Alex Liddi and Tiago Da Silva lighting up the winter leagues

Two National Team names lighting up the Mexican and Venezuelan Winter Leagues, with it being Liddi in Mexico and Da Silva once again in Venezuela.

Alex Liddi is among the stars in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico. The Italian infielder, and former Big Leaguer with the Seattle Mariners organization has had a solid winter thus far, hitting a strong .312 (ninth in the overall standings) with seven home runs, 17 doubles (third) and 36 RBI’s.

In Venezuela Tiago Da Silva is once again pitched lights out for the Cardenales de Lara. Da Silva pitched to a 2.54 ERA with 6 wins and no losses out of the pen (28.1 innings pitched). The Cardenales just missed out on the postseason. 

Another Italian National team name that has made headlines in recent weeks is Adam Ottavino, who just recently signed a new contract with the Colorado Rockies, which will pay him a total of 10.4 million dollars over the next three years. (1.3 in 2016, 2.1 in 2017 and 7 in 2018). Ottavino will look to come off of “Tommy John” surgery in 2016, and continue the success that he had in 2014 (3.60 ERA) and the beginning of the 2015 season when he started with 3 saves before heading the the DL. Ottavino should be ready to join the club at the end of June, beginning of July. 

One well know name across Italian Baseball World has yet to find a club for the 2016 season, that being Alessandro Maestri. After pitching in the NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball - Japan) for the Orix Buffaloes over the last 4 seasons, Maestri finds himself still looking to be picked up, with the hopes to stay in Asia, either in Japan or South Korea.