2026 West Indies Short League Stars And Disappointments
Sept 27, 2021 17:55:13 GMT -5
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Post by Commissioner Erick on Sept 27, 2021 17:55:13 GMT -5
The 2026 West Indies Short League was surprisingly bereft of offense. Read below to see which hitters were able to have success seasons and which pitchers dominated the league!
CF: Corey Brander—Royals
After a few successful seasons in rookie ball, Brander got the call to short-A and had a very successful go of it. He hit .287 to lead the league, legged out 10 triples to lead the league, got on base at a .381 clip to lead the league, and clubbed 16 doubles to—you guessed it—finish in a tie for seventh.
The former 14th round draft pick doesn’t look like more than an A-ball hitter, but his stats and Bill Schmidt’s evaluation suggest he should be playing full time ball. Expect a promotion to Lexington next season.
1B: Allen Hardenburg—Brewers
Hardenburg crushed Helena last season, earning a promotion to Dominica. He continued to grow his power, clubbing a WISL-leading 22 home runs last season. The slugger also showed good patience, getting on base at a .370 clip, plus he flashed good defense at First Base.
A 10th rounder in 2023, OSA sees Hardenburg as a future Quad-A slugger. Bill Schmidt sees a little more, finding the power to be good enough to play as a First Baseman as a second division starter. A trip to full-season ball awaits for the Fairmont Prep graduate.
3B: Luis Flores—Reds
Offense was generally down in the West Indies this season, but not when Flores was at the plate. A former Nationals 12th round pick and Pioneer League All-Star, Flores was a part time starter for Cuba in 2025, hitting .338 in 32 Games. He upped the total to 68 Games last year, and led the league with 60 RBIs. He didn’t hit for much average, and struck out a bunch, but was productive when he did make contact.
Neither Bill Schmidt nor OSA see a future for Flores, and he doesn’t offer much with his legs or glove. He may stick around in Cuba for a few years to help the team remain competitive while they develop other prospects.
C: Mitchell Bell—Brewers
Bell was a 12th round selection by the Brewers out of the University of Hartford in 2023. A college grad, he hit well in rookie ball immediately, and was promoted to Short-Season A-Ball in 2025, where he only had 16 starts. He was the starting Catcher for Dominica this year and hit .275 with 20 homers, walking 24 times to 31 strikeouts.
Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see Bell as a High-A Catcher who is already plenty developed. Luke Grimmelbein agrees and promoted Bell to the Carolina Mudcats in the Carolina League where he’ll presumably spend next season.
2B: Emeric Mazzolani—Royals
A scouting discovery from Venezuela back in 2019, Mazzolani was named an All-Star in the Pioneer League in 2025, precipitating a call up to Short-A in 2026. He had a great year, showing off his eye in drawing 38 walks and producing a .355 OBP. He used those walks to steal 35 bases, tied for the league lead.
OSA doesn’t think Mazzolani doesn’t have much of a future, but Bill Schmidt sees a Double-A player, where his speed and patience can play. Most of Mazzolani’s batting skills are developed, so he’ll probably be promoted to A-ball next year.
SS: Fred Huewitt—Royals
A defensive maestro, Huewitt was easily the best fielder in the league with a 17.1 Zone Rating at Shortstop and only five errors. Huewitt only hit .182, but the defense, the nine home runs, and the 22 steals turned into 3.0 WAR.
Heuwitt is an awful offensive player and a terrific defensive one. He’ll probably never play full season ball, but his speed and defensive skills make him a valuable player to help evaluate pitchers, and win games in the lower levels.
SP: John Leah—Brewers
Leah would have set the single-season record for lowest West Indies Short League ERA if he qualified, with an outstanding 0.95 mark. Leah went 8-0 in 12 starts, allowed a single home run, struck out 72 in 66.1 innings, and somehow didn’t win the league’s Most Outstanding Pitcher Award.
The former 10th rounder has looked good in rookie and short-season ball, so he’ll likely pitch full season ball next year. Leah doesn’t look to be a big leaguer, but with three top pitches, he should be a good arm in Double-A when he puts everything together.
SP: Vince Dubin—Reds
This year’s sixth overall pick, Dubin skipped rookie ball, which was the right call as he dominated low-A. Dubin went 11-3 with a 1.74 ERA, putting up 3.7 WAR. He struck out 116 hitters and just looked like the best player in the league when he was on the hill.
