Vizquel promoted, Reds prospect on the mend and Big Papi keeps living his best life
By Andy Martinez
Vizquel called up
Omar Vizquel was a wizard at shortstop. But he’s showing he’s also pretty good at managing, too. “Little O” will manage the Chicago White Sox Double-A affiliate, the Birmingham Barons in 2019. Vizquel led the White Sox Class-A affiliate, the Winston-Salem Dash to an 84-54 record and a first half title. He got close to many of his Dash players, as shown by a recent Instagram post. In a video of Vizquel cooking, fellow Venezuelan Luis Alexander Basabe commented, tagging fellow Sox prospect Micker Adolfo, “What are we going to do with this man?” Could we see Vizquel in the majors soon?
Hernández healing
Cincinnati Reds prospect Raúl Hernández provided béisbol fans an update on his recovery following a car crash last month.
Sadly, Jairo Capellan was killed in the crash in the Dominican Republic while Emilio García and Hernández were injured. Hernández was in critical condition following the accident, but assured fans he was doing well and recovering and hoped to play again. He thanked fans for their support following the tragic. We hope to see Raúl back on the field soon!
Martínez feeling confident after Baines vote
Edgar Martínez is seemingly getting closer and closer to being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And, after Harold Baines, another player who played primarily as a designated hitter, was voted into the Hall of Fame, Martínez undoubtedly gained more confidence about his shot. After Baines election, 2019 could be the year of the designated hitter with Martínez joining him in Cooperstown.
Social post of the day
David Ortiz is enjoying life. Ortiz went out to eat at the restaurant of internet and world-famous Turkish butcher/chef, Nusret Gökçe. The chef, better known as “Salt Bae” for his way of sprinkling salt on the meat, even fed Ortiz personally. That’s the life.
Happy birthday!
Dámaso Blanco, former San Francisco Giants infielder (b. 1941)
OTD
1974 – Roberto Clemente and Roy Campanella are named into the Black Athlete’s Hall of Fame
1985 – The Giants acquire Puerto Rican Candy Maldonado from the Dodgers in exchange for catcher Alex Trevino
2000 – Alex Rodríguez signs the richest contract (at the time) in sports history – a 10-year, $252 million deal with the Texas Rangers
2003 – The Royals sign 18-year veteran Benito Santiago to a two-year deal
Featured Image: Winston-Salem Dash Instagram