The Dominican Summer League White Sox are the lowest level of the franchise’s farm system. They play in Boca Chica in the Baseball City division along with clubs from the Reds, Padres, Orioles, Diamondbacks and Blue Jays. They first came into existence in 1989 and it was often a shared affiliate. Teams in the DSL are owned and operated by Major League Baseball’s thirty organizations. The league’s season typically begins in June. There was no season in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and in 2021, the season began on July 12 and concluded without playoffs on October 2 with 46 teams competing.
The squad was managed by Guillermo Reyes. Gerardo Olivares served as the hitting coach while Leo Hernandez handled the pitching coach duties and Angel Gonzalez was the assistant pitching coach. The roster was comprised of some of the youngest players in the organization and many of them are signed via the international marketplace. The DSL White Sox finished in fourth place in their division with a record of 26-33. They were 15-15 at home and 11-18 on the road.
Pitchers (age is parentheses)
RHP: Francisco Benitez (21), Jendersson Caraballo (22), Brian Carrion (22), Adrian Gil (18), Carlos Hinestroza (18), Dionicio Jimenez (20), Yohemy Nolasco (18), Gabriel Rodriguez (18), Jesus Rondon (22), Emerson Talavera (19), Miguel Toribio (19), Manuel Veloz (20), Norge Vera (21)
LHP: Oriel Castro (20), Guillermo Cuevas (22), Jorge Ferrer (21), Daniel Gonzalez (19), Jose Jimenez (19)
Norge Vera was the best and most advanced pitcher signed during the 2020-2021 international signing period. The White Sox nabbed the Cuban righty and gave him $1.5 million to sign. Due to the shifting landscape and taxable income specifics, Vera threw in the Dominican Summer League instead of reporting for stateside action. The 6-4 185 pounder compiled 34 strikeouts in 19 innings with a WHIP of 0.74. His stuff was more excellent than advertised and there’s a solid chance that he’ll be regarded as the best prospect in the system in short order. Vera should make his full season in debut in 2022 and his situation is one of the many complications in regards to moving the international signing period.
During showcases prior to signing, Vera sat 91-94 with his fastball but evaluators believed that significant projection remained. Marco Paddy and his staff prioritized the Cuban right hander and got the deal done. Vera defected during the summer of 2019 when Cuba was playing in the Can-AM Games. In addition to his fastball, the Cuban with strong bloodlines shows an upper 70’s curveball that flashes plus and a low 80’s slider with a developing changeup mostly used to stave off lefties. During the DSL season, Vera’s fastball was electric, often touching 99 mph and he added strength while working to repeat his delivery more consistently. Vera should begin the 2022 season in either Kannapolis or Winston-Salem and could move at an accelerated pace throughout the system.
18-year-old righties Adrian Gil and Carlos Hinestroza are two other notable arms that were signed in the most recent international period. Gil was trained by former White Sox’ standout Freddy Garcia in Venezuela and the 5-11 195 pounder posted a 4.91 ERA in just two starts in the DSL. Gil possesses a low 90’s fastball with advanced pitchability at a young age. He changes speeds well and shows good spin and shape on his curveball. There is a changeup and slider presently as well. Hinestroza is the latest addition from Panama and the 6-1 190 pounder posted a 2.45 ERA in 36.2 innings over 22 games. He posted a 1.15 WHIP which is solid in the league.
The Panamanian moved to the mound from third base prior to signing and he’s in the process of adding strength with the intention of throwing harder. He’s learning how to pitch. Hinestroza possesses a 91 mph fastball with a slider and changeup to go with it. Gil and Hinestroza could make stateside debuts in 2022.
Two more righties that were recent additions to the organization are a pair of Venezuelans who have been solid pitching in the Dominican. Gabriel Rodriguez is an 18-year-old signed in the most recent class. The 5-11 175 pounder posted a 4.19 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 43 innings over the course of 16 games. Manuel Veloz is 6-2 and 185 pounds. The 20-year-old posted a 4.08 ERA with 47 strikeouts in 46.1 innings in 2021. Veloz made four starts but he has the profile of a reliever in the future. The right hander posted a 0.91 ERA in 2019 in 39.2 innings. Veloz should debut in Arizona next year.
Jendersson Caraballo is a 22-year-old righty from the Dominican Republic. He missed the 2021 season rehabbing an injury but the 6-3 190 pounder has posted a 2.97 ERA in the DSL so far. He hasn’t pitched in a game since 2019 however. 21-year-old Francisco Benitez is another Dominican on the staff. The 6-2 187 pound righty posted a 6.08 ERA in 26.2 innings with 87 strikeouts in 87 career innings. Brian Carrion is a 6-2 180 pounder that threw 18 innings this year. The 22-year-old struck out 21 hitters in those innings. Another righty is Emerson Talavera and he threw 51 innings in 2021. The 5-10 160 pound 19-year-old from Venezuela struck out 47 hitters with a 2.47 ERA.
Dionicio Jimenez, Yohemy Nolasco and Miguel Toribio round out the staff from the right side. Jimenez is a 6-4 190 pound 20-year-old from the Dominican Republic and he’s struggled in three DSL seasons. Nolasco is 18-years-old and the 6-3 160 pounder posted a 5.32 ERA across seven starts. Toribio is also from the Dominican and the 6-1 165 pound 19-year-old has compiled a 4.40 ERA in 61.1 career innings. There were four southpaws on the squad as well. Oriel Castro, Guillermo Cuevas, Jorger Ferrer, Daniel Gonzalez and Jose Jimenez all tossed baseballs from the left side.
