2025 White Sox Affiliate Preview: Dominican Summer League (Rookie)
The Dominican Summer League roster will be comprised mostly of new international signees from the current signing period that officially opened on January 15th. While a few of the primary performers from last year’s squad have advanced stateside to play in Arizona, there are still some holdovers from last season who will repeat in the Dominican Summer League. The White Sox open their season on Monday June 2nd against the DSL Giants Orange. The final scheduled day of the season falls on August 20th.
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 club finished with a 20-35 record; second to last in the Central Division overall. The team’s run differential was -88.
The White Sox’s affiliate plays at the club’s complex in Santo Domingo and they play in the Boca Chica Baseball Baseball City Division of the Dominican Summer League. The 2025 club is comprised of 14 pitchers, two catchers, six infielders and five outfielders. Out of 27 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.
Wellington Morrobel will join Anthony Nunez as managers of the club. Moises Nunez will serve as the hitting coach while Jose Brito will return as the pitching coach. Guillermo Reyes will coach the infielders and Stolmy Pimentel will be the assistant pitching coach for the squad. Fran Bautista and Carlos Javier will be the development coaches and Rigoberto Silverio is now the development coach.
18-year-old Cuban third baseman Alejandro Cruz is the most highly regarded teenager currently slated to play regularly for the Dominican Summer League White Sox. With a $2 million signing bonus, the right-handed hitting infielder was the top bonus in the club’s latest international class. There were some other intriguing signings in the recent class as well while Venezuelan slugger Eduardo Herrera will return for another year after struggles in his first season too.
Infielders (DSL White Sox)
- Rafael Alvarez (20)
- Alejandro Cruz (18)
- Igor Escobar (16)
- Eduardo Herrera (18)
- Jehancarlos Mendez (17)
- Jefrank Silva (17)
- Yordani Soto (17)
These players were originally signed under the direction of previous international czar Marco Paddy and none are as heralded as Cuban infielder Alejandro Cruz. The 18-year-old signed for $2 million this past January and the 18-year-old Cuban hits from the right side and now checks in at 6-3, 185 pounds. There were mixed reviews on the Cuban teenager’s offensive profile according to Ben Badler of Baseball America and he doesn’t possess “prototype power” for a third baseman. He could ultimately show average power with on base ability though while profiling at the hot corner defensively.
Dominican shortstop Yordani Soto was also signed this past January and the 6-1 infielder possesses good bat speed and power potential. He also has a strong arm and should stay in the middle infield. Soto signed for $350K. Venezuelan infielders Igor Escobar and Jefrank Silva are new additions as well. Silva is a 6-1, 190 pounder who hits from the left side and he received a bonus of $350K as well. Escobar is a 16-year-old switch-hitter.
Eduardo Herrera was the prize of the White Sox’s 2024 international class but he really struggled last year in the Dominican Summer League. After signing for $1.8 million out of Venezuela, the powerful third baseman hit just .197/.323/.250 and showed no power as a professional. Herrera was lauded for his massive raw power but he didn’t homer in 40 games played. The 6-3, 215 pounder will have an opportunity to show something in 2025 as he repeats with the affiliate in the Dominican Summer League.
20-year-old Cuban Rafael Alvarez and 17-year-old Dominican Jehancarlos Mendez will return to the DSL as well. Alvarez is another third baseman and while he posted a 127 wRC+ back in 2023, he really struggled in 12 games last season. It will be noteworthy to see which positions he plays in 2025. Mendez is a 6-2, 180 pound middle infielder who really struggled offensively during his debut.
Outfielders (DSL White Sox)
- Hendry Alcala (18)
- Jeremias Aponte (18)
- Alan Escobar (16)
- Christian Gonzalez (18)
- Frank Mieses (17)
- Orlando Patiño (17)
Patiño is the real prize of this group as the White Sox flipped his commitment from the Los Angeles Dodgers for $570K this past January. The 17-year-old possesses strength and power in his right-handed swing. He could have a plus throwing arm as well and stay in center field initially. The outfielder is 6-2, 205 pounds and the club is enamored with his athleticism. The Venezuelan has an intriguing hit and power combination as well.
Christian Gonzalez will return to the Dominican Summer League in 2025 after a solid debut in 2024. The 18-year-old center fielder hit .265/.395/.303 with a 16% walk rate on 48 games. The Venezuelan displays plus-plus run times and swings the bat from the left side. The 5-11, 185 pounder signed for $550K and he could move stateside with a big start to the DSL season.
