Dominican winter league update: Robles, Soto and others

Here is an update of Nationals players' progress in the Dominican winter league, which has played nine games:

OF Victor Robles

Robles is the second-leading hitter for Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican winter league. Robles is batting .480 (12-for-25) in six games with two doubles and 14 RBIs. He has walked one time, struck out three times and stolen one base. His OPS is 1.060 and he has not committed an error in the field. He went 3-for-4 on Oct. 16 and has gone 2-for-4 in each of his last two games, Oct. 20 and 23. He is batting .625 against right-handers and .222 against lefties.

OF Juan Soto

Soto is in the Dominican Republic and is awaiting the go-ahead to join Tigres del Licey. Soto is in the running for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, the winner of which will be announced in a couple of weeks. He hit .292 with 22 homers and 70 RBIs, with 77 runs and 79 walks in 414 at-bats this season for the Nats. Soto celebrated his 20th birthday Thursday. The Japan trip is November 9-15. After the trip the Nats will decide how many games Soto will play for Licey before the end of the winter league season in early January.

RHP Joan Baez

"Joan is doing fine," Nationals pitching coordinator Paul Menhart said earlier this month. "We are going to allow him to play winter ball this year and let him relieve a little bit. Get that experience under his belt."

Baez has appeared in one game so far in the Dominican winter league, on the same team as Robles. He tossed 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

OF Telmito Agustin and C Taylor Gushue

Agustin was 1-for-4 in his first game with Gigantes del Cibao on Oct. 21. He struck out once. Teammate Gushue has played in eight games and is batting .200 with two doubles, a homer and five RBIs.

RHP Jimmy Cordero

Cordero has appeared in two games for Leones del Escogido. He has not allowed a hit or run in three innings, and had recorded three walks and one strikeout. Cordero had a 5.68 ERA for the Nationals in 22 games.

RHP Phillips Valdez

Valdez has made one start for Estrellas de Orientales, on Oct. 22, going four innings, allowing six hits and two runs with no walks or strikeouts. He went 6-7 with a 2.73 ERA in 31 games in the Nats system.

LHP Tommy Milone

Milone has made two starts for Tigres del Licey, going 0-1 with a 0.00 ERA in 10 innings. He has allowed one unearned run and seven hits. Amazingly, he took the loss when he allowed one unearned run versus Escogido in a 2-1 loss on Oct. 21. He surrendered the run in the second inning. Licey managed to score a run in the ninth, but fell 2-1.