CPBL Playing Futures Series

With their stars fighting for gold in Athens, the Chinese Professional Baseball League is hosting a series of baseball games involving so-called future stars. With the season being suspended until the Olympians return, teams have added a few foreign players.

Makoto Cobras

P Rafael Roque
Former Major Leaguer Rafael Roque was recently signed by the Makoto Cobras. The 31 year old left hander spent three seasons in the Majors with the Milwaukee Brewers until as recent as 2000. In the Big Show, Roque posted a 5-8 record with a 5.39 ERA in 56 GP (18 GS, 137.0 IP). He walked 73 and fanned 104 batters. Out of Cotui in the Dominican Republic, Roque has spent 2004 with the Tigres de Angelopolis where he has gone 7-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 16 GP (14 GS, 80.2 IP).

China Trust Whales

P Isabel Giron
The China Trust Whales have added 32 year old right hander Isabel Giron (any relation to Emiliano?) to their roster. In 2004, Giron has played for two teams in the Mexican League: the Vaqueros Alguna and the Yucatan Leones. He was 7-7 with a 5.33 ERA in 20 GP (19 GS, 104.2 IP). Giron walked 44 and struck out 79 batters.

P Gary Espadas
In addition to Giron, the Whales have also signed another righty out of Mexico, 27 year old Gary Espadas. He had a 4-1 record with a 3.98 ERA in 19 GP (4 GS, 40.2 IP) also with the Leones. However, this is not Espadas' first adventure in the CPBL. He previously pitched for the Whales where he had a 0-1-0 record with a 5.63 ERA in 4 GP (eight short innings).

P Rigoberto Loya
Finally, the Whales have plucked Rigoberto Loya from the Monterrey Sultanes of the Mexican League where he was 9-3 with a 2.80 ERA in 16 GP (16 GS, 99.2 IP). However, he walked 37 while only striking out 37. With Mazatlan, Loya was 0-1 with a 4.56 ERA in 24 GP (1 GS, 25.2 IP).