The preseason games are underway in the Dominican Winter League, which officially opens up their season next Wednesday on October 15th. On Tuesday Licey took on Cibao and they sent Cincinnati Reds prospect Ovis Portes to the mound as the starting pitcher.
The first inning saw him allow a seeing-eye single into left field, but he worked around it without any issue. In the next inning he picked up two swinging strikeouts but also allowed two singles, but avoided damage by getting a ground out to end the inning. His third and final inning was a quick and easy one that saw him get a pop up to shortstop, a groundout to second, and a fly out to center.
Cincinnati did limit Ovis Portes somewhat in 2025. But so did his performance. He spent the year with the Daytona Tortugas and made 15 starts and eight relief appearances. Despite that he threw just 61.1 innings during the season. And part of that is because he struggled to keep runs off of the board and from handing out free passes. His ERA was 5.87 in the Florida State League where the average ERA was 4.29. He also walked 49 batters and hit five more.
What Portes did do was limit hits. The 20-year-old who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in July of 2024 in a trade that sent Lucas Sims to the American League East club only gave up 53 hits on the year. He pitched better at home than on the road, and he was a lot better against left-handed hitters than right-handed hitters, and when it comes to the hitting – he was better as a reliever than a starter, but his control was much worse as a reliever than as a starter.
It’s not a guarantee that Portes will actually pitch with Licey once the season begins. He will have to make the team. But Tuesday’s outing probably doesn’t hurt his chances of at least seeing some time early in the season.
Reiver Sanmartin signs with Licey
After pitching with Cincinnati in the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, Reiver Sanmartin was injured in 2023 and underwent Tommy John surgery and missed most of 2023 and part of 2024. Inn 2025 he found success in Triple-A with Louisville and in September the Reds called him up on September 2nd and he threw 1.2 innings and was charged with an unearned run against Toronto. He was optioned back to the minor leagues the next day and didn’t return as he finished out the season in the minor leagues.
Still a part of the Reds 40-man roster, Sanmartin signed to pitch with Licey on Tuesday as a free agent (for winter ball purposes). Their release about the signing notes that he would be available to pitch for them to start the season.