Baseball's international signing period, which begins July 2, is one of the most important dates on the calendar in Latin America. The new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has restricted all teams to a $2.9 million dollar budget internationally in 2012; teams who have been aggressively signing players in the past, stretching their budgets and signing unlimited prospects throughout the International space now have to evaluate their appointed budget. This year’s signing class is as solid as ever but by circumstance it has made the signing period more strategic than ever.
With less than 10 weeks left until the signing period begins MLB teams have a feel for names on their target list throughout Latin America. Gustavo Cabrera rated #1 over all by MLB.com and Perfect Game for his athleticism, plus speed, raw plus power and plus defensive skills leads the July 2nd charge along with Amurys Minier, Wandell Rijo, Richard Urena, Frandy Delarosa, Luis Barrera, Natanael Javier, Jose Pujols, Natanael Delgado, Julio Delacruz, Deivi Grullon and Ronny Carvajal.
We will post info of our last event of the year; the upcoming DPL*Perfect Game International Tournament scheduled at the New York Yankees complex May 28-June 1st.
The Blue Jays have signed 37-year-old designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero to a minor league contract, the team announced. The Proformance client would earn a pro-rated portion of $1.3MM in the Major Leagues, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, who first reported the deal.
If Guerrero's bat looks good at extended Spring Training (his next stop) the Blue Jays could make some changes to their lineup. Assuming the Blue Jays don't consider Guerrero an option in the outfield, he'll pinch hit and DH. They could have Guerrero DH against left-handed pitching and shift Adam Lind to the bench against southpaws, with Edwin Encarnacion playing first base. Encarnacion, the team's best hitter so far in 2012, will continue to play every day, but it seems Lind could eventually lose playing time as a result of the signing.
Guerrero has 2,590 hits, 449 homers and a .318/.379/.553 line in 16 big league seasons. In 590 plate appearances with the Orioles last year, the nine-time All-Star posted a .290/.317/.416 line with 13 homers. He drew interest from the Diamondbacks, Indians and Marlins earlier this year.
Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos, a former Montreal Expos employee, has expressed admiration for Guerrero in the past. Anthopoulos has said throughout the spring that he'd be open to adding players on low-risk minor league deals.
ST. PETERSBURG -- After notching a five-out save on Wednesday night, Joel Peralta arrived to Tropicana Field dressed for a day of leisure.
Manager Joe Maddon told Peralta he had the day off after the veteran reliever preserved the Rays' 5-4 win in heroic fashion, earning his first save of the season. So the veteran reliever showed up at the clubhouse wearing beach attire, including swim trunks, straw hat, and flip flops, while carrying a beach ball.
Maddon "said go to the beach," Peralta teased. Kidding aside, facing Peralta has not been a day at the beach for opposing hitters lately. He has not been charged with an earned run in his last 10 appearances (9 2/3 innings) and has surrendered just three hits during that stretch.
Peralta struggled earlier in the season, when he gave up four earned runs at Boston on April 13 without retiring a batter. After that appearance, Peralta worked with pitching coach Jim Hickey and felt better. Then his long-time pitching coach, Fausto Mejia, flew in from the Dominican Republic to help his pupil, who was struggling with his mechanics at the time.
"[Mejia] is the one who taught me everything from Day 1," Peralta said. "He saw some things. A friend of mine was recording me on video and he watched the videos and called me on the phone and said I was doing a lot of things I wasn't supposed to do. So he bought a plane ticket and came over on [April 20]. We started working out the very next morning and everything started getting better and better."
Fausto "Chiki" Mejia and Joel Peralta (photo by Joseph Hache)
Peralta noticed a dramatic difference in how his delivery felt after working with Mejia.
"He saw things that probably only he could notice, because he was the one who built me, you know," Peralta said. "And I've been that same guy for 13 years. He saw it and fixed it right away."
Peralta noted that Mejia was the man who converted him from an infielder to a pitcher.
Miguel Sano is hitting .293 and slugging.598 in 26 games for Beloit (Paul R. Gierhart/MiLB.com
Sano's bat making familiar sound
For those tasked with working with him every day, whether Miguel Sano is right or not can be determined simply by the sound of his bat connecting with ball. In a nine-game stretch from April 21-29, when the Twins' No. 1 prospect went 6-for-33 (.182), that sound was heard all too rarely. But in his last couple games, including a 3-for-5 performance with a double and two RBIs on Wednesday in Class A Beloit's 6-5 win over Cedar Rapids, Snappers hitting coach Tommy Watkins has heard it a lot. "It's unreal. It's amazing to see the ball come off his bat, it's a different sound," said Watkins, who spent 12 seasons in the Twins system before getting a nine-game callup with Minnesota in 2007. "In all my years of playing, and three of coaching, I've never heard or seen the ball come off the bat the way it comes off his."
Baseball is a game that will, inherently, drive any hitter into a slump. What coaches like Watson want to see from a young player like Sano (who will turn 19 on May 11) is simply how he works through it. Between going 4-for-5 on April 20 and culling together his next multi-hit game Monday, when he went 2-for-3 against Dayton, Watson said he saw Sano, MLB.com's No. 23 prospect overall, doing the things indicative of a talented, mature young athlete. "I think he deals really well with it, despite him being young. He's probably one of our hardest working guys," said Watson. "He's been working hard on the field, with his game, his hitting, and really hard off the field, with his English."
According to Watkins, Sano has been especially focused during his regular English classes with tutor Rafael Yanez, and has seen his conversational skills improve greatly. That has helped him defensively, in that he's increasingly able to communicate with teammates and direct the infield. "I've been very impressed with the way he goes about his business, he's catching on [with English] really well. You can have a conversation with him, and he's getting better every day." said Watkins. As one might expect, with that kind of work ethic off the field, Sano has been just as diligent with his responsibilities on the field. "You would never be able to tell he was a guy that got a lot of money or has the status he has," said Watkins. "He communicates with the guys on defense, runs balls out. It's amazing to watch his batting practice, even his work in the cage." And eventually, the slump at the plate ended and Watkins' ears perked up once more at the sound of Sano's bat finding its groove. "I don't even know how to describe it," said the hitting coach. "It's a different kind of loud."
First baseman Roy Rhodes went 2-for-4 and contributed an eighth-inning home run for the Snappers on Wednesday, and designated hitter Adam Bryant doubled and drove in two more runs. Starter Matthew Summers surrendered three runs -- one earned -- on six hits with two strikeouts over five innings but didn't factor into the decision. Corey Williams earned his fourth save with two shutout innings.
