Puerto Rico isn’t the baseball factory it once was. Once Puerto Rico was included as part of the draft, it ceased to produce as many prospects and as a result the entire culture of baseball on the island has suffered. Thankfully, this might be changing as MLB has helped set up baseball academies on the island, and it appears to be working: Carlos Correa was the top pick of this year’s draft, and he was an alum of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.
However, despite this, Puerto Rico still has some advantages in the tournament. For one, many of the players will have also played winter ball, so will be more fresh and ready than some of the other teams. For another, it’s possible that the Puerto Ricans will be hosting a part of the tournament- they have the past two times- and if so they will no doubt have a rabid fan base behind them. And, finally, they will have Carlos Beltran, who is still a good enough player to be able to turn a game around single-handedly.
So, anyway, with all of this in mind and after much research, I’ve put together a possible roster for the Puerto Ricans:
- Any player coming off a major injury or who has a history of injuries is unlikely to participate. This is especially true for the pitchers.
- Players that will be on new teams are less likely to participate, but shouldn’t be completely ignored, with the exception of pitchers.
- Teams are made up of 28 players, of which 13 of them must be pitchers and two of them catchers.
- The pitch count rules make relievers extremely important.
More after the jump.
Manager: Edwin Rodriguez
The Puerto Rican baseball federation has already announced that Edwin Rodriguez, current manager of the AA Carolina Mudcats and once the manager of the Marlins, will be skipper of the team.
Catchers: Yadier Molina, Martin Maldonado, Jose Molina, Wil Nieves
Puerto Rico is a breeding ground of catchers, and the Yadier Molina is the crown jewel (especially now that Pudge Rodriguez has retired). Martin Maldonado is the backup catcher for the Brewers and would have a similar role with Puerto Rico. Jose Molina of the catching Molina brothers is also included, possibly playing as a audition. Wil Nieves is a veteran catcher (who also has played some 1B) who has been with Colorado this season. You may be wondering why they have so many catchers, and the reason for that is simple: they only have so many Major Leaguers, and most of them are catchers. Therefore, they need to bring more than the usual compliment of catchers, and possibly use one or two of them as a 1B and/or DH.
First Basemen: Neftali Soto
A well-regarded 1B in the Cincy system (and thus doomed to be a part of a future trade). He’s struggled a bit this year, but probably would be the starting 1B for Puerto Rico.
Second Basemen: Ivan De Jesus, Jr.
More of a utilityman than a 2B, the son of Ivan De Jesus is one of many Major League sons who have played for the Dodgers this season.
Third Basemen: None
There are no devoted third basemen in this place, because so many of the utilitymen can play third.
Shortstops: Francisco Lindor, Javier Baez
Lindor is a Cleveland farmhand who is on the Futures Game roster and was rated the #37 best prospect by Baseball America before the season. Baez is a Cubs farmhand who is hitting .298 in A-ball this season.
Utility: Irving Falu, Edwin Maysonet, Ruben Gotay
Falu has been a infielder and bench player with the Royals since May. Maysonet was with the Brewers earlier in the season, but is now in AAA. Ruben Gotay is also in AAA.
Outfielders: Carlos Beltran, Andres Torres, Luis Montanez, Jesus Feliciano
Carlos Beltran is Carlos Beltran, possibly the greatest Puerto Rican ballplayer of his generation and a hitter good enough that the Cardinals haven’t regretted letting Pujols go as much as everybody probably thought they would.
Andres Torres of the Mets is the other MLBer in the Puerto Rican outfield. Luis Montanez, however, has played in the bigs in the past, and has been in AAA this season. Jesus Feliciano is currently in AAA for the Rays organization.
Angel Pagan isn’t included because he’ll be a FA going into 2013.
Starting Pitchers: Julio Rodriguez, Andres Santiago, Giovanni Soto, Hiram Burgos
Jonathan Sanchez, the only starting pitcher from Puerto Rico this season, isn’t included as he’ll be a free agent going into the 2013 season. So it’ll be minor leaguers, unless somebody can coax Javier Vazquez out of retirement or if Joel Pineiro recovers from injuries enough that he is good enough to make a MLB roster and then uses next spring as an audition.
Leading the way is Julio Rodriguez, currently 5-1 in AA for the Phillies. He’s a member of the Futures Game roster. Andres Santiago, a high-A ball usually-starter in the Dodgers’ organization, was a member of the 2011 Pan American Games team. Giovanni Soto is a lefty with a 5-4 record in Akron (Cleveland AA) this season. Hiram Burgos is 5-2 between A and AA in the Brewers’ system this year.
Then there is Dicky Gonzalez. He’s been pitching in the NPB the last few years and would provide some veteran presence if selected (I didn’t include him but felt like mentioning him). Other Puerto Rican SP in Japan who could be possibilities are Orlando Roman and Carlos Alvarado. None are anything special, but could possibly be chosen.
