International prospects that take part in the Dominican Summer League have become integral trade pieces in recent years. The 72-game season, spanning from June – July, has featured recent notable players such as Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase, Cincinnati’s Noelvi Marte, and Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero. The 2024 Dominican Summer League saw DSL Boston Red Sox crowned as league champions. Here is a look at the standouts from this past season’s Dominican Summer League.
Emil Morales SS – Los Angeles Dodgers
Signed in January 2024, 17-year-old Emil Morales was the top hitter during the 2024 DSL. The Dodgers prospect finished the season slashing .342/.478/.691 with 14 home runs, 46 RBI, and 12 stolen bases in 46 games. 6’3” 191lbs, Morales will grow into his frame, and a shift from SS is inevitable. His strong arm would allow him to play 3B or right field. Morales’s sense of the strike zone, and ability to barrel balls to all parts of the field, sets him apart from not only players his age but players with a few years on the young prospect. As Morales taps into his full power potential, he will become one of the most sought-after prospects in MLB and fantasy baseball.
Dashyll Tejeda OF – Washington Nationals
Fantasy baseball players who are enamored with high-contact hitters with speed will quickly add Tejeda to their short list of young prospects. The 18-year-old Nationals prospect finished the season slashing .304/.432/.456 with two home runs, 19 RBI, and 46 stolen bases. Currently, Tejeda is contact before power, but as he develops and matures, power will become present, and the young outfielder has the chance to become a hot commodity in fantasy baseball. Plus-speed, high contact, and power to come, Dashyll Tejeda is a fantasy star in waiting.
Joswa Lugo SS – Los Angeles Angels
At 17-years-old, Lugo was one of the top hitters in the 2024 DSL. After signing with the Angels in January, Lugo finished his first season in professional baseball slashing .301/.370/.466 with five home runs, 37 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. Smooth, raw power, Lugo combines this with high contact and does not post a high number of swings-and-misses. As he matures and develops into his 6’3” 187lb frame, Lugo will ultimately make a shit away from shortstop. His power potential is ideal for a prototypical third baseman, and that would be the perfect fit from a fantasy standpoint. Lugo has around four years to develop his game, but for an organization that has wasted the career of superstar Mike Trout, they have several prospects under 18-years-old that could become their core of the future.
Jesus Alexander C – San Francisco Giants
Jesus Alexander finished the 2024 DSL as the league’s top offensive catcher, and the 19-year-old is well on his way to becoming one of the top-catching prospects in MLB. In 47 games, Alexander slashed .381/.437/.597 with five home runs and 40 RBI. The left-handed hitting catcher possesses a combination of contact and power that will make him a must-have for fantasy teams. He spent time during the 2024 season at first base and carrying multiple position eligibility would be a godsend to all fantasy teams. A left-handed hitting catcher with the combination of average, contact, and power, Jesus Alexander could be on the fast track to San Francisco and fantasy baseball teams.
Dioris De La Rosa RHP – Los Angeles Angels
Dioris De La Rosa is a name that should immediately be added to any fantasy baseball player’s shortlist. The international prospect will become a household name following his strong 2024 Dominican Summer League season. At 17-years-old, de la Rosa has three to four years before he reaches the Majors, but he was one of the best players this season. The international free agent signed January 15th and is quickly making the Angels organization eager for their future. Already reaching 96 MPH, de la Rosa has feasted on Dominican League hitters, posting a 2.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts in 4512 innings. The young right-hander does not walk many batters, having surrendered only 20 free passes, and the only knock is his fastball being flat at times, allowing hitters to get soft base hits to the outfield. In the top of Dominican Summer League rankings, de la Rosa has earned a pitcher of the week award and owns two starts throwing five innings of no-hit baseball. Fantasy baseball players looking for a list of prospects to monitor for the future should see Dioris de la Rosa penciled atop their prospect rankings that have an MLB ETA of three to four seasons.
German Nunez RHP – Texas Rangers
Signed in March of 2022, Nunez led the DSL with 74 strikeouts in 53 innings. 2024 was the best season of the 22-year-old’s minor league career, finishing with a 2.89 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and finishing with a perfect 6-0 record in 11 games started. At 6’3” 155lbs, the Rangers will look for Nunez to add strength and mass to his frame. His fastball sits in the mid-90s showing late life, and his developing slider can become an elite-level out pitch in the next few seasons. Given his high strikeout ability, there is a chance Texas sees Nunez destined to be their closer of the future. Whether he is starting or in a closer role, German Nunez is a name that will carry fantasy relevance soon.
Davidxon Lara RHP – Los Angeles Angels
The 20-year-old Venezuelan finished the 2024 DSL season as league’s stop closer. Saving 11 of 12 games, Lara ended the season with a 0.55 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 33 strikeouts in 33 innings. His fastball currently sits in the low-to-mid 90s, but his plus-changeup makes his fastball look deceivingly faster. Once Lara makes his move to the Angels minor league system in the US, mechanical adjustments should allow his fastball to add a few more ticks of velocity. Lara’s breaking ball shows potential as a third pitch, but its feel is a bit behind that of his changeup. At 5’10” 165lbs, Lara’s future is in a relief role, and should his fastball reach the mid-to-high 90s, fantasy baseball players should see similar characteristics to former Major League closer Billy Wagner.
Yhoiker Fajardo RHP – Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have one of the worst farm systems in Major League Baseball, but there are a handful of bright spots, most notably from the mound. Signed in February 2024, 17-year-old Venezuelan prospect Yhoiker Fajardo is an under-the-radar White Sox prospect that had one of the better 2024 DSL seasons. Through 13 starts, Fajardo finished with a 3.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 50.2 innings. At 6’3” 181lbs, the righty will only add to his already solid frame. He has the ideal size for a starting pitcher, and mechanical adjustments will only see an uptick in his fastball velocity that sits in the mid-90s. A two-pitch repertoire, Fajardo’s mid-80s slider is on its way to being an elite secondary pitch. Again, the White Sox have few bright spots in their minor league system, but at 17-years-old Fajardo has the chance to not only become the top prospect in the White Sox system, but a front-line fantasy baseball starting pitcher.