Jonathan Raymond is a contributor for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
Former DPL All-Star Manuel Gonzalez signs with the San Diego Padres for $65,000. Manuel is 6’4” 210lb from San Cristobal Dominican Republic the same area the magnificent Padres complex is located. Padres Latin American scout Felix Feliz acquired another notable pitcher from the region “Ubaldo Jimenez” while working for the Colorado Rockies. Feliz has been running the Padres Dominican operation for several years and has signed other DPL prospects the likes of, Edwin Moreno-OF, Duanel Jones-3B, Roberto Ramirez-RHP and most recently Franmil Reyes-OF.
Manuel Gonzalez-RHP
Gonzalez was identified as he threw 88mph at the ripe young age of 14 years old. During the 2011 DPL All-Star Game he threw 1-Inn 1-H 2-SO 1-BB 1-R. Presently Gonzalez has a heavy FB ranging from 90-92 (93) combined with a solid curveball and Changeup.
Congratulations to Manuel Gonzalez, Felix Feliz and the San Diego Padres.
It's a sunny morning in mid-March on the backfields of the Rangers' Spring Training complex in Surprise, Ariz., and outfield prospect Gustavo Cabrera is running for his life.
His face is tight and his head bobs back and forth as he churns his legs down a path he has taken too many times to count. But he is relaxed. His shoulders are loose, and his hands are so wide open that they sometimes slap the side of his thighs as he makes his way toward the clipboard-holding scouts waiting for him at the finish line.
The White Tank Mountains that hovered over Cabrera's broad back at the start of the sprint are out of the picture, and the only sound that can be heard during the run are Cabrera's rhythmic exhalations and the chatty teenagers waiting to run next.
Once upon a time, the end of 60-yard dashes would be marked by stopwatches clicking in unison, a few claps from the gallery and a trip to the batting cage. But in today's digital age, Cabrera's smile and a few nods from the scouts let everyone know the race is over and that it's time to head to the field so he can show off his other tools in a game.
Welcome to the life of 16-year-old Cabrera of the Dominican Republic, ranked No. 1 on MLB.com's list of Top 20 International Prospects. For the six-foot, 190-pound Cabrera and young prospects like him across Latin America, it's a life that starts with a dream, continues with a sprint and sometimes ends with a marathon of a career in the Major Leagues.
"I don't feel any pressure," Cabrera said. "Will my life change? I hope it does. I have been working hard to live my dream and get to the Major Leagues one day."
The goal for such teenage prospects is to sign with a big league club when the international signing period begins on July 2 and enter a big league academy in the Dominican Republic. After two years, the organization that runs the academy will decide if the prospect is ready to start playing in the Minor Leagues in the U.S., although it's not uncommon for an international prospect to begin his pro career in the U.S. at 17.
Cabrera, who began working out with a private trainer at the age of 14, has dazzled scouts with his bat speed, hitting mechanics, range on defense and raw power in games and showcases during the past year.
"I don't think about my future as much as I think about my family at home who believe in me," Cabrera said. "The future will be what it will be. I already know it's going to be a good one, God willing."
In addition to Cabrera, scouts have raved about the defensive prowess of Venezuelan shortstop Franklin Barreto, No. 2 on the list, and the all-around skills of No. 3 Jairo Beras, arguably the most recognizable name on the international market.
Beras already has a deal in place with the Rangers for $4.5 million, but Major League Baseball's department of investigations is trying to determine whether he is 16, the age he presented to MLB earlier this year, or 17 and eligible to sign now, as the Rangers claim.
There are 10 infielders, seven outfielders, two pitchers and one catcher on the Top 20 list. Six are from Venezuela; the rest are from the Dominican Republic.
"The crop this year, overall, is solid," said Rene Gayo, director of Latin American scouting for the Pirates. "There are a lot of interesting players out there. I don't think there are any legendary prospects when you compare this year to the past years, but there are some players you would like to have. That doesn't change."
But some things have changed on the international market.
In accordance with the new Basic Agreement, the international system will dictate that each team can spend up to $2.9 million for the 2012-13 signing period, and there are penalties for exceeding that number. It's quite a change when you consider that last year, the Rangers set a record for the highest international amateur bonus when they paid Nomar Mazara $4.95 million, in addition to signing Ronald Guzman for $3.45 million.
What's more, tryouts are no longer the only way for scouts to evaluate talent in Latin America. Such leagues as the Dominican Prospect League (DPL) have emerged to provide opportunities for organizations to watch prospects play in games in addition to traditional showcases.
Cabrera and 11 others on the Top 20 International list played in the DPL this season, and many toured Spring Training sites in Florida and Arizona for games as part of the league's travel squad.
"It is still the same process, but scouts have more looks at players than they did three years ago," said former big league scout Brian Mejia, president of the DPL. "Players are getting exposed, for better or worse, and that's good, because it allows scouts to make better decisions, and when scouts make good decisions on the right players for the right money, it makes the industry healthier."
Major League Baseball's efforts in the Dominican Republic gained traction last summer with the creation of El Torneo Supremo ("The Supreme Tournament"), and those efforts continue to gain momentum.
In February, MLB staged the two-day Venezuela-Dominican Republic Showcase at the Mets' academy in the Dominican, with 25 prospects from each country participating in a series of drills, plus two games.
MLB had similar showcases in Venezuela and the Dominican in 2011, but February's showcase was the first to combine players from the two countries. Fifteen players on the Top 20 International list participated.
Last month, MLB launched a league designed to provide a neutral ground so big league organizations could evaluate the top unsigned amateur players in the Dominican Republic. In addition to featuring players who will be eligible to sign on July 2, the league features games for older players who are already eligible.
"You are not going to develop a player six months prior to signing, but what we can do is help prepare them to become professionals on and off the field," said Joel Araujo, manager of Latin American game development for MLB. "We offer education, and also have the stadium component.We get to expose them to us as an office and dispel the misnomers of 'the big, bad MLB.'"
There is no fee to participate in the league, which includes an outreach program that features instructional clinics for younger players.
But some things will never change.
"A signing bonus does not make a ballplayer," Gayo said. "The thing that drives up a bonus is competition, availability, the notoriety and everyone being there at the same time, but as long as you are out there working, you will find players that people don't know about. When it's all said and done, it's about getting players that will go play."
The race to July 2 is on. Cabrera is already off and running.
