This week, Phillies prospect Carlos Tocci won the Rookie of the Year Award in his home country of Venezuela. The honor comes after Tocci batted .323 with a robust .401 on-base percentage in 217 at-bats for the Tigres de Aragua in the Venezuelan winter league.
I know what you’re saying… big whup, it’s only winter ball… but it’s a league that boasts an intensity comparable to a little league called the NFL. So, if Tocci can thrive in the hot-cooker which is Venezuelan baseball, then his prospect grade may deserve a bump up.
There’s also the El Torito barometer: The last Phillie to win the Venezuelan Rookie of Year Award was Odubel Hererra, who led the winter league with a .