12/13 Zambrano is a hit

Carlos Zambrano tuned up for the regular season by taking part in a home run derby in Caracas, Venezuela, on Monday night. Seattle Minor Leaguer Luis Jimenez won the event. Zambrano did connect, but did not qualify for the second round. As for his pitching, Zambrano may be back on the mound Wednesday for Caribes to make his fourth start in the Venezuelan Winter League. He has not pitched since Nov. 18 when he took a line drive off his face that required 16 stitches.

Zambrano told Joiner Martinez at Lider en Deportes: “I’m preparing like when I was a rookie, climbing mountains, running on the beach, and exercising hard so that I can arrive at Spring Training in optimal shape. I want to stay in Chicago for two seasons I still have with the team. I’m not a coward who would take the back door out of the Majors.”

– Carrie Muskat