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is a national reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Hersin Martinez - OF 6'4 200lb Hersin Martinez with Power-Showcase President, Brian Domenico. 2011 Inaugural DPL/POWER SHOWCASE Champion Martinez hit a total 16 HR’s – hit five consecutive – his longest was 507ft
After much speculation during the 2011 July 2nd signing period the Seattle Mariners finally got their guy. His trainer Pedro Nivar known in the Dominican Republic as "Nube" developed another Mariner prospect Phillips Castillo, OF, Grade B-:High-ceiling bat, needs to improve plate discipline and hit outside the Arizona Rookie League, but very young. Could be best hitting prospect in the system a year from now."MLB.com ranks Castillo as No. 11 prospect in the Mariners farm system.
Hersin Martinez agreed to terms signing for $1.1 Million. Physically Martinez was one of the most impressive players on the free agent market, he shows tremendous plus raw power and a high projection ceiling. He has bat speed, extension and leverage. He slightly lowers his hands when he loads but he should be able to make the adjustment to a more conventional load in development. He's below average runner but has shown ability to play the outfield and has a solid average arm.
OF GUSTAVO CABRERA- Perfect Game Report Trainer: Christian “Niche” Batista 6-1/190, R/R, 1/23/96, LaRomana, DR PG Grade: 10
Cabrera is the player that all the scouts want to see and is going to perhaps be the prospect who will lose the most by the new international signing rules. In the previous unlimited free market system he was likely a $4-to-$5 million dollar player. With the $2.9 million limit per team, he’ll be looking at something more in the neighborhood of $1.5 million.
Cabrera has a tightly wound athletic body reminiscent of Justin Upton. In fact, Cabrera’s tools at the same age are very reminiscent of Upton’s. He ran the 60 in 6.34 seconds in Arizona and has an explosive first step that enables him to steal bases at will (he had 5 steals in one game in Florida) and the aggressiveness and instincts to use his speed. He throws 90-plus mph from the outfield with a very quick release and his speed will give him well above average range at any outfield position.
Cabrera’s hitting mechanics from the right side are still on the raw side, with an early drift to his front side in games and some back side collapse on his swing, but he has electric bat speed and as much home run power as any player on the DPL roster. Any scout who saw his batting practice in Dunedin will remember the line drive he hit off the Blue Jays minor league building in left centerfield.
Interestingly, scouts following Cabrera may have been left a bit frustrated by his game at-bats, as he walked in a majority of his plate appearances in both Florida and Arizona. That’s obviously not a negative, but he walked in 5 of the 7 plate appearances that PG scouts saw him in Arizona, plus drawing 2 walks and a HPB in the DPL/Red Sox game in Florida.
One PG scout remarked after seeing Cabrera for four days, “I haven’t been to Japan (or anywhere else) but I suspect that this is the best 16-year old baseball player on the planet.”
The DPL Scout Day Sunday at the Los Angeles Angels complex was cancelled after the states of Iowa and Arizona swapped mid March weather conditions for a few days. While the PG offices in Cedar Rapids were enjoying 70 degree weather and sunshine, the spring training complexes in the Desert were treated with rainy, 50 degree temps with hail being reported in Scottsdale. The weather was chilly but the rain held off on Monday morning for the DPL vs. Langley Blaze (British Columbia) game. Sunday’s rain did prevent the teams from taking BP and infield on the field. Watching BP and infield provides a good framework for what to watch for in a game and identifies players with standout tools and impact bat speed that might not be able to be displayed in a 9 inning game. The task was a bit tougher Monday as both the DPL and Blaze shuffled players and positions, giving most of their players at least one at bat (which was quite a task for the coaches as each roster totals around 25 position players).
photo by Cliff Welch
-LHP Kelyn Jose (eligible to sign) was the standout, a long loose lefty who sat 87-89, but touched a few 91s and a 92. He was 74-76 with his curveball. It had depth but not much hard spin and the few splits he threw were buried. Smooth, loose, easy arm action, the velocity and Jose’s young build make him extremely interesting.
-When looking at Jose and the other DPL prospects, context is a thing to always remember. Jose is an elder statesmen on the team, one of the three players of the team who is eligible to sign. He doesn’t turn 17 until May 19th, so when looking at him one has to think of him as a high school sophomore, or a player participating in the 16u WWBA or Junior National Showcase, which is a bit of a change after scouting 2012 draft prospects for much of the week.
photo by Cliff Welch
-RHP Bryan Munoz (eligible to sign) got the start for the DPL All-Stars and pitched very effectively. He didn't allow a single ball to leave the infield until the fourth inning. Munoz topped out at 90 mph and showed good command to both sides of the plate working consistently at 88-89 with good pitch-ability, breaking three bats in his highly effective outing. His curveball showed hard spin and good depth that registered as high as 81 mph, though it was at its best at 79. He also worked in an occasional low 80s changeup up to 83 mph. Munoz changes his arm slot at times, but generally throws from a high 3/4 slot with a loose whippy live arm. His delivery, size and feel for pitching are reminiscent of Cincinnati Reds prospect Daniel Corcino, a 21 year old Dominican native who has established himself as a legitimate prospect after a strong showing at Low-A Dayton of the Midwest League in 2011.
-A couple swings in the cage is not nearly enough to get a feel for a player’s offensive ability, but the player whose bat speed stood out for me was Amaurys Minier a switch hitter with easy bat speed from both sides. I like him a little more from the left side as he has more bat speed and loft. He has active hands with a bit of rock and roll with hands pre-swing and uses it to generate the big time bat speed. He has such wrist strength and bat control that he should be able to adjust to off-speed pitches even with that approach.
photo by Cliff Welch
-OF Gustavo Cabrera had an unproductive day at the plate, but he flashed highly impressive tools nonetheless. Cabrera's strong athletic body and quick twitch movements all around were impressive, but it was his plus-plus raw bat speed that made him a true standout. Quality pitching from the Langley Blaze kept him off balance and he didn't square up anything in game action, but the off-balance popups he hit were towering, suggesting that when he does square the ball up that it will explode off of his bat.
photo by Cliff Welch
-Miguel Munoz approach and swing reminded me of former WWBA and National Showcase standout Eric Arce. Both players have most of their strength in their lower half and use a deep load and very quick hands to turn on pitches on the inner half. Munoz has some of the most usable present power on the squad. -The big bolt of the game a double of the base of the left field wall by C Richard Nunez (eligible to sign). He has a lean, active body with strength and his hit tool is very strong at present with a smooth swing and some of the best balance of any DPL prospect.
photo by Cliff Welch
-Yoel Gonzalez relieved Ricahrd Nunez behind the plate in the later innings and showed very good defensive ability with quick feet, feel for receiving and arm strength.
