The Dominican Summer League is made up of six divisions and controlled by Major League Baseball. In regards to the playoffs, the six division winners earn automatic bids while two wild card teams also get the chance to participate. The White Sox play in the Baseball City Division. The rookie-level affiliate finished in third place this season with a record of 32-22. The club scored 366 runs (2nd most in the division) while giving up 320 runs. It was a pretty successful season for the DSL White Sox and the squad was led by some teenagers who put up big offensive numbers.
The White Sox’s affiliate plays at the club’s complex in Boca Chica and they play in the Boca Chica Baseball Baseball City Division of the Dominican Summer League. The 2023 club is comprised of 16 pitchers, five catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders. Out of 35 players on the roster, the majority are members of the most recent international class. Statistics shouldn’t be heavily relied upon but meaningful indicators of future performance can often be found. Age, loud tools and positional value are all factors that can help players stand out in the league.
Anthony Nunez served as the manager for the Dominican Summer League White Sox in 2023. Julio Bruno took on the role of hitting coach and Moises Nunez was the assistant hitting coach. Guillermo Reyes was tasked with coaching the infielders. The pitching coach is Jose Brito, who served as the assistant pitching coach last year. Angel Gonzalez is an assistant coach on the staff and Fran Bautista served as the Performance Coach.
The White Sox signed some high profile pitchers during the international class but it was their low dollar hitters who stole the show during the Dominican Summer League season. The White Sox haven’t typically gotten this much offensive impact out of their international classes. The majority of these players have presented with plate discipline and they’re all extremely young; hailing from mostly Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. The club didn’t spend the majority of their bonus pool on an older Cuban player who skipped the Dominican Summer League altogether so this class has seemingly been a pleasant surprise for the organization.
Position Players:
17-year-old infielder Javier Mogollón was one of the best players in the Dominican Summer League this season. The 5-8, 160 pounder played second base and shortstop and he clubbed ten homers in 47 games. The Venezuelan hit .315/.417/.582 with a 156 wRC+ on the year. Ben Badler of Baseball America called the infielder a “sleeper” with a “short, quick, clean and balanced right-handed swing” and the ability to barrel the baseball consistently with plus run grades. He projects as a second baseman but should stay at shortstop for the time being. After signing for $75,000, the 17-year-old walked at a 13.6% walk rate and striking out just 14.1% of the time. Mogollón should make his stateside debut next season in Arizona.
Another 17-year-old infielder from Venezuela posted some solid numbers for this club as well. Adrián Gil played first and third base pretty consistently over the course of 45 games. The 6-0, 195 pounder hit .340/.481/.517 with five homers on the year. Gil posted a 170 wRC+ with an 11% strikeout rate and 13.2% walk rate after signing for just $40,000.
18-year-old Cuban Rafael Álvarez signed for $300,000 and produced a solid showing in his first professional season. In 35 games, the third baseman hit .215/.461/.333 with two homers while showing a 22% walk rate and posting a 136 wRC+.
Ryan Castillo played on the corners as well in his second season with the DSL White Sox. The left-handed hitter slashed .259/.370/.422 with a 113 wRC+ while smacking four homers.
D’Angelo Tejada struggled in 43 games after signing for $350,000 out of the Dominican Republic. The 6-0, 160 pounder was lauded as a lean and athletic shortstop with plus-plus speed, a plus arm and good footwork. He could return to the DSL in 2024. Juan Uribe Jr. and Venezuelan Eyke Ugueta played a bunch and struggled offensively as well.
Abraham Núñez Jr. played mostly center field after signing with the White Sox for $700,000 out of the Dominican Republic this past January. The 17-year-old possesses big league bloodlines as his father played for the Kansas City Royals and Miami Marlins from 2002-2004. In 44 games in the Dominican Summer League, the 6-2, 175 pounder posted a 136 wRC+ with an 18% walk rate and 12% strikeout rate while hitting three homers. The left-handed hitter slashed .299/.427/.442 while showing solid bat control and strike zone judgment throughout. He performed similarly to how White Sox’s scouts expected after they watched his success throughout amateur tournaments prior to signing.