Relievers: Javier Lopez, Xavier Cedeno, Jonathan Albaladejo, J.C. Romero, Jose De La Torre, Nelvin Fuentes, Adalberto Flores, Fernando Cabrera, Nelson Figueroa
Lopez has a 2.81 ERA for the Giants as of this writing and was a member of the 2009 WBC team. Cedeno has played for the Astros in 2011 and 2012. Jon Albaladejo has MLB experience and is an All-Star for Reno in the Pacific Coast League this season. Romero is getting up there in years and probably will play in the WBC as a way to audition for a roster spot.
Then there are the minor leaguers: Joe De La Torre is a righty in the Cleveland organization, where he has reached as high as AAA. Fuentes is a lefty (always important) who has a 3.03 ERA for Fort Myers (Twins A+) in 2012, and was a member of the Pan Am team in 2011. Flores is a 2011 Pan Am member and is in the higher parts of the Astros system. Fernando Cabrera, a former MLBer, was named an IL All-Star this season. Nelson Figueroa, who is a Puerto-Rican American who played in the 2009 Classic, is in AAA for the Yankees and is a part-time starter.
…
So, what might a Puerto Rican lineup look like? Perhaps something like this:
1. Andres Torres, CF
2. Francisco Lindor, SS
3. Neftali Soto, 1B
4. Carlos Beltran, RF
5. Yadier Molina, C
6. Ivan De Jesus Jr., 2B
7. Ruben Gotay, 3B
8. Jesus Feliciano, LF
9. Wil Nieves, DH
SP: Julio Rodriguez
The Baseball Continuum 
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No offense Puerto Rico, but that’s a really weak roster.
no offense but we are in the finals
I think Puerto Rico young talent will shine and show the world that their young pitchers will be a factor in wbc 2017
What about Alex Rios, Giancarlo Stanton, Randy Ruiz, Nolan Arenado, Jerome Williams, Hector Santiago etc. All of them have already said that they are interested in representing PR (in Stanton\’s case, which is the most complicated, has stated that he still hasnt chosen between Team USA or Team PR). All the others have said that they want to be in the team. Ohh Angel Pagan too but I know why you didnt include him.
Sorry, didn’t know that there was another Giovanni Soto. Props on your minor league pitching scouting.
You’ve left out Stanton, Alex Rios, Mike Aviles, Randy Ruiz, Robert Andino, and Geovanny Soto (the catcher). You’re probably more accurat when it comes to the Pitching roster. I like this lineup & roster better.
Pos. Name Bats/Throws
LF Angel Pagan S/R
SS Mike Aviles R/R
DH Carlos Beltran S/R
RF Giancarlo Stanton R/R
C Yadier Molina R/R
CF Alex Rios R/R
3B Irving Falu S/R
2B Robert Andino R/R
1B Neftali Soto R/R
Manager/Coaching Staff
Edwin Rodriguez, Manager
Alex Cora, Bench Coach
Carlos Delgado, Hitting Coach
Carlos Baerga, First Base Coach
Outfielders
Carlos Beltran, OF St. Louis Cardinals
Giancarlo Stanton, RF Miami Marlins
Angel Pagan, LF San Francisco Giants
Alex Rios, OF Chicago White Sox
Andres Torres, CF New York Mets
David Dejesus, RF Chicago Cubs
Infielders
Mike Aviles, 2B Boston Red Sox
Irving Falu, 2B-3B Kansas City Royals
Robert Andino, 2B Baltimore Orioles
Ivan Dejesus, SS Los Angeles Dodgers
Neftali Soto, 1B-3B Cincinatti Reds (Minors)
Carlos Correa, SS Astros (Minors-1st Pick in MLB Draft)
Catchers
Yadier Molina, C St. Louis Cardinals
Geovanny Soto, C Chicago Cubs
Jose Molina, C Tampa Bay Rays
Pitchers
Jonathan Sanchez, SP Kansas City Royals
Javier Vazquez, SP Free Agent
Joel Pineiro, SP Philadelphia Phillies (Minors)
Ian Snell, SP Los Angeles Dodgers (Minors)
Javier Lopez, CL San Francisco Giants
Hector Santiago, RP Chicago White Sox
Pedro Feliciano, RP New York Yankees
Xavier Cedeno, RP Houston Astros
Jonathan Albaladejo, RP Arizona Diamondbacks
Hector Correa, RP San Francisco Giants
J.C. Romero, RP Baltimore Orioles
Nelson Figueroa, RP New York Yankees (Minors)
Carlos Gutierrez, RP Minnesotta Twins (MInors)
Saul Rivera, RP Cleavland Indians (Minors)
Fernando Cabrera, RP New York Mets (Minors)
Luis Atilano, RP Washington Nationals (Minors)
way better man.