Dubin already has three solid pitches, which should allow him to make a big jump next season. He may pitch in Double-A. The Duke grad projects as a front-of-rotation arm, and it may not take him too long to put everything together.
SP: Jose Espada—Brewers
A 29-year-old who went 10-0 with a 1.70 ERA in A-ball in 2025, Espada was inexplicably placed in low-A last year where he dominated. He struck out 68 hitters in 41.1 innings and led the league with 24 Saves.
Espada has two good pitches, good stamina, good command and has dominated the mid-minors. He should be pitching in Triple-A, not Low-A, and his placement in short-season A-ball is an organizational failure by the Brewers.
SP: Juan Botello—Royals
The Nicaraguan Botello represented his country in the World Baseball Classic this past year putting up a 3.86 ERA despite allowing eight hits in 4.2 innings with only two strikeouts. Botello limited the hits in Puerto Rico though, giving up just 70 in 102.2 innings and leading the league in Quality Starts. Botello showed pinpoint control, and had a 2.45 ERA.
The 2021 scouting discovery has a weird profile. Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see an arm without good stuff but who can be exceptional at throwing strikes and relying on command. It’s likely a profile that will top out at Triple-A, but Botello should make the jump to A-ball next year.
RP: Warner Duran—Brewers
Another Brewer reliever too old for the level, the 28-year-old Duran pitched well in both Wisconsin and Carolina this year, but was still sent down to Dominica. He predictably pitched well, with a 1.10 ERA that was somehow higher than his ERA in the two levels above in, and he led the league in holds.
A reliever with three decent pitches, Duran, like Espada, should be pitching in Triple-A. There was nothing for him to be gained in low-A, even if it was only for 16.1 innings.
SP: Mike Dentino—Reds
Cincinnati’s second round pick this year, Dentino also bypassed the rookie leagues and had a very strong season in short-A. A junior out of Long Beach State, Dentino went 6-8, but he had a strong 3.50 ERA and worked 97.2 innings. He struck out 89 allowing him to post 2.3 WAR, tied for fifth in the league.
With five pitches, OSA sees a pitcher who can work at the back of a rotation, as does Bill Schmidt. Dentino throws hard, has good stamina, and can throw strikes. He’s not as far along as his draftmate Dubin at refining his five pitches, so he may get promoted to full-season ball, while also having a case for spending another year at the level.
2B: Scott Fox—Brewers
Milwaukee’s second round pick out of Cal State Fullerton, Fox was more raw than anticipated and really struggled in his first professional year. He hit just .152 with seven extra base hits, plus he walked just 15 times versus 62 strikeouts. He played adequate defense at Third Base and Right Field, but produced -0.5 WAR.
OSA sees a future starter in Fox, with good power and patience. Schmidt doesn’t see the home run power needed to be a regular at the hot corner. It may take some time for Fox to develop though and he should be back in Dominica next year.
C: Sam Kleinpeter—Brewers
Strong performances in rookie ball led to Kleinpeter being one of the more regarded players in the West Indies league. A dearth of good talent in the league and a strong first half led to Kleinpeter being named an All-Star, but he didn’t have a particularly good year. He hit just .179 with six extra base hits.
Kleinpeter looks like a future high minors backup Catcher. His eye should continue to improve and he should turn into a good defender, which combined with great intangibles make him an asset in the clubhouse. The bat will never be great though. He may be someone called up to full season ball next year.
SP: Mincho Maeda—Twins
Minnesota’s first round pick this past draft, Maeda was awful in his first stint as a pro. Taken fourth overall, he put up a 7.27 ERA in seven starts in an offensively starved league. Maeda allowed five homers and 13 walks in 34.2 innings, forcing the Twins to demote him to rookie ball where he excelled. In seven starts with Elizabethton, Maeda produced a 2.74 ERA and allowed only three homers in 49.1 innings.
Maeda has ace potential if the offspeed pitches come around, and he’s nowhere close to having those developed. He was a college pick though, so it’ll be a race if he can put everything together before he gets to his prime. It would be a disappointment if he spent another year in rookie ball, so he should be back in Grenada next season.
SP: Chris Berth—Brewers
Berth had superficially decent numbers in the West Indies with a 7-5 record and a 3.99 ERA, but an extremely low run environment meant that Berth’s work resulted only in 0.3 WAR. He allowed 10 homers in 65.1 innings, struck out only 48, and relied on a .220 BABIP.
