[caption id="attachment_59" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-59" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/12047133_1075361665809802_539316845140579255_n_1-300x225.jpg" alt="Gabriel Maciel signs with AZ - photo credit: CBBS" width="300" height="225" /> Gabriel Maciel signs with AZ - photo credit: CBBS[/caption]

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Welcome to the 2015 MLB Postseason edition of this blog, and there’s plenty to celebrate in that regard, as Kansas City outfielder <strong>Paulo Orlando</strong> becomes the first Brazilian player ever to appear on an MLB postseason roster. Here’s hoping he sees some action in the Divisional Series. Orlando finished the MLB regular season with a .249 batting average in 241 at bats, with 14 doubles, 6 triples, 7 home runs, 30 runs scored, 27 RBIs and a .713 OPS.

The other big MLB Brazilian player-related news to come out this month was the <a href="http://www.cbbs.com.br/noticia/beisebol-internacional/134-atleta-de-londrina-assina-com-franquia-americana" target="_blank">signing of outfielder</a><strong><a href="http://www.cbbs.com.br/noticia/beisebol-internacional/134-atleta-de-londrina-assina-com-franquia-americana" target="_blank"> Gabriel Maciel</a>,</strong> of Londrina, Paraná, by the Arizona Diamondbacks to a minor league contract.  Maciel had most recently played Brazilian club ball with Guarulhos, but it is likely that it was <a href="http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/nicholas-pratto-team-usa-cruise-victory-australia/">his impressive performance at the 18U World Cup in August</a> that stood out to the Diamondback scouts.

Maciel is the second player to be signed out of Brazil by Arizona. The first player, pitcher <strong>Bo Takahashi</strong>, just got done helping his Missoula Osprey (AZ R) ball club win the Pioneer League championship versus the Idaho Falls Chukars. Takahashi, who finished the season with an 8-1 record as a starter with a 4.66 ERA, got the final start and kept the Chukars to one run into the 4<sup>th</sup> inning before leaving the game with a no decision.

MLB must believe that there is more baseball potential in the state of Paraná, because it has announced it will co-sponsor an event with New Era Caps in Curitiba, PR this coming Monday, October 12<sup>th</sup> called the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ConfederacaoBrasileiraDeBeisebolESoftbol">MLB New Era Festival</a>. The festival will feature baseball clinics and other activities, including appearances by former MLB farmhand and longtime Brazilian club/national team veteran <strong>Jean Tomé</strong>, along with up and coming minor league infielder <strong>Leonardo Reginatto</strong> (TB AAA), a Curitiba native.  Reginatto, potentially the next Brazilian-born player to make it to the Big Leagues, split time between Triple A Durham and Double A Montgomery this past season. His 40 hits in 150 at bats for Durham (.267 BA/.606 OPS) was serviceable enough, let’s see if he can make a big jump next season and put himself in position for a call up by the Rays.

Reginatto may delight in the fact that Brazil will be playing its <a href="http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/2013/news/article.jsp?ymd=20150917&amp;content_id=150118388&amp;vkey=news_mlb&amp;c_id=mlb">2017 World Baseball Classic qualifying round</a> next September in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, at MCU Park. MCU Park is the home of the Single A Brooklyn Cyclones (NYM Single A), so Reginatto would have logged some innings there during his days with the Hudson Valley Renegades.

In terms of Brazil’s 2017 WBC QR draw, facing the likes of Israel, Great Britain and Pakistan doesn’t seem as difficult as its 2012 Panama City WBC QR pool, which featured host Panama, Colombia and Nicaragua. Of course, Brazil pulled off what many considered to be a miraculous performance in Rod Carew Stadium by beating Panama twice and Colombia to advance to the first round of the WBC in Japan the following March, 2013.  Nevertheless, Israel’s last WBC QR team featured a lot of U.S. College and minor league players of Jewish heritage and they barely missed making the main tourney, and Great Britain could be a dark horse candidate to cause an upset or two.  No matter what, it will be fun to see the WBC back in action in 2016.

[caption id="attachment_60" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-60" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/tomateros-300x169.jpg" alt="Tomateros - 2015 LSPB Champions - Photo credit: Tomateros Facebook Page" width="300" height="169" /> Tomateros - 2015 LSPB Champions - Photo credit: Tomateros Facebook Page[/caption]

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Back in Brazil, the <strong>Liga São Paulo de Beisebol</strong> wrapped up its 2015 season with the championship game between the <strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/suzanotomateros">Suzano Tomateros</a></strong> versus the defending two time champion, <strong>Underdogs,</strong> in <strong>Mie Nishi Stadium</strong> in São Paulo this past September 28th. On hand for the Tomateros was pro pitcher <strong>Thiago Silva</strong>, who finished the game for Suzano to seal the victory. Silva pitched this past season in the Mexican Baseball League for <strong>Ciudad del Carmen (TOR AAA),</strong> where he went 2-6 with a 3.22 ERA and 1.05 WHIP.