photo by Cliff Welch
-Two infield defenders stand out with SS Richard Urena and Yancarlos Baez showing lots of athleticism and top of the line tools on defense. Urena is very quick twitch and covers ground in a hurry, he doesn’t have the long, lean build of Baez but has loose arm action and easy arm strength. Baez is what you would envision a 16 year old Dominican SS to be: long, lean, loose, very projectable and smooth. Baez isn’t there yet but with additional foot quickness and arm strength has the tools.
photo by Cliff Welch
-Alberto Sanchez has a chance to be special at the plate. One of the youngest players on the roster, he has a smooth easy swing with lots of bat speed. He isn’t quite as projectable as some of his teammates but has strength and lean muscularity. He current swing lends itself to fly balls to right-center field, some of which probably carry for doubles but many that get run down. Once he pulls the ball with authority and continues to uses the whole field, watch out.
photo by Cliff Welch
-The two bodies that stand out are Ronny Carvajal and Jose Pujols. Carvajal is long with a high waist and present strength, the 2012 prospect he brought to mind body wise was George Washington OF Fernelys Sanchez. Pujols oozes with potential, long and lean with bat speed and loose and easy everything. Projecting these players 5-10 years down the line is the name of the game, but Pujols is the one player I would love to throw in a time capsule and jump to 2017 when he is 21 as his body and tools could make him one the top prospects in the game.
photo by Cliff Welch
-A couple of other comps that came to mind on Monday: Emmanuel Tapia’s left-handed swing brought to mind longtime 1B Randall Simon and Natanael Delgado has some Alfonso Soriano in his game. Same body type (albeit a bit smaller), but the same long levers. The ball really jumps off his bat.
-In a game that saw a couple of pitchers around 90 it is rare to see three stars and a circle around a player whose fastball sat 82-84. But Alvaro Castillo, stands 6’6, 195 with strength throughout, is very loose, arm works very well, and is seemingly playing catch at 82-84. Another scout and I both commented that it looked as if he was throwing in the upper 80s with ease during warm-ups, only to see him below 85 during his stint. Projecting a pitcher to gain more than 3-5 mph is a tough to do, but I see the possibility of Castillo adding 8-10 mph to be almost probable. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Monday’s DPL workout at Peoria Sports Complex was one of the most well run I have been a part of. David Rawnsley touched on the great tempo of the workout in his blogs from Florida and it really is fun to watch with every player (and coach) knowing exactly where they should be and running around at all times.
-Travel team coaches can learn a lot from watching Brian Mejia and Ulises Cabrera run the crisp workout, but also from their interaction with the scouts in attendance. Ulises shakes every scouts hand, asks them how they’ve been and thanks them for attending. Also, he handed every scout a roster and made sure they knew exactly who every player was. This is a breath of fresh air after attending tournaments with completely wrong rosters with some players not even listed, with other scouts and college coaches scrambling to figure out who the players on the field were.
-I really gained a better appreciation of the DPL team with a full batting practice, workout and game Monday, rather than trying to get a feel for players based on just a 9 inning game where players only batted once or twice and might not have had a play in the field. Batting practice highlights were numerous with multiple players driving balls all over the park, including 15-20 homers, not an easy task with the 340-385-410 dimensions at Padres Field 1.
photo by Cliff Welch
-If I had to choose, the two most impressive BPs were Nathanael Javier and Amaurys Minier. Javier is a right-handed batter with lots of strength. He has by far the best plate coverage of any of the players and his bat is in the strike zone for a long time. His swing is quick with smooth and easy bat speed. He had a “wow” BP, especially on his third round when he cut it loose. He launched three homers with easy far over the left field wall with almost no effort. To say the ball jumps off his bat is overused in scouting and really doesn’t do Javier justice. I’m not sure if it leaps, bounds, hop, or springs off his bat, but it is quite impressive. Amaurys Minier is a switch hitter who is very good from both sides, but really stands out from the left side with a short swing with lots of bat speed. Minier has great bat control and he squares up balls with easy, driving them all over the park. He also has big pull pop and can easily hit the ball 400+ feet. He isn’t quite as quick or easy from the right side but still crushes every pitch he sees.
One of the biggest mechanical differences between the DPL players and the players attending a PG showcase is the deep, strong load employed by about 90% of the DPL players. They start their hands in different places but nearly every one of them is deep and low with their hands right before firing them forward. This is a big difference from the no load, handsy swings that a lot of US players the same age use. While these players are undoubtedly more physically talented, that even the 6’0, 170 pound middle infielders are driving the ball to the wall consistently.
photo by Cliff Welch -A few other players that really stood out in BP: Felix Suarez, a 6’1 175 pound SS with an easy swing, loose bat speed, crushing two homers and showing big pull pop.
Gustavo Cabrera, is the prospect that gets the most buzz with his overall tool set. He is a little raw at the plate but is very aggressive and his hit tool is very big, with hard contact and big, big power potential. His loose, easy bat speed is really a sight to behold.
photo by Cliff Welch
Leury Vargas is a bit on an anomaly, a Dominican first base prospect. He is a physical specimen listed at 6’3, 210 which is a couple inches and 10-15 pounds on the conservative side as he towers over the other players. He was the youngest position player on the team and doesn’t turn 16 until August 30. He doesn’t have the deep load that others do, as he stays very short to the ball with very quick and strong hands/wrists. His power is evident with a lot more to come.
Jose Pujols had the most impressive bolt of the day, driving a homer just to the left of dead center 415-420 feet away. He may be the most projectable of all the players and has massive power potential. Richar Urena is more noted for his speed and quick actions at SS but took a very good BP from the left side showing lots of bat quickness and pop to the opposite field.
Miguel Munoz is an Alfonso Soriano clone. Same body, same swing same actions. He is raw but has a ton of power in his frame. He hit three BP homeruns with ease and showed lightning quick bat speed.
Here is video of Munoz from Tuesday
Outfield workout standouts were Ronny Carvajal, Jose Pujols, and Gustavo Cabrera. All showed athleticism and easy arm speed. Pujols might have the best raw arm strength of the three, but Cabrera release is so quick and his accuracy so good that it grades a little above right now.
photo by Cliff Welch
-Infield standouts were Richard Urena, Lugo Octavis, and Yancarlos Baez were the standout defenders. Baez is all projection and doesn’t have the quick hands and actions of the other two, but does have a huge toolset to dream on. Urena has the total package of quickness, feel, and arm strength. Everything is easy for Octavis, his hands are very good and he excels turning the double play.
Nathaneal Javier showed big arm strength across the diamond from third base and clean hands and actions.
