Many argue that this league is the most hitter friendly association at any level of professional baseball. Most CL hitters are downgraded as prospects because of the league’s reputation. On the flip side, scouts pay particular attention to pitchers that are successful in the Cali League. In reality, the reputation is probably a bit undeserved. The stadiums in Lancaster and Adelanto are extreme hitters’ parks, driving numbers up across the league.

Still, the CL is a tough place to pitch and the Rox get excited when pitchers have success in the Cali League. Last year, right-handed starter Juan Nicasio had an outstanding season with Modesto. Nicasio led the Cali League in strike-outs and wins, while finishing in the top ten in ERA and throwing over 175 innings. He was already considered a top prospect by many, but his success last season put him on a different level. Last month, Baseball America ranked him as the eighth best prospect in Colorado’s system and compared him favorably to the Great Ubaldo.

Photo Courtesy of Modbee.com

Juan wasn’t always a highly touted prospect. Usually, players from the Dominican Republic are put under contract by the time they are seventeen; Juan was nearly twenty when the Rockies signed him in 2006. That summer, he pitched in the Dominican Summer League, making five starts and finishing with a 2.89 ERA. For Nicasio, it was a solid debut, but hardly attention grabbing.
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Players like Ortega are why the Rockies scout Venezuela so thoroughly. They signed Rafael at the age of 16 for $65K; that’s probably how much Tyler Matzek paid for his first car. Prior to last season, Ortega was not a well known prospect. His signing didn’t catch much attention in Venezuela and went completely unnoticed in the States. After spending 2008 and 2009 playing in the Dominican Summer League, Ortega debuted last year with Casper. Hitting lead-off and playing center field for the Ghosts, Rafael lit up the Pioneer League and caught the attention of many. Earlier this month, Baseball Prospectus rated Ortega as the 11th best Rockies prospect. Not bad, for a guy the Rockies signed for the price of a Denver home in short sale.
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