leading the way

The Caribbean leagues have begun postseason play, and former Mississippi Braves standout Gorkys Hernandez, the Venezuelan Winter League batting champ, stayed hot in his club’s opener. Hernandez, now with the Miami Marlins, went 3-for-4 in Caribes’ 8-1 win on Wednesday. Hernandez batted .316 and dazzled in center field during a half season in Mississippi in 2009. He was traded to Pittsburgh in the Nate McLouth deal. Miami dealt for him last summer. He hit just .212 for the Marlins in 45 games, but after batting .367 with VWL-bests of 48 runs and 15 stolen bases, he should get a long look this spring. … Former M-Braves slugger Ernesto Mejia, now on Atlanta’s 40-man roster, led the VWL in RBIs with 48 and tied for the lead in homers with 16. Evan Gattis, a 2012 M-Brave, also hit 16. He’s not on the Braves’ big league roster, but he’ll be in camp, possibly vying for time in left field. … Also, Mauro Gomez, another former M-Braves star, led the Dominican Winter League with 38 RBIs. Gomez is now with Boston. Ex-M-Braves closer Jairo Asencio (Milwaukee) topped the DWL with 12 saves, and M-Braves alum Barbaro Canizares led the Mexican Pacific League with 66 RBIs. P.S. Delta State coach Mike Kinnison will be the speaker at Northeast Mississippi Community College’s First Pitch Banquet on Jan. 21. The college season is fast approaching.