[caption id="attachment_90" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-90" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/12779190_1048297278567355_3479069416037636084_o-300x300.jpg" alt="Mie Nishi Stadium - Sao Paulo - photo credit LSPB Facebook Page" width="300" height="300" /> Mie Nishi Stadium - Sao Paulo - photo credit LSPB Facebook Page[/caption]

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Feliz Spring Training 2016! There is a lot going on with Brazilians in both the pro ranks as well as back home in Brazil. Let’s get right in to it with a quick Spring Training status of some of the top guys:

<strong>Yan Gomes</strong>, C, CLE: Despite an injury-riddled 2015 with the Indians, as well as the incredible rise of Paulo Orlando last season, Gomes is still the veteran standard bearer of pro Brazilian baseball players. Gomes is a clubhouse leader in Cleveland, carries tremendous respect from Indians future Hall of Fame manager Terry Francona and commands a great game behind the plate regardless of who’s pitching. It’s amazing to think that Gomes was once listed behind JP Arencibia and Travis d’Arnaud in the Toronto Blue Jays catching depth chart. 2016 is a crucial year for Gomes and the Indians. If Gomes can stay healthy we may see a repeat of 2014, when he took home the Silver Slugger Award for catchers.

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<strong>Paulo Orlando</strong>, OF, KC: As if it couldn’t get any cooler to be Paulo Orlando right now, he literally JUST inherited the opportunity to be the starting Right Fielder for the defending World Champion Kansas City Royals. An injury to starter Jerrod Dyson last week has put Orlando in an ideal spot to nab the Opening Day nod in the starting lineup. Orlando was such an instrumental part of the Royals championship last season and this next step seems only natural now for how long and far he has come. Recall that Orlando spent 10 years in the minors and will be 30 on Opening Day.  If the Brazilians are right, then God is one of them and he’s smiling down on Orlando right now.

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<strong>Andre Rienzo</strong>, P, MIA:  Although Rienzo was DFA’d by the Marlins in January, meaning he was taken off the 40 man roster and assigned to Triple A, he was reassigned back to the Marlins last week and has made a couple of appearances in the big league camp, giving up one run in 2 innings pitched and 3Ks. Rienzo needs a strong spring to put him back in consideration for even a bullpen job with Miami, or at least to have another team take a look him for the regular season.

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<strong>Leonardo Reginatto</strong>, IF, MIN: Reginatto is currently in the Twins’ minor league camp. Minnesota is pretty deep in the infield on their 40 man roster, so Reginatto is going to have to rely on a combination of other people's injuries, luck and his own strong performance to move up the ranks. Realistically he’ll probably need to put together at least 1 to 2 strong seasons in Triple A before he gets a shot to make a big league roster.

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<strong>Luiz Gohara</strong>, P, SEA: Though still only 19 years old and with only having made it no higher than Single A ball so far, Gohara was ranked in this year’s Athlon Sports MLB Preview edition as the number 4 big league prospect in the Mariners’ organization. Gohara is a lefty with a 97 MPH fastball, so that has a lot to do with it.

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It was officially announced early last month that Hall of Famer <strong>Barry Larkin </strong>will once again be manager of Team Brazil in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, which has already started its qualification rounds with Australia winning its group a few weeks ago to move on to the main round early next year. Brazil drew Great Britain, Pakistan and Israel in their qualification round this September 22-25, in Brooklyn, New York.  Of the three opponents, perhaps the most dangerous will be Israel as their roster will likely be made up mostly of U.S.-born pro and college players of Jewish heritage. Also, none of the aforementioned Brazilians on MLB rosters, including Gomes and Orlando, will be available to play for Brazil in the qualification round since it coincides with the MLB regular season, however players in the minors as well as Brazilians playing in other parts of the world, like Japan, would be eligible.
Back in Brazil, last week Pereira Barreto beat Cooper Clube to win the U14 9<sup>th</sup> Annual Yakult Cup, played at CT Yakult in Ibiúna, São Paulo. <strong>Arthur Alves Sabino</strong> of Pereira cleaned up on individual honors as well, being named MVP, Best Pitcher and 2<sup>nd</sup> in RBIs in the tournament. More information on the tournament can be found on the <a href="http://www.cbbs.com.br/noticias/238-resultado-viii-taca-yakult-de-beisebol-inter-clubes-pre-junior-2016">CBBS website</a>.

Meanwhile, this month Nittaidai (Nippon Sports Science University) is on its 3<sup>rd</sup> tour of Brazil, conducting clinics and playing games in various locales around the country, including Cuiabá, Cáceres, Ibiúna, Marília, Guararapes, Indaiatuba, Curitiba, Londrina and São Paulo. More info on the tour can be found on this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbiqktEgeGw&amp;feature=youtu.be">YouTube channel</a>.

Next week, the amateur Liga São Paulo de Beisebol starts up for 2016. 12 teams will be participating in this season’s edition. More information can be found on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ligaspbeisebol/">LSPB Facebook page</a>.