Before we discuss this year’s DSL position players, let’s review the 2022 edition:
Erick Tejeda
2021: .298/.418/.419, .987 (1B), +.053 vs. DSL Lg. Avg. of .240
2022: .236/.354 /364, .981 (1B), +.009 vs. FCL Lg. Avg. of .241 → Made 2023 Watchlist as a 1B
Eliesel Santana
2021: .271/.374/.344, 1.000 (OF), +.014
2022: .246/.364/.323, 1.000 (OF), +.003
Juan Garcia
2021: .221/.366/.313, .885 (3B), +.003
2022: .188/.296/.333, .943 (3B), -.032 (DSL)
Jose Colmenares
2021: .235/.323/.341, .986 (C), -.009
2022: .242/.297/.485, .990 (C), +.027 (DSL)
Winder Diaz
2021: .207/.363/.267, .951(2B), 1.000(1B), .933(SS), .818(3B), -.010
2022: .252/.404/.374, .938 (SS), +.026 (DSL) → Made 2023 Watchlist as a DSL Bat
Armando Cruz
2021: .232/.292/.305, .951(SS), -.032
2022: .275/.320/.362, .923(SS), -.007 → Made 2023 Watchlist as a 2B/SS
Not surprisingly, only four of the six made it stateside. However, two guys saw action in full-season affiliates, with Cruz playing three games for the FredNats and Colmenares playing two for the Blue Rocks. As written in this space a year ago, it looks like only Cruz might start 2023 in Virginia.
And now a look at the 2023 DSL Guys:
Jhoan Contreras
POS: 1B
JULY 1, 2023 AGE: 19
STATS: .283/.387/.428, +.033 vs. DSL Lg. Avg. of .249
Given that the Nats are thinner than the resume of a Trump-nominated judge at 1B, Contreras stands a good chance of making the jump to the FCL.
Winder Diaz
POS: SS
JULY 1, 2023 AGE: 20
STATS: .252/.404/.374, .938 (SS), +.026
Diaz seems to have settled at SS, which may mean he’ll be tested in Florida in the summer of ’23.
Misael Mojica
POS: 2B/SS
JULY 1, 2023 AGE: 18
STATS: .233/.381/.361, .953 (2B), .867 (SS), +.013
Mojica was second only to Diaz in walks drawn, which is more impressive because 2022 was his first season as a pro and he was only 17. Given the logjam at the FCL, he could repeat just as Diaz did.
Crithian Vaquero
POS: CF
JULY 1, 2023 AGE: 18
STATS: .256/.379/.341, .984 (CF), +.007
Vaquero didn’t tear up the DSL but performed well, considering the $4.925M bullseye on his back. Despite the glut of OFs ahead of him in full-season ball, he’ll most likely make the move to the FCL in 2023.
Enmanuel Ramirez
POS: OF
JULY 1, 2023 AGE: 19
STATS: .231/.303/.359, .972 (OF), -.023
While Ramirez showed a significant improvement over his 2021 line of .168/.236/.252, it’s not a given that he’ll make it to the FCL this year.