Game Highlights
-While the toolsy, projectable players listed above dominated the workout, an easily overlooked player made a few of the biggest plays during the game. OF Jhonny Rodriguez, a July 1996 birthday, is a slightly built player who doesn’t have the present strength of many of his teammates. But he blasted a long home run to RCF over the 385 sign that seemed to surprise no one on the field but everyone behind the plate. His swing is smooth and easy and he showed accuracy and arm strength, throwing out the speedy Cabrera trying to score on a single to left field.
-Cabrera was seemingly on base the whole time, easily swiping bases. He was 3.25 on a stolen base in the first inning.
-Amaurys Minier followed up his BP performance by going the other way with a tough outside fastball, showing the plate coverage and the ability to adjust to pitch location. He can flat out rake.
-Yoel Gonzalez followed up his Sunday performance by again showing top notch catch and throw skills behind the plate. He was consistently 1.95 in between innings, the lowest at 1.91, also showing pop and quickness in his bat.
-In a late inning at bat Natanael Delgado had a 1-2 count when Canadian LHP Matt Fisher (a few pitchers on the Langley Blaze threw in the game) just missed the upper half of the strike zone with a hanging curveball. When Fisher came back with the exact same pitch at 2-2, Delgado pounced on it, crushing a long, high homerun that bounced off the right field foul pole.
-Frandy Delarosa led off for the Blue team and his left-handed bat is very quick and his hands and arm play very well at SS.
-Ronny Carvajal is the most polished defender in the outfield with lots of range and instincts, his long strides cover a lot of ground in center field and his arm strength is plus.
Photo by Joseph Hache
-Jose Pujols had another wow moment, but one that not may recognize. Swinging at the first pitch, he threw his hands at an outside fastball and popped it up down the left field line. The ball picked up a hang time of 6.54, an impressive number for a player swinging from his heels, but almost unthinkable on a pitch that Pujols didn’t even but a good swing on.
-While not quite as interesting as the position players a couple of highly projectable right-handers took the mound with Winder Novas and Crucitio Mieses both sitting 83-84. Novas was up to 86, Mieses topped at 85. Neither showed much of a feel for off-speed pitches, but Novas has easy arm action, the ball coming out of his very well. He is in line for a big velo jump in the next year or two.
Today was the final day on the long journey for the players of the Dominican Prospect League. While the energy and enthusiasm with which the DPL players have shown throughout their stay continued to be present, there were signs of fatigue. Which makes some of the performances all the more impressive.
The day began with several players running the 60-yard dash. These times were all recorded on a hand-held stopwatch:
6.34- OF Gustavo Cabrera 6.72- MIF Yancarlos Baez 6.78- MIF Lugo Octavis 6.87- MIF Felix Suarez 6.88- OF Jose Pujols 6.94- MIF Richard Urena 6.94- OF Natanael Delgado 7.09- OF Ronny Carvajal
The 6.34 time Gustavo Cabrera posted is exceptional. Seeing it understandably will leave many skeptical. Let me first add that I checked with two other scouts standing nearby, one of whom had the exact same time, the other was within several one-hundreths of a second. Cabrera did begin the 60 running with his shoulders square, while players who run the 60 yard dash at a Perfect Game showcase are required to begin turned sideways, simulating running from first to second on a stolen base. Even if you factor that advantage in and adjust his time as high as a 6.50 that is still incredibly rare for a 16 year old player. It comes as no surprise that Cabrera steals bases during games at will.
photo by Cliff Welch
After watching the workouts over the past few days my curiosity finally got the best of me, and having already taken thorough notes on the defensive actions of the players, I grabbed my radar gun and went behind the fence on the left field foul line to get throwing velocities of the outfielders on throws to third base. The two that stood out the most were Gustavo Cabrera (90) and Luis Barrera (89). It should also be noted that many US players attending a showcase throw for the radar gun rather than simulating actual game action, and while this is accounted for in the scouting notes and reflected in their overall evaluation, the raw workout numbers are often skewed higher as a result. These players were not throwing for the radar gun; they were their legitimate game throws. There were a few outfielders who I was unable to get velocities for, and I am especially disappointed to have missed out on Ronny Carvajal and Jose Pujols.
photo by Cliff Welch
Though as per usual, the most impressive part of the DPL defensive workout was the fluid actions of the middle infielders. Richard Urena, Frandy De la Rosa, and Amaurys Minier continued to dazzle with their high level athleticism. These three stood out amongst an impressive group on the final day when fatigue should have become a factor.
Game highlights:
-We got a second look at LHP Kelyn Jose (currently eligible to sign). When Jose gets his momentum through his delivery and finishes his pitches he can locate to the bottom of the strike zone and generates 90-92 mph velocity, which he did more frequently today than Monday. The secondary stuff was still quite raw, but his strong athletic body and long loose arm action with plus arm strength is an incredibly rare combination. I talked with one international scout from a MLB club today about rumors of Jose having touched 96 mph in the past; he noted that it seems realistic, though he has actually never seen it himself.
photo by Cliff Welch
-RHP Alberto Uceta threw effectively today, giving right handed hitters a lot of trouble. He throws from a severe angle towards third base and creates significant cutting action on all of his pitches. His fastball sat 86-88 and his slider sat 78-79 with hard late break and deep sweeping action. Right handed hitters could not pick up the ball very well against him at all and his long loose arm action and 6-foot-2 170 pound frame give him additional projection.
photo by Cliff Welch
-Yesterday Ben Collman noted that OF Jhonny Rodriguez "is a slightly built player who doesn’t have the present strength of many of his teammates. But he blasted a long home run to RCF over the 385 sign that seemed to surprise no one on the field but everyone behind the plate." Today Rodriguez, the youngest player on the field (will turn 16 years old on July 20) crushed a hard line drive that registered at 98 mph off the bat. At 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds he is highly projectable and looks especially young in the face. He doesn't yet standout on a pure physical standpoint, but over time he has a chance to overtake some of his more physical counterparts and develop into an elite player.
-OF/1B Emmanuel Tapia continued to show off his ability to drive the ball with serious authority from the left side of the plate, hammering two balls that registered at 94 mph off the bat. His short rotational swing generates good bat speed and his plus physical strength causes the ball to explode off the bat routinely.
Immensely talented OF Gustavo Cabrera didn't get a chance to show much with the bat. He did however show patience that defies the stereotype of Dominican prospects, drawing four walks. His disappointment with not getting to show scouts his hitting tools (which are impressive by the way) was evident, though he should be commended for approaching his at-bats as he would in a real game, rather than changing his approach to show off for the scouts (who are well aware of his physical tools). He continued to wreak havoc on the bases, though he did get picked off in the first inning.
