Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Watch for these 10 Complex league prospects

Eight position players making U.S. debuts in Rookie-level ball
May 7, 2024

The Rookie-level Arizona Complex and Florida Complex leagues began play Saturday, a month earlier than they did a year ago. The changes mean that the circuits will be populated more by players making the jump from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League the season before and less by guys coming out

The Rookie-level Arizona Complex and Florida Complex leagues began play Saturday, a month earlier than they did a year ago. The changes mean that the circuits will be populated more by players making the jump from the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League the season before and less by guys coming out of the current year's Draft. The DSL will begin play next month, as usual.

While the ACL and FCL remain five levels removed from the Majors, they are stocked with intriguing prospects. Below we rank the 10 best complex leaguers, with their organization Top 30 rankings in parentheses. All eight of the position players are making their U.S. debuts.

1. Brock Porter, RHP, ACL Rangers (No. 3/MLB No. 79)
Signed for a fourth-round-record $3.7 million as the best high school pitcher in the 2022 Draft, Porter began this season in High-A but walked 13 in 8 1/3 innings before the Rangers sent him to the ACL to recalibrate. When he's right, he has a 94-97 mph fastball that reaches triple digits with run and carry, a solid mid-80s slider and a quality low-80s changeup that tumbles and fades.

2. Starlyn Caba, SS, FCL Phillies (No. 5)
One of the top players in the 2023 international signing class, Caba received $3 million in January of that year. He whetted the Phillies’ appetite by hitting .301 with a .423 OBP while playing elite-level defense at short in his DSL debut. He’s a switch-hitter who makes a ton of contact and has great instincts on the basepaths. There’s going to be some sneaky pop, and he already went deep over the first couple of FCL games.

3. Felnin Celesten, SS, ACL Mariners (No. 5)
This is the first real look anyone is getting at Celesten, who signed for $4.7 million as the No. 2 prospect on MLB Pipeline’s 2023 International Top 50, because he suffered a Grade 2 hamstring injury before the DSL season even began last summer. He’s a switch-hitter with tremendous ceiling and he’s already added 10-15 pounds of muscle to his frame. He has impressive instincts, range and arm that point to a long-term future at shortstop.

4. Henry Lalane, LHP, FCL Yankees (No. 8)
Born in the Bronx as the son of a former St. Francis and European professional basketball forward of the same name, Lalane moved to the Dominican Republic as a youth and signed for $350,000 in 2021. He stood out as the best pitching prospect in the FCL last year, displaying a lively mid-90s fastball and flashes of a plus slider and changeup. The Yankees sent him back there while he nurses a shoulder injury, and it's unclear when he'll make his 2024 debut.

5. Paulino Santana, OF, ACL Rangers (No. 13)
Ranked No. 2 on our 2024 International Top 50, Santana signed for $1,297,500 out of the Dominican Republic after earning comparisons to Julio Rodríguez for both his five-tool potential and his personality. He's advanced at the plate, projects to hit for power and average and can make an impact on the bases and in center field with his plus speed.

6. Walker Martin, SS, ACL Giants (No. 4)
Martin led U.S. high schoolers with 20 homers and 75 RBI in 29 games in 2023, and the Giants considered taking him in the first round before being delighted when he was still available in the second. As a bigger-bodied shortstop with left-handed power potential, he draws some comparisons to Corey Seager.

7. Fernando Cruz, SS, ACL Cubs (No. 10)
A cousin of former Cubs All-Star Starlin Castro, Cruz signed out of the Dominican Republic in January for $4 million, the second-largest bonus in franchise history for an international amateur. He offers more power than most shortstops, along with plus speed and smooth actions that should keep him at the position.

8. Rayner Arias, OF, ACL Giants (No. 5)
Arias has an intriguing combination of hitting ability, power and discipline, and he broke into pro ball by hitting .414/.539/.793 in 16 DSL games last summer before fracturing his left wrist making a diving catch. The son of Pablo Arias, who reached Triple-A as a right-hander and now scouts for the Diamondbacks, Rayner signed out of the Dominican Republic in January 2023 for $2,697,500, the second-highest international bonus in franchise history.

9. Yoeilin Cespedes, SS, FCL Red Sox (No. 7)
One of the more advanced hitters in the 2023 international class, Cespedes turned pro for $1.4 million out of the Dominican Republic in January 2023. He won Red Sox Latin program player of the year honors following a .346/.392/.560 debut in the DSL, where he impressed with his advanced approach, bat-to-ball skills, exit velocities, baseball IQ and work ethic.

10. Jeremy Rodriguez, SS, FCL Mets (No. 12)
The Mets acquired Rodriguez from the D-backs for Tommy Pham at last year’s Trade Deadline and saw him go 19-for-45 (.422) with 11 walks and only four strikeouts over 13 games in the DSL after that. That contact rate, along with dependable defense at shortstop, helped make Rodriguez an early arrival stateside this spring and a Spring Breakout participant at 17 years old. As he continues to mature, the left-handed slugger could be an eventual plus hitter at a premium position.