A high school pick by Detroit in the second round of the 2024 draft, Berth is still a ways away from realizing his potential. Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see a pitcher who could be a back end starter, and both see Berth needing another year in the low minors. Berth was the Brewers’ haul for Griffin Helms, and he’s been preemptively promoted to Wisconsin in A-ball.
CF: Corey Brander—Royals
After a few successful seasons in rookie ball, Brander got the call to short-A and had a very successful go of it. He hit .287 to lead the league, legged out 10 triples to lead the league, got on base at a .381 clip to lead the league, and clubbed 16 doubles to—you guessed it—finish in a tie for seventh.
The former 14th round draft pick doesn’t look like more than an A-ball hitter, but his stats and Bill Schmidt’s evaluation suggest he should be playing full time ball. Expect a promotion to Lexington next season.
1B: Allen Hardenburg—Brewers
Hardenburg crushed Helena last season, earning a promotion to Dominica. He continued to grow his power, clubbing a WISL-leading 22 home runs last season. The slugger also showed good patience, getting on base at a .370 clip, plus he flashed good defense at First Base.
A 10th rounder in 2023, OSA sees Hardenburg as a future Quad-A slugger. Bill Schmidt sees a little more, finding the power to be good enough to play as a First Baseman as a second division starter. A trip to full-season ball awaits for the Fairmont Prep graduate.
3B: Luis Flores—Reds
Offense was generally down in the West Indies this season, but not when Flores was at the plate. A former Nationals 12th round pick and Pioneer League All-Star, Flores was a part time starter for Cuba in 2025, hitting .338 in 32 Games. He upped the total to 68 Games last year, and led the league with 60 RBIs. He didn’t hit for much average, and struck out a bunch, but was productive when he did make contact.
Neither Bill Schmidt nor OSA see a future for Flores, and he doesn’t offer much with his legs or glove. He may stick around in Cuba for a few years to help the team remain competitive while they develop other prospects.
C: Mitchell Bell—Brewers
Bell was a 12th round selection by the Brewers out of the University of Hartford in 2023. A college grad, he hit well in rookie ball immediately, and was promoted to Short-Season A-Ball in 2025, where he only had 16 starts. He was the starting Catcher for Dominica this year and hit .275 with 20 homers, walking 24 times to 31 strikeouts.
Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see Bell as a High-A Catcher who is already plenty developed. Luke Grimmelbein agrees and promoted Bell to the Carolina Mudcats in the Carolina League where he’ll presumably spend next season.
2B: Emeric Mazzolani—Royals
A scouting discovery from Venezuela back in 2019, Mazzolani was named an All-Star in the Pioneer League in 2025, precipitating a call up to Short-A in 2026. He had a great year, showing off his eye in drawing 38 walks and producing a .355 OBP. He used those walks to steal 35 bases, tied for the league lead.
OSA doesn’t think Mazzolani doesn’t have much of a future, but Bill Schmidt sees a Double-A player, where his speed and patience can play. Most of Mazzolani’s batting skills are developed, so he’ll probably be promoted to A-ball next year.
SS: Fred Huewitt—Royals
A defensive maestro, Huewitt was easily the best fielder in the league with a 17.1 Zone Rating at Shortstop and only five errors. Huewitt only hit .182, but the defense, the nine home runs, and the 22 steals turned into 3.0 WAR.
Heuwitt is an awful offensive player and a terrific defensive one. He’ll probably never play full season ball, but his speed and defensive skills make him a valuable player to help evaluate pitchers, and win games in the lower levels.
SP: John Leah—Brewers
Leah would have set the single-season record for lowest West Indies Short League ERA if he qualified, with an outstanding 0.95 mark. Leah went 8-0 in 12 starts, allowed a single home run, struck out 72 in 66.1 innings, and somehow didn’t win the league’s Most Outstanding Pitcher Award.
The former 10th rounder has looked good in rookie and short-season ball, so he’ll likely pitch full season ball next year. Leah doesn’t look to be a big leaguer, but with three top pitches, he should be a good arm in Double-A when he puts everything together.
SP: Vince Dubin—Reds
This year’s sixth overall pick, Dubin skipped rookie ball, which was the right call as he dominated low-A. Dubin went 11-3 with a 1.74 ERA, putting up 3.7 WAR. He struck out 116 hitters and just looked like the best player in the league when he was on the hill.
Dubin already has three solid pitches, which should allow him to make a big jump next season. He may pitch in Double-A. The Duke grad projects as a front-of-rotation arm, and it may not take him too long to put everything together.