17-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Marcelo Alcalá made his professional debut in the DSL and posted a 130 wRC+ over the course of 42 games. The 6-0, 185 pounder hits and throws from the right side. The outfielder hit .245/.417/.408 while clubbing two homers.
Dominican outfielder Leandro Alsinois repeated the league as a 19-year-old and he slashed .301/.422/.390 while posting a 125 wRC+. 17-year-old Albert Alberto made his debut as well and he posted a 20% walk rate while 18-year-old Cesar D’Oleo struggled with the bat.
The White Sox spent $750,000 on two Venezuelan catchers in the most recent period as well. Angelo Hernández is an 18-year-old who hit .232/.436/.304 with a 20% walk rate in 21 games played. Hernández was known for his defensive skills and he can control the running game with a plus arm while being an advanced receiver as well. Hernández could have 20 home run potential. Stiven Flores is a solid defender as well but he’s known for his offensive potential. The 5-11, 180 pounder is a power hitting catcher who drives the ball to all fields from the right side. The 17-year-old posted a 152 wRC+ while hitting .391/.456/.477 in 37 games. Juan Oviedo, Edwin Ramos and Elías Riera split time behind the plate as well.
Pitchers
Luis Reyes signed for $700,000 and he received the third biggest bonus of any Dominican pitcher in the signing class. The 6-2, 190 pound righty really struggled initially and the organization used him in multiple ways to ultimately get him going. On the season, the 17-year-old made nine starts and pitched in 16 games while throwing 37.2 innings and posting an ERA of 7.17 overall. Reyes struck out 49 hitters and walked 30 while accumulating for a, xFIP of 4.63. As an amateur, he frequented Perfect Game events in the United States and the White Sox were drawn to him partially due to that experience. His fastball touches 97 mph now and he could end up with two plus secondaries. He has a feel for a slider and a changeup while showing a low effort delivery and good extension. He should make his stateside debut in 2024.
Fabian Ysalla is another interesting 18-year-old arm who signed with the White Sox last January. He’s a former shortstop who has converted full time to the mound and he received $50,000. The 6-1, 185 pounder reaches 95 mph with his fastball and he’s a very athletic hurler with a long arm action. There’s a hard curveball in his profile too that looks as if it could be a plus offering in the future. High 90’s velocity should be possible down the road as well. In 16 innings pitched in the Dominican Summer League, Ysalla posted a 3.24 ERA and he should make his stateside debut in Arizona next season.
Denny Lima is a 19-year-old Dominican righty who signed in the most recent signing class as well. The 6-0, 170 pounder posted a 3.79 ERA in 54.2 innings over the course of 13 starts while striking out 44 hitters. Jordany Chirinos of Venezuela made five starts and posted a 4.12 ERA. In 39.1 innings pitched, the 6-3, 195 pound right hander did a solid job. Marcelo Valladares spent two seasons in the Dominican Summer League after signing in 2022. The Venezuelan posted a 2.93 ERA in 11 starts this year. The 19-year-old struck out 43 batters and walked 29 in 46 innings of work and he stands at 6’4, 230 pounds. Lefty Jeremy Gonzalez made starts as well and posted a 3.75 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 36 innings.
The pitching staff was comprised of many teenage arms and a few of them thrived in relief roles as well. Southpaw Luis Rodriguez posted a 3.55 ERA in 33 innings pitched. He made no starts on the season as a 19-year-old out of Venezuela. He posted a 1.15 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and six walks. Dominican righty Pedro Redman posted a 2.45 ERA as a 19-year-old and he also struck out 26 batters in 22 innings with a 1.1 WHIP. Oscar Hernandez is another Venezuelan signed in the most recent international class. He posted a 6.17 ERA but he struck out 34 batters in just over 23 innings pitched on the season.