Jim Callis is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him @jimcallisMLB. Listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.

Jonathan Mayo is a reporter for MLBPipeline.com. Follow him on Facebook and @JonathanMayo, and listen to him on the weekly MLB Pipeline Podcast.

Sam Dykstra is a reporter for MiLB.com and MLB.com. Follow and interact with him @SamDykstraMiLB.

Rookie-level Red Sox Red win Dominican Summer League title

@JoshJacksonMiLB
August 31, 2024

Some 1,600 miles south of Fenway Park, the Red Sox won a championship on Saturday. With the big league club in the thick of the American League Wild Card chase, Boston's Red Sox Red club beat the Angels' affiliate, 6-0, in Game 3 of the best-of-3 finals in the Rookie-level

DSL Red Sox pitcher Felix suspended 56 games

Boston right-hander to miss time after testing positive for performance enhancing substance
August 23, 2024

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Boston Red Sox Minor League pitcher Anthony Felix, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Red Sox, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance enhancing substance in violation of

DSL Cardinals' Perez, DSL Padres' Jimenez among three suspended

Perez, Jimenez, Frias handed 56-game bans for banned substances
July 26, 2024

A pair of Dominican Summer League pitchers were suspended on Friday after testing positive for performance-enhancing substance, according to the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. St. Louis Cardinals Minor League pitcher Kener Perez, who is currently on their Dominican Summer League roster, received a 56-game suspension without pay after

DSL Giants' Tandron suspended 56 games

San Francisco shortstop tested positive for performance enhancing substance, MLB says
May 31, 2024

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that San Francisco Giants Minor League shortstop Anthony Tandron, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Giants, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance enhancing substance in violation of Major

DSL Pirates' Blanco, former DSL Rays righty Laureano suspended

Pitchers banned 56 games after testing positive for Stanozolol
January 8, 2024

NEW YORK (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Hader Blanco and free-agent right-hander Ismael Laureano were suspended for 56 games each Friday following positive tests under baseball’s Minor League drug program. Both tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Stanozolol, the commissioner’s office said. Blanco, 18, was on the roster of the

DSL Tigers' Acosta, DSL Rockies' Ugarte suspended

Pair will sit 56 games in '24 once Dominican Summer season begins
September 29, 2023

A pair of Dominican Summer Leaguers will miss time in 2024 after testing positive for banned drugs. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced Friday that two Minor League players -- Tigers pitcher Luis Acosta and Rockies infielder Ronny Ugarte -- have been suspended following their violations of the

DSL Mets' Larez suspended 56 games

Dominican Summer League infielder tests positive for banned substance
August 21, 2023

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that New York Mets Minor League infielder Cristopher Larez, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Mets, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Minor

DSL Cubs' Mosquea suspended 54 games

Chicago Minor Leaguer had 3.14 ERA in nine relief appearances in Dominican Summer League
August 18, 2023

The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced on Aug. 15 that Chicago Cubs Minor League pitcher Dalbert Mosquea, who is currently on the roster of the Dominican Summer League Cubs, has received a 56-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Stanozolol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the

DSL Red Sox no-hit themselves, well, sort of

Boston's DSL Blue squad twirls gem against DSL Red team
@JoeTrezz
July 7, 2023

When you play in a league with more than one team from your organization, every head-to-head matchup comes with bragging rights. The Rookie-level Dominican Summer League Red Sox Blue commandeered them on Thursday in pretty remarkable fashion – no-hitting organizational counterpart Red Sox Red in a 1-0 victory. That’s right:

DSL Guardians kick off season with 28-run barrage

Rookie-level squad rolls on Opening Day with 13-run frame, 24 hits
@JoeTrezz
June 5, 2023

There is nothing like Opening Day, and the Rookie-level Guardians Blue had one for the ages in the Dominican Summer League on Monday. Cleveland’s DSL affiliate came out of the gate swinging in its inter-organizational opener against the DSL Guardians Red … and swinging, and swinging and swinging. When they

Dominican Summer League returns for 37th season

DSL features 50 teams at 30 complexes across country for 2023
June 5, 2023

Minor League Baseball™ (MiLB™) today announced the 2023 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 5 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Philadelphia Phillies’ Academy in Boca Chica. Dozens of dignitaries from the Dominican Republic political, business and sports worlds are expected to attend a pre-game ceremony

Complex League award winners and All-Stars

Avina, Rodriguez and Olivar claim Rookie-level MVP honors
@MavalloneMiLB
November 11, 2022

Minor League Baseball revealed its end-of-season award winners and All-Stars for each of the Rookie-level Complex Leagues. While the Arizona Complex League, Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League are all of the short-season variety, their value to a player's development is no less important. In the ACL, Milwaukee's Jace