Tom Brennan - DSL DELITES - HITTERS EDITION

Tom Brennan - DSL DELITES - HITTERS EDITION

DSL (Dominican Summer League) baseball is basically sub-rookie pro ball for Latino teenagers. Guys begin playing in the DSL as early as age 16. A recent effort to sign talented players at age 2 and above was quashed by the Mets hierarchy, who did not want to pay for the player's diapers.  Too costly, you see.

Kidding aside, the Mets have produced some solid players who started out in the DSL. Andres Gimenez leaps to mind.

After that, I am mostly drawing a bit of a blank.  The likes of Jose Reyes, Amed Rosario, and Wilmer Flores all skipped the DSL and started in stateside rookie ball at 16 or 17. Honestly, for years, I ignored the DSL due to its failure to produce much other than filler for the lower minors.

In 2017, Mets DSL teams excelled vs. their fellow DSL competitors.  So, despite low level of past DSL prospects reaching the majors, I decided to give last year's crop a quick prospect look-see.

The DSL 1 Mets team was really "number 2" at 44-27, while the DSL 2 squad was realty "number 1" at a terrific 50-21, best of all the 32 DSL squads.  

Good hitting must have had something to do with a combined 94-48 record (.662) for the 2 teams, right?

My formula for DSL hitters to consider as "radar screen-worthy" include 1) high average; 2) high OBP; 3) low strikeouts; and 4) at least some power.  Strikeout rates matter, as former Mets minor leaguer "Vinnie the Loop" Vicente Lupo tore up the DSL in his 2nd try, except his Ks remained high - when he went to stateside ball, his Ks went from "high" to "stratospheric".

Using those criteria, DSL hitmen that seem to be worth keeping an eye on in 2018 include the following lads:

DSL 1 - sorry, nobody truly impressed with the stick.  

Only one guy hit .300; all except one had OBPs of .350 or below; many struck out nearly once a game, not a good long term harbinger, and little power was in evidence.

3 DSL 1 Mets guys I'd mention, rather than list none, are:

SS Sebastian Espino: in 64 games, he had 16 doubles, NINE triples, 2 homers, and hit .267, but with 60 Ks. Still, I like the extra base hit output.

C Wilfred Astudillo: only 20 Ks in 52 games: .291/.351/.368.

3B Jose Peroza...an impressive 21 doubles in 57 games, and .300/.349/.437, but 55 Ks.

DSL 2 Mets had more live and exciting bats.  

Five guys who particularly impressed were:

3B Yoel Romero: .364/.439/.464, 32 Ks in 67 games. Close to Andres Gimenez #'s of 2016, so he is worth watching.  17 of 24 steals, too.. Remarkably, just 2 errors.  Gavin Cecchini must be impressed.

2B Luis Santana also was really strong at .325/.430/.481, and just 22 Ks in 65 games.  On the Brennan Watch list for 2018.  Swiped 16 of 20.  Just 4 errors, too....Gavin Cecchini must be impressed.

SS Sherveyn Newton (the name makes him sound like a Las Vegas performer if the baseball gig doesn't work) excelled at .311/.433/.444, also with 9 triples. He did fan 57 times in 64 games but walked 50, so it appears he was intent on learning the strike zone, which Amed Rosario would agree is a good thing.  Ks happen as you try to really learn the strike zone.  Newton made 15 errors, but for a really young SS, that error-to-games ratio is solid.

CF Jhoander Saez was spiffy, too, at .320/.397/.378...he did fan 66 times in 68 games, but stole a spiffy 20 of 24. And just two errors...making former DSL dude and current Mets CF Juan Lagares leap with delight.  Lagares, in his one DSL season, would likely have missed this list, as he hit just .255/.339/.412 in 57 games with 48 Ks.

1B Dave Lozano played just 50 games, but well - he  hit .313/.412/.381, stole 14 of 19, and fanned just 22 times.

Homers, it should be noted, were scarce, but these are just kids, so let's see how that unfolds for the above 8 guys.

My take is Romero, Saez, and Newton are the three to really watch in 2018.  

From the Mets' 2017 DSL hitting class, I sure am curious, if not yet anxious, to see who is real and who is Memorex in 2018 when most or all come stateside.