Jeremias Aponte, Alan Escobar and Frank Mieses were all signed in January. Aponte signed for $200K and possesses some physical projection. The 6-1, 180 pound Venezuelan hits from the left side. Escobar is a 16-year-old left-handed hitter from Venezuela and the 6-0, 185 pounder signed for $350K. Mieses is a 6-1, 170 pounder from the Dominican Republic who received a $200K bonus. Hendry Alcala is a switch-hitting outfielder who will make his professional debut.
Catchers (DSL White Sox)
- Diego Natera (17)
- Juan Oviedo (21)
Diego Natera is a 5-10, 190 pound backstop from Venezuela. The 17-year-old hits from the right side and he’s known for his defensive skills. 21-year-old Venzeulan catcher Juan Oviedo is returning to the Dominican Summer League White Sox as well after finishing the past two seasons on injured reserve. The 5-10, 150 pounder played in 15 games in 2022.
Jose Mendoza is a 17-year-old who was signed out of Venezuela this January. He is 6-2, 210 pounds and bats from the right side as well. In an interesting turn of events however, Mendoza is listed on the Arizona Complex League roster. It’s informative in regards to the organization’s thought process on the player if they’re willing to start the player in the United States.
Pitchers (DSL White Sox)
- Darlyn Almanzar (18, LHP)
- Cesar Bolivar (17)
- Félix Doroteo (20)
- César Familia (17)
- Juan Felix (16)
- Reinder Gomez (18)
- Jhonny Morao (17)
- Cesar Nunez (18, LHP)
- Diego Perez (22)
- Alexander Pichardo (17)
- Enmanuel Rodriguez (16)
- Yobal Rodriguez (17)
- Orlando Suarez (18)
- Natanael Valerio (18)
18-year-old Venezuelan righty Orlando Suarez was one of the top arms available in the 2024 international class. After signing for $375K, he spent the season in the Dominican Summer League and posted a 6.41 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 23 walks in 39.1 innings. He’ll repeat the level in a quest for more success this season. The 6-4, 215 pounder shows a smooth delivery with a 95 mph fastball and a very high spin curveball. He has some of the best stuff from last year’s class.
The rest of the pitching staff consists of hurlers that have been signed in the most recent international class and David Keller (special assistant to the general manager; international operations) is excited to see the club’s crop of youmng arms. “I’m particularly excited about the crop of pitchers that we were able to acquire. I think we have a number of exciting arms. Pitchers that display not only starter traits and characteristics but the stuff and secondary weapons to back that up, that will eventually turn them into legitimate prospects for the White Sox organization”, Keller said.
The most heralded pitcher from rhe recent class is 17-year-old Cuban Yobal Rodriguez. Keller was able to sign him last December; shortly after transitioning to his new role. The 6-2, 155 pounder is an athletic mover on the mound with a repeatable delivery. The Cuban right hander throws a fastball up to 95 mph with a potentially plus changeup. The fastball could get into the high 90’s with more strength gains. Rodriguez throws a lot of sttrikes and has been lauded for his makeup as well.
César Familia and Jhonny Morao received fairly significant bonuses this past January as well. Familia is a 6-3, 200 pound righty from the Dominican Republic. The 17-year-old is expected to start some games in the DSL rotation at the outset. He signed for $350,000. Morao is also 17-years-old but the 6-2, 175 pounder hails from Venezuela and signed for $300K.
Félix Doroteo is a 6-6, 195 pounder from the Dominican Republic. He signed for $30,000. Albert Mùñoz also signed out of the Dominican Republic for $50K while 18-year-old righty Natanael Valerio joined the organization for $15,000. 16-year-old righty Juan Felix and 17-year-old right hander Alexander Pichardo (currently on the restricted list) hail from the island as well.
The pitching staff is mostly made up of right handers but there are two southpaws on staff as well. Darlyn Alexander is a 5-11, 150 pound lefty who signed with the White Sox in April. The 18-year-old is from the Dominican Republic. 6-5, 234 pound left hander Cesar Nunez signed with the organziation as an 18-year-old back in March out of the D.R. as well and both will debut in the Dominican Summer League.
Cesar Bolivar is a 17-year-old righty out of Venezuela who signed with the White Sox back in March. Joining him from Venezuela will be Reinder Gomez, Diego Perez and Enmanuel Rodriguez. Rodriguez is 16-years-old while Perez seems to be the elder statesman of the staff at 22. Most of the players who begin the season in the Dominican Summer League generally remain there for the entire campaign. A move up for a high-achiever wouldn’t be totally unprecedented however.
