf Coast League this year. Estrada was signed late in the summer as an undrafted free agent. I would expect other players signed with the Phillies to compete in this league as well. Outfielder Jan Hernandez, a PR native, is possible, as he usually sees action here.

The Aussie league will open its schedule next week on the 20th. After at least two years of no U.S. based Phillies making their way to play down under, the ABL will feature several names. Infielder Cole Stobbe, backstop Logan O'Hoppe and outfielder Ben Aklinski are set to join Australia natives Rixon Taylor-Wingrove, Mitchell Edwards and Curtis Mead on the Adelaide Giants (formerly the Bite) roster.

Also set to see action in the ABL is righty hurler Kyle Glogoski, who will compete for Auckland.
Other former Phillies farmhands such Gift Ngoepe and Tim Kennelly are also set to play in the ABL.
Be sure to follow me on Twitter (@PhoulBallz) or bookmark my Twitter page for daily off-season league updates on the Phillies.

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