-The physically imposing Alvaro Castillo took the mound again today, at 6-foot-6 and 195 pound he is still growing into his body. He lacks coordination in his delivery but also creates heavy sink on his 82-84 mph fastball. The velocity doesn't excite, but it's important to keep in mind that he's a 16 year old who is still learning to carry his momentum through his delivery and generates the velocity almost entirely on pure arm strength. His release point is closer to the plate allowing his fastball to play up a touch, and he was a ground ball machine in today's outing. His breaking ball is a big and deep 73 mph two-plane bender.
-We got one final look at RHP Bryan Munoz. It is difficult to convey Munoz's true talent, which will likely allow a club to get him at a better value than they ought to be able to. He's a physically mature 6-foot right hander, who again topped out at 90 mph. But he not only knows how to pitch, he executes extremely well for a 16 year old. His fastball shows hard tailing action with plus sink and he locates it to either side of the plate. He mixes his pitches well and has a power breaking ball in the upper 70s that occasionally sneaks north of 80 mph. His changeup is not as polished as his fastball-breaking ball combo but is advanced for his age. He may lack the high ceiling of some of the other pitchers in the group, but if you were to pick one pitcher from the group the Dominican Prospect League sent to Arizona as the safest bet to someday reach the Major Leagues, Munoz is the obvious choice.
I believe that I speak on behalf of the entire Perfect Game staff that has had the privilege of watching this talented group of players from the Dominican Prospect League when I say that this has truly been a pleasure. The DPL is a first class organization.
We will have full in-depth writeups on each prospect available on the Perfect Game website in the next few days.
March 15, 2012 by Perfect Game
photo by Cliff Welch The question came up a few times today if PG was going to post reports on all the Dominican prospects traveling to Florida and Arizona. The answer is a definite Yes. I'll be writing PG style reports with PG grades at the end of the week as I will have seen most of these players play over a six day period, twice in the Dominican Republic in late January and four times here in Florida. The 34 players from the Dominican Prospect League held an open workout for scouts today at the Toronto Blue Jays minor league complex in Dunedin, Florida. The workout was attended by about 45-50 scouts, not including myself, Ben Ford and Brad Clement from Perfect Game.The Dominican Prospect League prospects bussed down to Fort Myers Tuesday to play at the Red Sox brand new jetBlue Park (aka "Fenway South" on some signs around the complex).
The Red Sox, of course, are no longer using City of Palms Park and the 5-Plex that have become familiar to so many WWBA/BCS players and parents over the last decade. The moved into their new complex out by the airport this spring and not surprisingly it is nothing short of spectacular.
The stadium dimensions are a replica of Fenway Park, complete with "The Wall" in left field, the left field fence scoreboard, Pesky's Corner in right field, the right centerfield bullpen, etc. The only compromise is that The Wall actually is 310 feet from home plate as is indicated on the fence, whereas the Fenway Park version is somewhere between 280 and 290 feet in reality.
Perfect Game will be using the minor league fields at the new complex beginning this May for WWBA and BCS events and we've been promised that we will have access to jetBlue Park for select championship games and such. That will be a spectacular experience for some fortunate players/teams, especially if a team from the Northeast happens to qualify for such a game.
The DPL prospects are broken down into two pretty equal teams, Red and Blue. They took a full round of batting practice in the Stadium, followed by a quick In/Out and then played an 8 inning game.
Any time any player regardless of age takes batting practice at Fenway Park or "Fenway South", The Wall is obviously going to be a focal point. My younger brother plays in a over 40 league in the Northeast and they got to play a game at Fenway a few years ago. The first thing he said, before I even asked, was "I hit a ball off The Wall in BP!"
So there was much hooting and hollering by the players and some fist bumps behind the cage when 3B Nathanael Javier hit the first towering shot over The Wall during BP. It was the first of many, with Wendell Rijo, Jose Pujols and Delvy Grullon also hitting notable or multiple bombs.
The Red Sox provided all but two of the pitchers for the game and they were an interesting mix of prospects and likely release candidates. It meant that some of the innings were cut short when pitchers reached a pitch limit but the DPL organizers really appreciated the Red Sox working with them so well in this aspect of the game. The first pitcher out on the mound, ironically, was 2007 3rd round pick Brock Huntzinger. Huntzinger participated in numerous WWBA events in the mid 2000's with the Indiana Mustangs, including the 2006 WWBA World Championships in Jupiter. Huntzinger, who pitched in AA in 2011, showed almost the exact same stuff as he did as a teenager, topping out at 91 with his fastball with an upper 70's slider and 80 mph change up. Of course, he probably isn't quite up to speed yet with his arm strength this early in spring training.
One Red Sox prospect who definitely was up to speed was RHP Francellis Montas. A Dominican, Montas is listed as turning 19 years old next month and being 6-4/190. The eye ball test said that he was 6-3/230 and looked a bit older. The radar gun test said that all his pitches from the wind up were 97-98 mph. Word was that Montas has touched 101 mph before, which is very believable. SS Felix Suarez doubled off a 98 mph Montas fastball, although it was a opposite field bloop that landed on the right field line. But a double against 98 mph is something no matter where it lands and how softly it's hit!
Some game notes:
-- Along with hitting a monstrous BP home run over the wall way out near where it ends in centerfield, Pujols swung the bat well in games. He jumped on one change up out over the plate and crushed a line drive to centerfield that was caught but registered 97 mph off the bat.
-- Wendall Rijo was outstanding. He took the best BP out of any player and also had the defensive play of the game at shortstop, ranging far up the middle and making a quick release to get a runner at first base. He also provided a scare in the final inning when he twisted his knee trying to avoid a rundown tag between second and third base. It looked bad initially but he walked off under his own power under the watchful eye of the Red Sox trainer and word after the game was that he was fine.
photo by Cliff Welch Alberto Sanchez-3B
-- 3B Alberto Sanchez swung the bat very well in the games and I will have to up my grade on him. He's a bigger, more physical player than most of the other DPL players and it showed in his game approach. He crushed one ball into the left field corner for a double and singled sharply to left his next time up.
photo by Cliff Welch Gustavo Cabrera-OF
-- Scouts were clearly there to look at Gustavo Cabrera in game action. One thing they got to see was his speed. Cabrera walked twice and was also inserted into the game once as a pinch runner for a player who'd been hit by a pitch. He stole 5 bases, most of the "no contest" variety, and was clearly going to take any opportunity he got.
photo by Cliff Welch Leury Vargas-1B
-- Big left handed hitting 15 year old 1B Leury Vargas (6-3/210) showed a very mature approach at the plate, lining hard line drive singles over the shortstop's head his first two times at the plate. The first was off Brock Huntzinger, the second off former Houston Heat RHP Jacob Dahlstrand, who was 90-92 with his fastball.