You got it right! Wheres Manny Machado from? Is’t his mother Puerto Rican?
Ahh, and we also should give a chance to our 2012 top draft picks: Carlos Correa and Valentín.
Manny machado is dominican born in miami
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Dont forget Paco Sanchez lights lefty on dodgers Ricky Romero blue jays and George Springer Outfielder in Minor leauges Astors MOther so puerto rican.
I know with the team we have we will be one of the favorites, but we are going to have an incredible team for the next World classic.
Carlos Correa Ast, Lindor Cleve, Baez Chi, Rosa Cinn, Vargas Minnesota, Berrios Minnesosta, Perez Catcher, on Diaomand backs Lopez Milwakee, Garcia St.louis Etc. We are loaded
What team? That’s a border line AA roster at best. Are you high?
No Offense Juan, but this is one of the best teams in the tournament and from here on out when they put in the international draft PR is going to be the dominant force once again in Baseball.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Weird I see a bunch of benchplayers/minorleaguers/hasbeens/American born players.
MINOR LEAGE TEAM! BAJO A MIERDA
Go Puerto Rico.Your young pitching will be a factor i wbc 2017
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Why would Stanton play for Puerto Rico? He is 25% Puerto Rican.. His mother is half Puerto Rican, which makes him 25 % Puerto Rican.. Not to mention he lived his whole life in California. He is more Irish than Puerto Rican.. Not to mention he already said he would play for USA if they asked him.
Team Puerto Rico is working on his elegibility right now. He has said (the last time was like 2 weeks ago in an interview with tabdeportes.com) that he IS interested in playing with PR. Now, the problem is in how they can prove he can… but dont count it out. The elegibility rules in this tournament are a joke.
Like I said Juan when are prospects develop in two years they will be super stars and the international draft is going to put us back on top.
as for this years team. long what pagan, Beltran and yadier are doing in the playoffs.
I didn’t know your heritage could be broken down by percentage points, I thought either you are or you aren’t.
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Young team but might be a surprise we will have to wait and see
Dicky Gonzalez was Japanese baseball team, Yomiuri Giants player, but he was fired recently. He had good controlled three-quarter pitching. He was recovered from an injury last year, but his pitching is sometime unstable. I hope his next team will be decided soon.
Dicky Gonzalez 2012
ERA 3.20000, G 11, IP 45 0/3, CG 0, W 4, L 1, PCT .800, HLD 0, S 0, H 57, HR 2, K 26, BB 22, HBP 2, WP 0, BK 0, R 18, ER16
Giancarlo Alvarado as known as Gio Alvarado was a player of Japanese team, Yokohama DeNA Baysters, but he was fired. He belonged to Japanese team, Hiroshima Carps 2010-2011. In 2010, his pitching was so-so, but he got injured in 2011, and got fired. He came to Yokohama in 2012, but his pitching was not recovered.
Giancarlo Alvarado 2012
ERA 3.92, G 8, CG 0, W 1, L 6, HLD 0, S 0, IP 39, H 46, HR 2, K 42, BB 18, HP 2, WP 0, BK 0, R 18, ER 17
Orlando Roman, who is a member of Japanese team,Yakult Swallows, decided to join the WBC games. he admitted that Puerto Rico offered him to join the member of WBC team, and he would accept it. Swallows allowed him to join the WBC.
I don’t understand why so many of our major leaguers are left off this roster, if Puerto rico played it’s major league players, we would be one of the favorites to take the classic, the united states basically feilds an all-star, why can’t our players get that sense patriotism?
Okay here is what the PR roster should really look like …
Strengths= OutField and Relief Pitching
Weaknesses=Lack of InField pop and no depth at 1B
Pitching:
Hector Sanitago LHP Whitesox
Jonathan Sanchez LHP (Free Agent Former Giant)
Javier Vazquez, (Coming out of retirement)
Mario Santiago (Former Royals Farmhand still young has good stuff)
Jonathan Albaladejo, RP
Giancarlo Alvarado (Dependable veteran Pitcher)
Dickey Gonzalez RHP
J.C. Romero, RP
Nelvin Fuentes LHP(Twins prospect)
Carlos Gutierrez, RP(Twins Prospect)
Saul Rivera, RP
Fernando Cabrera, RP
Luis Atilano, RP
Orlando Roman RHP
Javier Lopez LHP Giants
Infielders:
Mike Aviles SS/3B- Free Agent
Irving Falu 2B/SS/3B-Royals AAA
Ivan DeJesus 2B/SS-Free Agent
Neftali Soto 1B-Reds AAA
Ruben Gotay 2B/3B Braves AAA
Rey Navarro 2B/3B Royals Prospect AAA
Andy Gonzalez 3B/1B Whitesox AAA
Cristian Colon 2B/SS Royals prospect AAA
Outfielders:
Carlos Beltran Cardinals RF
Alex Rios Whitesox RF/CF
Angel Pagan Giants CF
Andres Torres Giants CF/RF/LF
David DeJesus Cubs LF/RF
**Giancarlo Stanton RF(Keep your fingers that he a)is eligible to play with PR, b)That he wants to play for team PR
Catchers:
Yadier Molina Cardinals
Martin Maldonado Brewers
Geovany Soto Rangers
**For those of you who mentioned Lindor, Baez, Correa, or other who haven’t even played past A+ in minors, shame on YOU!!! These guys aren’t ready yet and PR needs experience with youth but that is ready to compete NOW!! ENJOY..
