[caption id="attachment_80" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-80" src="http://baseballbrazil.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/hi-res-a690f6d31c5af643d8b24006ea8d6dc5_crop_north-300x200.jpg" alt="Yan Gomes - photo credit: bleacherreport.com" width="300" height="200" /> Yan Gomes - photo credit: bleacherreport.com[/caption]

So another October, another Brazilian on a World Series roster. This time it is <strong>Cleveland Indians</strong> Catcher <strong>Yan Gomes,</strong> the first Brazilian ever to make it to the big leagues and the second Brazilian to make it to the final round of the MLB playoffs. Although Yan isn't starting due to having just come back from an injury, he could be called upon to pinch hit or spell Roberto Perez behind the plate. Perez, of course, was the offensive hero last night for the Indians in their Game 1 victory over the Chicago Cubs, hitting two home runs. But you never know what happens in post-season play...hopefully Yan gets to see some action.

A number of other Brazilians have made their way to Fall and Winter ball leagues. Left handed starter <strong>Luiz Gohara</strong> and right handed reliever <strong>Thyago Vieira</strong> have been pitching in the Arizona Fall League for the Seatte Mariners' Peoria squad. At one point a couple weeks ago, Vieira was averaging 99.4 MPH on his fastball, topping off at 101.6 MPH.

Relief Pitcher <strong>Tiago da Silva</strong>, who played this season in the Mexican League, is now with the <strong>Cardenales de Lara</strong> in Venezuela (<strong>Kansas City Royals </strong>outfielder <strong>Paulo Orlando's</strong> past Winter League team). Unfortunately for Lara fans, Orlando will not be joining the Cardenales this season as his wife is pregnant and he is staying in Kansas City to formalize his U.S. residency status.

It was announced a couple days ago that infielder <strong>Leonardo Reginatto</strong> and pitcher <strong>Andre Rienzo</strong> would join the Brazilian national team roster for the <strong>15th South American Baseball Championship</strong>, to be held in Argentina November 5-12. Other notetworthy names on the roster with pro ball (minor league) experience include <strong>Murilo Gouvea</strong>, <strong>Jean Tome</strong>, <strong>Allan Fanhoni</strong> (Japan), <strong>Luis Camargo</strong> (Japan/Italy), <strong>Iago Januario</strong>, <strong>Felipe Burin</strong>, <strong>Pedro Okuda</strong>, <strong>Tiago Magalhães</strong> and <strong>Felipe Talos</strong>. The full roster can be found on this link to the <a href="http://www.cbbs.com.br/institucional/circulares/434-circular-60-16-lista-atletas-convocados-para-o-xvcampeonato-sulamericano-de-beisebol-adulto">CBBS website</a>.  Rienzo and Camargo were also named assistant coaches to the squad.

A number of the aforementioned players were also on the <strong>Team Brazil's</strong> <strong>World Baseball Classic</strong> roster that finished in 3rd place in the WBC Qualifying Round held in Brooklyn, NY last month. After beating <strong>Team Pakistan</strong>, Brazil lost to a <strong>Team Israel</strong> team that was almost entirely made up of U.S. born players of Jewish ancestry, who had substantially more major and minor league experience. Then Brazil lost to a <strong>Team Great Britain</strong> group that was made up mostly of Bahamian and U.S. born players who also had a substantial amount of U.S. college and pro ball time under their belts.  While Brazil featured a number of U.S. born players as well (like <strong>Dante Bichette Jr.</strong> and <strong>Bo Bichette</strong>, whose mom is Brazilian), and I certainly don't have anything against Israel or Great Britain, I do hope that in the future the WBC will adjust their rules to ensure that teams' rosters will actually require a majority of native born players.  Otherwise, what's the point in teams like Pakistan, which featured all Pakistanis who've barely started playing the sport, even bothering to participate? Food for thought.