photo by Cliff Welch Yoel Gonzalez-C
-- C Yoel Gonzalez is one of the youngest players on the team and is overshadowed a bit by top prospect catcher Delvy Grullon but he showed very well today for a 15 year old both offensively and defensively. He handled Montas with little problem and had a string of quality at bats. One thing Gonzalez discovered, though, is that catching 90 mph sinkers, courtesy of former TCU right hander Tyler Lockwood, isn't very easy. Gonzalez has probably never caught that type of pitch before and Lockwood's sinker was really exploding downwards at times. Gonzalez snow coned so many balls that he had to go to the dugout for another mitt when the webbing got loose.
photo by Cliff Welch Richar Urena-SS
-- The DPL staff and I have debated the relative merits and prospect standing of shortstops Yancarlos Baez and Richard Urena both in the Dominican and again here in Florida. Urena had the big edge today with the bat, with three quality plate appearances: a well earned walk that featured multiple foul balls, a hard single off an 88 mph fastball and a hard ground out to first base where he pull his hands in on an inside fastball very well.
-- RHP Novas Winder was impressive on the mound for the Dominicans. The 6-1/165 Winder just turned 16 last week (i.e. he would be a 2014 player in the US) and was 85-88 with his fastball, with his best bolts coming from the stretch. He also showed some pitchability, mixing in a curveball, a slider and a pretty good change up.
The Dominican Prospect League players matched off against each other early this afternoon at the Yankees minor league complex.
The pitchers the Yankees choose to have throw against the young Dominicans were of a markedly more impressive talent level than those the Red Sox choose to throw yesterday (another victory for the Yankees in the endless battle against the Red Sox). Specifically, most could throw either a change up or curveball for a strike and didn't hesitate to do so once they figured out they were facing 15 and 16 year old hitters who weren't used to seeing that level of stuff.
So the game went along very briskly, with plenty of strike outs.
A couple of hitters really stood out, though. SS Richard Urena had two hits, including driving a double over the left fielder's head to score a run. Urena has had five or six quality at bats over the last two days and been really impressive as a hitter. He also made a nice far ranging play up the middle today to get an out at first base.
photo by Cliff Welch Luis Barrera-OF
The DPL guys have been telling me that left handed hitting OF/1B Luis Barrera is one of the top hitters in this class since late January and I'm finally starting to buy into it. Barrera hits the ball hard a couple of times a game regardless of the quality of pitching and regardless of whether it is right or left handed pitching. He's not very toolsy but he has that left handed bat tool, which could take him far.
photo by Cliff Welch Deivy Grullon-C
A couple of hitters showed mature two-strike approaches, which stood out. C Deivy Gullon drove in a runner from third base with a ground ball on an 0-2 pitch after being completely overmatched the first two pitches and shortened up his swing impressively. 3B Alberto Sanchez did the same thing and was rewarded with a run scoring double down the right field line.
A general rule, you will rarely see a Dominican pitcher with any real polish to his breaking ball or change up. This is, again, a function of lack of game experience and coaching. So when you are evaluating a Dominican pitcher you are looking at body and arm action and athleticism/projection and the rawest ability to spin the ball and maintain some semblance of a consistent release point and arm speed.
As the pitcher's will be throwing in games over the next 10 days, seven threw bullpens today, while tomorrow's pitchers didn't throw at all. It was very surprising to me that I was the only scout in the whole group who had a radar gun out. There's no harm in at least seeing what someone throws in a bullpen!
The big pitching prospect from the DPL group is in the unique and enviable position of being eligible to sign right now (all but two other of the group aren't eligible to sign until July 2, under the new draft rules). Kelyn Jose is a 6-4/190 left hander who touched 94 (96 on one gun) six weeks ago but was so raw with his off speed stuff that he was better off not trying to throw them in public. He's improved tremendously after having coaching for the first time in his life since. He sat 91-92 in his bullpen and while his curveball wasn't exciting, the progress he had made with it was. Velocity comes very easy for him and he can throw his fastball for strikes. If he was in the United States he'd be a high school junior southpaw topping out in the mid 90's. Easy to figure out where that type gets drafted.
photo by Cliff Welch Bienvenido Morales-LHP
Another LHP, 6-2/170 Beinvenido Morales, worked in the 87-89 mph range with a quick, compact arm action. Morales is 15 years old and won't turn 16 until late June.
photo by Cliff Welch Bryan Munoz-RHP
RHP Bryan Munoz has a very solid and mature 6-0/187 body and is more polished and physically mature than the rest of the Dominican pitchers. He was 88-90 with his fastball and showed occasional tight downer bite on an upper 70's slider.nd write about those games and workouts as well.
The DPL players have another game tomorrow at the Phillies complex, then are taking the red eye out to Arizona tomorrow night. We'll pick up the coverage from there.
When the DPL prospects move on to Arizona later in the week, Perfect Game will have Jeff Dahn and Todd Gold on hand to scout a From what I saw in the Dominican Republic six weeks ago, the position players are well ahead of the pitchers in terms of development. That's only to be expected with 15 and 16 year olds, especially when the pitchers have significantly less access to game experience and coaching than they have in the United States.
All-Star Workout Day gives young players chance to show skills
By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 02/01/12 6:33 PM EST BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic -- It's 11:57 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and it's starting to sprinkle. The trio of flags snapping in the wind represent the Dominican Republic, the United States and the Mets. They not only signal the entrance into New York's baseball academy here, they symbolize the path many Dominican youth must take to fulfill their Major League Baseball dreams.
Shortstop Wendell Rijo is one of those big league dreamers. Born and raised in the eastern city of La Romana and the son of Dodgers scout Rafael Rijo, the infielder knows that the road to the Major Leagues is not an easy one. He's only 16, but he says he's been training "for years," and he understands how the signing game works. If Rijo impresses big league scouts with his tools, he has a good chance to sign with a Major League club and enter one of their academies on the island. If he's lucky, in two years, he'll leave the academy and head to the United States to begin his Minor League journey.
But first things first; Rijo has three minutes to get out of the dugout and onto the field. It's the All-Star Workout Day for the Dominican Prospect League, and Rijo, along with 43 other DPL players, must show the 100 Major League scouts and officials scattered across the outfield -- many with clipboards and stopwatches in hand -- that he not only has the skills to be a Major Leaguer in the future, but he also has the game.
If Rijo failed to impress on Workout Day -- which he didn't -- he would get another chance in the second annual Dominican Prospect League All-Star Game held at Estadio Cibao in the northern city of Santiago the next day.