Carlos Correa
He’s young, but who knows? Maybe.
Too young he’s not ready.. do your research.. This guy only hit .232 in Rookie ball in 2012 and .212 in 40 games of the Puerto Rican Winter League, yeah not ready..
Oh, I agree, but, again, who knows? Sometimes some weird guys get chosen for national teams.
I expect this to be the starting lineup..
1.Angel Pagan CF- S
2.Ivan DeJesus 2B-R
3.Yadier Molina C-R
4.Carlos Beltran RF- S
5.Alex Rios LF-R
6.Mike Aviles SS-R
7.Andy Gonzalez 1B-R
8.Irving Falu 3B-S
9.Rey Navarro DH-S
or
1.Angel Pagan CF-S
2.Mike Aviles 3B-R
3.Carlos Beltran RF- S
4.Alex Rios LF- R
5.Yadier Molina C-R
6.Geovany Soto DH-R
7.Andy Gonzalez 1B-R
8.Rey Navarro 2B-S
9.Ivan DeJesus SS-R
i like ur first lineup but i think switching from 8to2 falu and Dejesus from 2 to 8 but the players i like and andres torres they can use him as pitch runner or hitter
yeah I think that these will likely be the lineups.. don’t be surprised to see 1B Carlos Rivera on the roster too..
Getting there but I still believe we should leverage on experience, even if it means playing guys off theiir positions by trade. In other words:
David De Jesus – 7
Mike Avilés – 6
Angel Pagán – 8
Carlos Beltrán – DH
Alexis Ríos – 9
Yadier Molina – 2
Geovany Soto – 3
Andy González – 5
Iván DeJesus Jr. / Robert Andino – 4
I don’t like having Yadier that low in the lineup.. I’d like to see him bat 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th not not 6th..
I understand your point, but you can also view this as like having two third batters (an extended middle of the order) in the line-up, that should provide more depth.
Umm Robert andino isn’t Puerto Rican his parents are Cuban decent,giancarlo stanton is playing for USA but I wouldn’t sleep on puerto Rico yet
Andino is of both Puerto Rican and Cuban descent but I wont lose sleep over it because he stinks.. He can’t really hit..
am not thinking much for lineups ;now we really need pitcher we lack good pitching so can someone tell me some puertorican pitchers that can be even close to pitch against RA Dickey
SOME STUPIDS SAY PUERTO RICO IS A SHIT TEAM. BUT MORE SHIT IS USA, PR KO USA 11 -1 HAHAHAAHA,,. 2 DAYS LATER USA BEAT PR 6-5 BUT THEY WAS LOSSING 0N 8 INNINGS 6-3..WHO IS THE SHIT? LOL
Okay first of all that was in 2009, 2nd USA actually got back at PR and eliminated them.. 3rd PR has to worry about Venezuela and DR first before even worrying about USA again.. 4th I’m Puerto Rican and even I am worried about this 2013 PR team…
http://2013mlbseasonpredictions.blogspot.com/ My take on the 2013 mlb season..
Watch out for Puerto Rico.They have a wave of baseball talent unlike you never seen before.If they develop some more pitchers,they will be a super power.
Second best in the world!! And more talent rising…
Sorry for destroying all predictions 😉
Next stop, win it all street…
In case you are wondering, for starters, begin Googling and/or Youtubing the names in the following prospects line up:
Francisco Lindor – 4
Eddie Rosario – 8
Javier Báez – 5
Kennys Vargas – 3
Carlos Correa – 6
Jesmuel Valentín -7
Anthony García – 9
A.J. Jiménez – 2
Jan Hernández – DH
Pitchers:
Efraín Nieves – RH
J.O. Berrios – RH
Giovanni Soto – LH
Xavier Cedeño – LH
José De La Torre – RH
Mario Santiago – RH
Héctor Santiago – LH
Hiram Burgos – RH
Jonathan Sánchez – LH (just kidding)