Castro is a 6-0 175 pound Panamanian and the 20-year-old compiled 53 strikeouts in 38 innings. Cuevas is also 20-years-old and the Dominican posted a 4.64 ERA with 47 strikeouts in just 33 innings. Ferrer is also Dominican and the 6-3 180 pound 21-year-old posted a 5.10 ERA in 2021 but he struck out 42 batters in 30 innings. Gonzalez is a Venezuelan and the 19-year-old threw 36.1 innings while Jimenez didn’t pitch at all in 2021 after struggling in 2019.
Position Players (age, position in parentheses)
Alvero Aguero (18, OF), Ricardo Aguilar C, 18), Dario Borrero (OF, 17), Godwin Bennett (OF, 19), Alberto Bernal (1B, 19), Carlos Gomez (OF, 20), Manuel Guariman (C, 17), Roberth Gutierrez (C,OF, 19), Arxy Hernandez (INF, 18), Carlos Jimenez (OF, 19), Cesar Jimenez (Inf, 20), Juan Mercedes (OF, 21), Randel Mondesi (OF 18), Javier Mora (Inf 18), Luis Pineda (C, 19), Victor Quezada (3B, 17), Layant Tapia (OF, 19), Fernando Vargas (OF, 19)
Three of the players with the highest upside on the positional side were all signed in the most recent international class. Victor Quezada, Manuel Guariman and Dario Borrero are all names to watch moving forward. Quezada is a 17-year-old Dominican third basemen that signed for $525K back in January. The 6-1 185 pounder hits right handed and is physically advanced with raw power and a strong build. He has a plus arm and shows a simple swing with all fields power. Power is definitely his best tool and the infielder hit six homers in the DSL. In 48 games, Quezada hit .250/.353/.436 with a 120 wRC+ and a walk rate of 14.4%. He should make his stateside debut in Arizona to start the 2022 season.
Guariman is a Venezuelan catcher with solid power and offensive potential. He also projects to stay behind the plate though and remain at catcher. The right handed thrower and hitter signed for $475K and played in 31 games in the DSL. The 6-0 196 pounder hit .317/.378/.366 on the season. He was decent and it was a small sample but the 17-year-old could also make his stateside debut next season.
Borrero is another Venezuelan and the large outfielder only played in five games after getting injured during the season. The 6-5 190 pounder throws and hits from the left side but he possesses huge power potential with the ability to add lots more mass to his frame. Borrero’s swing is easy and loose but he could end up at first base in the long run if he continues to grow like last year.
There are eight additional outfielders joining Barrero on the White Sox’s roster as well. 6-2 170 pound Nicaraguan Godwin Bennett was stellar while posting a 135 wRC+ with four homers in 33 games. The 19-year-old switch hitter struck out a lot and walked a fair amount as well and he’s a name to keep an eye on going forward. Alvaro Aguero is a right handed hitting center fielder that posted a .685 OPS while displaying some solid defensive skills. The 6-0 165 pound 18-year-old stole lots of bases and hit two homers as well. Roberth Gutierrez played on the outfield corners in addition to catcher and the 19-year-old Venezuelan has posted a .721 career OPS.
Carlos Jimenez also signed as a member of the most recent international signing haul. The 6-4 220 pound Panamanian hit two homers on the year from the left side in 102 plate appearances. Randel Mondesi is the son of former big leaguer Raul but the 18-year-old struggled in 70 at-bats. 19-year-old Venezuelan Fernando Vargas, 20-year-old switch hitter Carlos Gomez and 21-year-old Dominican Juan Mercedes played some outfield too.
Playing mostly at first base, Cuban Alberto Bernal has struggled in 65 career games. The 6-1 215 pound 19-year-old has hit four homers in his career. Shortstop Layant Tapia posted a .715 OPS with two homers this year. The infielder stands at 6-1 160 pounds and is 19-years-old. Javier Mora is a Venezuelan infielder that struggled offensively as well. The right handed hitter is 18-years-old. Dominican infielder Arxy Hernandez plays mostly third base and the 6-2 170 pounder hit one homer in 70 at-bats. Cesar “Enoy” Jimenez is the younger brother of Eloy and the 5-10 160 pound 20-year-old posted a .659 OPS in 2021.
The other catchers on the roster hail from Venezuela similarly to Guariman. It’s rare for catchers to come out of the Dominican Republic and this roster composition at the position is a normal practice. Luis Pineda has played in 59 career games and he’s known for his defensive skills. The 6-1 210 pound 19-year-old has compiled a .624 OPS with four homers in his career. Ricardo Aguilar is a 6-0 180 pound 18-year-old and he caught 23 games in 2021.
The Dominican Summer League is generally littered with teenage prospects from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and other Latin American countries. The next international signing period begins on January 15, 2022 and FutureSox will have you covered on all of the activities related to the White Sox and Marco Paddy’s staff. Oscar Colas is expected to be the latest big ticket addition for the club but the organization has also reached agreement with left handed hitting Dominican outfielder Erick Hernandez as well. The bonus is expected to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 million and he’s the #28 overall prospect for the signing period according to MLB Pipeline. The White Sox will have just over $5 million to spend on the international market.
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