In today's edition of Get To Know A Prospect, I decided to look in a place for a prospect that is not normally looked at. Juan Feliciano was the winner of the IBL (Israel Baseball League) most valuable pitcher. During last season he was 27, but before we look at his stats then, lets look at his other stats.

He has never played in the minors. At age 25 and 26, he played two seasons in the Japanese Baseball League. He played for Hiroshima. His first year, his ERA was 6.92, then it was 7.39. (Over 11.2 and 35.1 IP pitched respectively). Both seasons he had 11 K's, which means his K/9 went from 8.46 to 2.80.
Last season, over 50.1 IP, he posted a 1.97 ERA, went 7-1 (12 G), 6 CG, 2 shutouts, and 73 K's. Thats the result of two things. One could be that he really did get a lot better last year. It is also because he went from a Japanese League which is like AAA, to IBL, which many feel is somewhere in the A level.
In winter ball so far, over 13.2 IP, he has posted a 3.29 ERA with 13 K's.

When taking his winter time in account, he has made an improvement. That league is harder to pitch in then the IBL and those are still pretty good numbers. One of the two MVP's from IBL last year got signed by the Yanks. As far as I know he will remain to be in the IBL, but he could be someone to keep an eye on.
To be clear, I do not see him making the MLB as a starter, I see him possibly making it as a player from the pen to pitch for injuries. But he is important because he is an international star and spreading the game of baseball to different areas of the world.