SP: Jose Espada—Brewers
A 29-year-old who went 10-0 with a 1.70 ERA in A-ball in 2025, Espada was inexplicably placed in low-A last year where he dominated. He struck out 68 hitters in 41.1 innings and led the league with 24 Saves.
Espada has two good pitches, good stamina, good command and has dominated the mid-minors. He should be pitching in Triple-A, not Low-A, and his placement in short-season A-ball is an organizational failure by the Brewers.
SP: Juan Botello—Royals
The Nicaraguan Botello represented his country in the World Baseball Classic this past year putting up a 3.86 ERA despite allowing eight hits in 4.2 innings with only two strikeouts. Botello limited the hits in Puerto Rico though, giving up just 70 in 102.2 innings and leading the league in Quality Starts. Botello showed pinpoint control, and had a 2.45 ERA.
The 2021 scouting discovery has a weird profile. Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see an arm without good stuff but who can be exceptional at throwing strikes and relying on command. It’s likely a profile that will top out at Triple-A, but Botello should make the jump to A-ball next year.
RP: Warner Duran—Brewers
Another Brewer reliever too old for the level, the 28-year-old Duran pitched well in both Wisconsin and Carolina this year, but was still sent down to Dominica. He predictably pitched well, with a 1.10 ERA that was somehow higher than his ERA in the two levels above in, and he led the league in holds.
A reliever with three decent pitches, Duran, like Espada, should be pitching in Triple-A. There was nothing for him to be gained in low-A, even if it was only for 16.1 innings.
SP: Mike Dentino—Reds
Cincinnati’s second round pick this year, Dentino also bypassed the rookie leagues and had a very strong season in short-A. A junior out of Long Beach State, Dentino went 6-8, but he had a strong 3.50 ERA and worked 97.2 innings. He struck out 89 allowing him to post 2.3 WAR, tied for fifth in the league.
With five pitches, OSA sees a pitcher who can work at the back of a rotation, as does Bill Schmidt. Dentino throws hard, has good stamina, and can throw strikes. He’s not as far along as his draftmate Dubin at refining his five pitches, so he may get promoted to full-season ball, while also having a case for spending another year at the level.
2B: Scott Fox—Brewers
Milwaukee’s second round pick out of Cal State Fullerton, Fox was more raw than anticipated and really struggled in his first professional year. He hit just .152 with seven extra base hits, plus he walked just 15 times versus 62 strikeouts. He played adequate defense at Third Base and Right Field, but produced -0.5 WAR.
OSA sees a future starter in Fox, with good power and patience. Schmidt doesn’t see the home run power needed to be a regular at the hot corner. It may take some time for Fox to develop though and he should be back in Dominica next year.
C: Sam Kleinpeter—Brewers
Strong performances in rookie ball led to Kleinpeter being one of the more regarded players in the West Indies league. A dearth of good talent in the league and a strong first half led to Kleinpeter being named an All-Star, but he didn’t have a particularly good year. He hit just .179 with six extra base hits.
Kleinpeter looks like a future high minors backup Catcher. His eye should continue to improve and he should turn into a good defender, which combined with great intangibles make him an asset in the clubhouse. The bat will never be great though. He may be someone called up to full season ball next year.
SP: Mincho Maeda—Twins
Minnesota’s first round pick this past draft, Maeda was awful in his first stint as a pro. Taken fourth overall, he put up a 7.27 ERA in seven starts in an offensively starved league. Maeda allowed five homers and 13 walks in 34.2 innings, forcing the Twins to demote him to rookie ball where he excelled. In seven starts with Elizabethton, Maeda produced a 2.74 ERA and allowed only three homers in 49.1 innings.
Maeda has ace potential if the offspeed pitches come around, and he’s nowhere close to having those developed. He was a college pick though, so it’ll be a race if he can put everything together before he gets to his prime. It would be a disappointment if he spent another year in rookie ball, so he should be back in Grenada next season.
SP: Chris Berth—Brewers
Berth had superficially decent numbers in the West Indies with a 7-5 record and a 3.99 ERA, but an extremely low run environment meant that Berth’s work resulted only in 0.3 WAR. He allowed 10 homers in 65.1 innings, struck out only 48, and relied on a .220 BABIP.
A high school pick by Detroit in the second round of the 2024 draft, Berth is still a ways away from realizing his potential. Both OSA and Bill Schmidt see a pitcher who could be a back end starter, and both see Berth needing another year in the low minors. Berth was the Brewers’ haul for Griffin Helms, and he’s been preemptively promoted to Wisconsin in A-ball.