Minor League Baseball yesterday announced the Player and Pitcher of the Month Award winners for July in each of the 14 leagues in Major League Baseball’s player development system. Two Minnesota Twins farmhands were recognized in their respective leagues.
DSL left-handed pitcher Cesar Lares went 1-0 with a 0.43 ERA in five starts as he allowed just 10 hits and six walks in 21.0 innings while striking out 36. Lares held opponents to a .135 average. Lares, 19, was signed by the Twins as an international free agent out of Maracay, Venezuela, on May 3, 2022 for a $10K signing bonus. Lares is 6’0″/155.
FCL Twins catcher/outfielder Ricardo Olivar batted .344/.444/.721 and led the league in doubles (8), triples (3), total bases (44), slugging percentage (.721) and OPS (1.165). He was third in average (.344) and on-base percentage (.444) and was fifth in home runs (three). Olivar, 20, was signed by Minnesota as an international free agent out of Barquisimeto, Venezuela, on July 2, 2019. Olivar is 5’10″/176.