On Saturday night while the World Series was taking place in Milwaukee (where the Brewers won, taking a two-games-to-none series lead), there was plenty of action in winter league ball around the world. Down in the Dominican Republic there was a back-and-forth, high-scoring contest between the Gigantes and the Estrellas.
The Gigantes had two Cincinnati Reds outfielders in their lineup. Carlos Jorge started in center and went 1-3 with a run scored before he was pinch hit for later in the game. Noelvi Marte started the game in right field and he wound up picking up four hits on the night. Marte doubled, scored two runs, and he drove in two. He would add in a stolen base for good measure, too.
Marte has played winter ball every year since 2021, except for in 2025. He was initially expected to play but wound up not participating. This year he’s played in six of the seven games for the Gigantes this month and he’s been doing his part at the plate. The right fielder has hit .346/.379/.423 so far with two doubles, five runs scored, he’s driven in four runs, and he’s gone 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
In Mexico another player from the Reds organization was picking up multiple hits for his winter league club. First baseman Ruben Ibarra was back in the lineup for Hermosillo, serving as the designated hitter on the night and hitting cleanup. He would go 3-5 in the game and score a run as he continued his hot start for the Naranjeros.
Ibarra joined the Mexican Winter League a week ago and he’s been crushing it since the start. The 4th round draft pick from 2021 out of San Jose State has had a hit in each game he’s played in with three multi-hit games mixed in there. He’s scored five runs, doubled, hit three home runs, walked twice, and he’s driven in 11, helping the Narajeros to a 5-1 record since he joined them.