If Rijo, who is generously listed as 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, makes it to the Major Leagues, he says he'll credit the DPL for helping him get there, because he knows he doesn't have the type of body that wows scouts in tryouts. Former Minor League player Ulises Cabrera and former Major League scout Brian Mejia, who created the Dominican Prospect League three years ago, say they are the grateful ones. They are thankful for players like Rijo and the more than 500 players who have passed through their league during the past three seasons.
"This is not just a baseball league," said Cabrera, a Vanderbilt graduate who received his MBA from Pepperdine University. "We start with baseball because baseball is the center of the wheel here. These are the future stars of the game, and if you can infuse these young men with a set of values and work ethic, they become the next role models. The guys who played here and signed last year can set the tone and this group can follow them. They start doing the right thing."
The original DPL format featured four teams representing different regions squaring off against each other once a week at various Major League Baseball academies. It has since evolved into four teams in two areas: the Boca Chica Circuit near the island's capital of Santo Domingo, and the Cibao Circuit near Santiago. An estimated 80-100 players rotate in and out of the Boca Chica Circuit games on Wednesdays, and a similar number participate in the Cibao Circuit on Saturdays.
The goals of the league are to provide teams with an effective vehicle to evaluate talent, develop and prepare young Dominican players, improve the quality of instruction given by their trainers, and organize the major stakeholders in baseball in Latin America.
The league's most ambitious goal is to repair the image of the entire Dominican baseball community.
The league's most obvious goal is to put players in game situations in front of scouts so they can be signed by Major League clubs. Since the DPL started play in October 2009, Cabrera estimates close to 200 players that have participated in the league have signed with Major League clubs for an estimated total of $35 million. He also estimates that 60 percent of the players signed for an average of $60,000.
The DPL, funded primarily through sponsorships and private donations, receives a percentage of the signing bonuses when one of its players signs with a big league team. Mejia and Cabrera also represent 15 players in the DPL.
"We created this thing in part because we felt long-term that the baseball industry could not survive in a non-baseball playing environment, which is exactly what a tryout is," Cabrera said. "It's not rocket science. We are just playing baseball games here, but there is a big benefit to playing games."
Tuesday's DPL All-Star Workout Day was, for all intents and purposes, a showcase. The day's events featured players taking batting practice, infield practice and timed 60-yard dashes. But unlike most events in Dominican Republic, the DPL showcase also featured a home run derby.
And unlike all showcases in the United States, hundreds of baseball officials littered the infield and outfield areas directly behind the players for most of the afternoon to get the best view possible.
"I give credit to the DPL, because they were the first people to start this event and that was well-needed in the Dominican," said Johnny Martinez, who scouts for the MLB Scouting Bureau. "Not only do the kids get to play on teams, but it gives the opportunity to scouts to some see the kids in game situations instead of just tryouts. It's also easy for us to come to one place to see this much talent at one time."
Omar Minaya, recently named senior vice president of baseball operations for the Padres, also attended the DPL Workout Day. Minaya, the first Dominican-born general manager in the history of Major League Baseball, began his career in the 1980s as a scout for the Texas Rangers and is well-versed in the island's baseball history.
"In the States, we have things like the Area Code Games and all of these things are showcases," Minaya said. "This league is similar. It's an evolution of the teams and trainers coming together. A league like this it brings everybody together, which makes the information better and the evaluations better."
In addition to this week's events, the DPL will take two teams to Arizona and Florida for showcases and games in March and hold another All-Star Workout Day and All-Star Game in May, several weeks before Major League Baseball's international signing period begins on July 2. The league kicked off the year with a round-robin event called the Louisville Slugger Tournament Series.
The long-term plan for the future of the DPL includes education and health initiatives, along with programs designed to help its players manage their finances. Although it is not directly affiliated with Major League Baseball, the DPL does have big league connections. Indians manager Manny Acta and Mark Newman, the senior vice president of baseball operations for the Yankees, sit on the board of directors. The DPL still uses Major League academies for games and practices.
"The DPL is a way to close the gap on the flawed system that exists, and there's a lot of progress being made," Acta said. "Now with these programs they have, they have an opportunity to see the guys a little bit more than run the 60 yards, batting practice and throwing."
The immediate future for Rijo includes more DPL games and dispelling the notion that he is undersized with his performances in games.
He's the first to admit that there is still work to be done, but he appears to be off to a good start. Rijo hit a game-winning single on a full count with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to propel the White Team to a 5-4 victory against the Blue Team in Wednesday's All-Star Game.
Wendell Rijo MVP of DPL All-Star Game "All my life, people have been talking about my size and how I'm not big enough to be a prospect but come watch me play," Rijo said. "I play big, like I'm 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3. Come watch me play this game."
Jesse Sanchez is a national reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
The Dominican Prospect League celebrated its first annual Louisville Slugger Tournament Series last week.The week long tournament, sponsored by Louisville Slugger and Red Bull, hosted 140 of the top amateur players currently playing in the Dominican Prospect League and had more than 450 professional baseball scouts attend over the 5-day tournament.
The team managed by Quico Pena of Cibao circuit went undefeated in the 6-team tournament and won the Championship Game against a team managed by Basilio Vizcaino of San Cristobal.Pena’s team was led by Tournament MVP Luis Barrera, the tournament’s Top Pitcher Michael Santos, and Championship Game MVP Yairo Munoz.
Champions of the first annual Louisville Slugger Tournament Series (left to right) Luis Barrera, Yairo Munoz, Michael Santos
Santos and Munoz played so well in the tournament that each was offered a contract to play professional baseball.Santos agreed to terms with the SF Giants for $250,000 and Munoz agreed to sign with the Oakland A’s for $280,000.During the tournament, Michael Santos threw 4 shutout innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 4.Yairo Munoz got 5 hits in 9 at-bats with 2 doubles and 3 rbi.
Luis Barrera, who is not eligible to sign, was awarded the MVP award for the Louisville Slugger tournament after playing a significant role in each of the team’s victories.Barrera got 4 hits in 10 at-bats with 3 walks, 2 doubles, 3 rbi, and scored 4 runs.
Black-Yellow team vs Red for finals birth 2013 DPL player showcase
Dim lights Dominican Prospect League Productions and Imperial films are proud to bring you a documentary film based on the signing process in Latin America. We followed 5 young men for the past year in pursuit of their first professional baseball contract to fulfill their Big League dreams; these young men come from different parts of the Dominican Republic, each with an individual story, from different economical and educational circumstances. As we take you through their journey of ups and downs, you will capture priceless footage and the breathtaking landscape the island has to offer. The documentary will be released in 2012.
