<strong>Brazilians in the pros:</strong>

[caption id="attachment_30" align="alignleft" width="230"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-30" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/yan-gomes-baseball-headshot-photo-230x300.jpg" alt="Yan Gomes - courtesy of MLB" width="230" height="300" /> Yan Gomes - courtesy of MLB[/caption]

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It’s been a tough season for Cleveland Indians catcher <strong>Yan Gomes</strong> as he’s battled the injury bug. Five games into 2015, a home plate collision with Detroit’s Rajai Davis put him out of the lineup for six weeks with a sprained knee. Neck stiffness in late June kept him out of a number of games. The life of a catcher is not easy and Yan plays the position as tough as anybody. Here’s hoping he finishes off the season strong, though with Cleveland currently in last place in the very difficult AL Central division, the Indians are probably now evaluating how they can improve around Gomes and other core members of the Indians roster for 2016.

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[caption id="attachment_31" align="alignleft" width="200"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-31" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/449181-200x300.jpg" alt="Paulo Orlando - courtesy of MLB" width="200" height="300" /> Paulo Orlando - courtesy of MLB[/caption]

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Kansas City Royals outfielder<strong> Paulo Orlando</strong> didn’t get very good news yesterday. With the acquisition of Ben Zobrist, the Royals have optioned Orlando back to Triple A. Such is the life of a fringe 40 man roster player, but Orlando has certainly tried to do everything he can to stay with the big league team, including hit 5 triples in 152 major league at bats, along with four doubles and four home runs. At least he has had enough success on a big league team where other teams are now aware of him if he doesn’t fit into the Royals plans next season.

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[caption id="attachment_32" align="alignleft" width="200"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-32" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/516589-200x300.jpg" alt="Andre Rienzo - courtesy of MLB" width="200" height="300" /> Andre Rienzo - courtesy of MLB[/caption]

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Good to see <strong>Andre Rienzo </strong>get called up last weekend by the Miami Marlins and get an inning in of no run relief ball on Wednesday night<strong>. </strong>Thus far, Rienzo’s few MLB appearances this season have been solid: only two earned runs in 8 innings pitched, including 9 strikeouts. He has also been pitching effectively enough in Triple A New Orleans. His 2-6 record in Triple A doesn’t do much justice to his 3.01 ERA, .232 BAA and 1.26 WHIP in 15 games (14 starts) with the Zephyrs.

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[caption id="attachment_33" align="alignleft" width="180"]<img class="size-full wp-image-33" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/553891.jpg" alt="Leonardo Reginatto - courtesy of MILB" width="180" height="270" /> Leonardo Reginatto - courtesy of MILB[/caption]

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Infielder<strong> Leonardo Reginatto</strong> is the next Brazilian knocking on the Major League door. Reginatto has had a respectable start in Triple A with the Durham Bulls (TB), hitting .269 in his first 130 at bats, though his OPS of .606 could use some improvement closer to his career minors OPS of .703.  You never know, if Reginatto really heats up in August, he could get a call up when major league rosters expand in September.

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[caption id="attachment_34" align="alignleft" width="180"]<img class="size-full wp-image-34" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/627894.jpg" alt="Luiz Gohara - courtesy of MILB" width="180" height="270" /> Luiz Gohara - courtesy of MILB[/caption]

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Also moving up in the ranks is the $800,000 man, 18 year old left handed pitcher <strong>Luiz Gohara</strong>, who was promoted from lower Class A Clinton to higher class A Everett (SEA) earlier this year and is currently 2-3 with a 4.46 ERA, but with 34 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 30 innings pitched. He also hasn’t given up any home runs this season.

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[caption id="attachment_35" align="alignleft" width="180"]<img class="size-full wp-image-35" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/600986.jpg" alt="Thyago Vieira - courtesy of MILB" width="180" height="270" /> Thyago Vieira - courtesy of MILB[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_36" align="alignleft" width="180"]<img class="size-full wp-image-36" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/627392.jpg" alt="Daniel Missaki - courtesy of MILB" width="180" height="270" /> Daniel Missaki - courtesy of MILB[/caption]

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Back in Clinton is 22 year old right handed relief pitcher <strong>Thyago Vieira</strong>. Vieira is 1-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 13 relief appearances. Nineteen year old right handed starting pitcher <strong>Daniel Missaki</strong> is Vieira’s Brazilian teammate with the Lumberjacks. Though Missaki is currently on the DL, his season line so far is 1-2 with a 3.41 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in six starts. He also has 34 strikeouts in 34.1 innings pitched, to only 5 walks.

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[caption id="attachment_37" align="alignleft" width="180"]<img class="size-full wp-image-37" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/649963.jpg" alt="Bo Takahashi - courtesy of MILB" width="180" height="270" /> Bo Takahashi - courtesy of MILB[/caption]

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In the Rookie leagues, 18 year old right handed starting pitcher <strong>Rodrigo “Bo” Takahashi</strong> is currently with the Missoula Osprey (AZ) and has gone 5-0 with a 4.47 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 8 starts. He has 37 strikeouts to 18 walks in 44.1 innings pitched. Nineteen year old left handed hitting catcher <strong>Luiz Paz </strong>is currently with Dominican Summer League Dodgers, hitting .250 with a .695 OPS in 120 at bats (38 games). Paz has scored 20 runs and has driven in 18.

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<strong>Baseball back in Brazil:</strong>

Last month, the 17<sup>th</sup> edition of the <strong>U17 Brazilian Baseball </strong>Championships was held in<strong> Ibiúna</strong>, with the home team taking first place in the 6-team tournament by beating <strong>Guarulhos</strong> 7-2 in the final game. <strong>Emerson Okuda</strong> of Guarulhos took home the Best Hitter award while his teammate, <strong>Gabriel Maciel</strong>, drove in the most runs in the tournament. <strong>Igor Januário</strong> of Marília was the Home Run King and <strong>Eric Kimura </strong>of Ibiúna was Best Pitcher.

Meanwhile, the first rounds of the <strong>Adult Brazilian Baseball Championships</strong>, or “Brasileirão”, have been taking place this month. At the top of Group A, which consist of teams from greater São Paulo, is <strong>Nippon Blue Jays</strong> at 3-0, followed by <strong>GECEBS</strong> and <strong>Atibaia</strong>, both at 2-1. Group B, consisting of teams from the state of Paraná, is led by <strong>Londrina</strong> at 3-0 and <strong>Maringá</strong> at 2-1.

Over in the <strong>Liga São Paulo de Beisebol</strong>, <strong>BATS</strong> is at the top of the regular season table at 14-2, followed by <strong>POLI-USP</strong> at 12-4, <strong>Tomateros</strong> at 10-4 and <strong>Underdogs</strong> at 9-5. The nine team league will make up some previously rained out games in August and will begin double elimination playoffs at the end of the month.

In the <strong>Liga Paulista de Beisebol</strong>, <strong>Itapetininga</strong> is at the top of the standings at 6-0, followed by <strong>FARMIME</strong> <strong>Astros</strong> at 6-1, <strong>São Paulo Mavericks</strong> at 3-3 and<strong> Piracicaba</strong> at 3-1. The next round of games in the league’s regular season happens this weekend.

Down in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the seven team <strong>Liga Gaúcha de Beisebol </strong>season is currently led by <strong>IVOTI Phoenix </strong>at 5-1 and <strong>Farrapos</strong> at 3-0.