Lifetime P.R. Native Gets Chance in Spring Training

[MikeB]

In a four-way battle for a backup outfield spot in San Juan, it’s clear who the favorite is on the Island.

Thirty-year old Rodger Guzmán has been in Puerto Rico his entire life, born and raised in Vega Baja and playing ten years for the Guaynabo Commandos of the San Juan Winter League. He is third all-time in walks in SJWL history and was the league’s Glove Wizard in left field last year.

It was the signing of Guzmán last month that gave the Coqui’s Puerto Rican contingent the edge among non-U.S. nationalities in the organization as was pointed out by The Daily Jumper. The buzz from that article brought additional attention to him.

He joins 31-year old Gary Gunn, out of the WIL, in competing with veterans Joe Kenny and Bernardo Rios. San Juan has only three returning outfielders but with infielder Henry Davis able to shift there, it is expected there is only slot available. For the first time in memory, San Juan has three everyday outfielders.

The four free agent signees are believed to have the edge over inhouse choices like Valentín Nieto, Todd Davis and José Cardenas.

Thus far the two veterans are winning. Rios, an eight-year PEBA man who once swiped 41 bases for Amsterdam, is hitting .350. Kenny, who has 11 years logged and is knicknamed “The Bandit” for his own basestealing prowess, is hitting .273 with a .360 OBP. Kenny is the only right handed batter of the four, however, and the team would seem to need a left-handed bat more.

Either of the outliers making it would be a surprise though. Gunn is a guy who stalled out at AAA and then bounced around the WIL for five years, striking out a league high 187 times in 2033. He still has good speed though and stole 32 bases last year. It is believed Guzmán won’t hit sufficently for average at the PEBA level although he has a .397 career OBP against righties. Both are expected to get deeper looks this week.

Guzmán has been making $650,000 a year so is taking a pay cut, particularly if he winds up at Santo Domingo (AAA). Some close to him say that was a difference in him signing to stay in the SJWL three years ago.