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Dominican Summer League Prospects to Target in Dynasty Leagues

By Richard Haake
Fantasy Baseball Prospects in the Dominican Summer League

The Dominican Summer League is underway with most of the top names (Ethan Salas is in Low-A) in the most recent international signing period. This is a minimal sample size to evaluate but we can take a look and get ahead in some of the deeper dynasty leagues that roster 75 minor league spots or more. Getting in on the Josue De Paula’s and Jackson Chourios’ ground floor is crucial to building powerhouse dynasty teams without pay-up big time. Let’s dive in.

More great fantasy baseball advice and analysis: Waiver Wire & FAAB Recommendations | Daily MLB Injury Report | MLB DFS Picks | Line-up Analysis | Dynasty Rankings and Strategy | MLB Bullpen Updates | MLB Player Props | Prospect Rankings & Analysis | Fantasy Baseball Risers and Fallers

DSL Hitting Prospects Making Waves

Yorfran Medina, 1B/OF LAD

(11 GP, .440/.651/.1.120, 4 HR, 16 R, 12 RBI)

This will be the second year in the DSL for the 6’4” Yorfran Medina. After a lackluster summer in 2022 where he slashed .181/.289/.306, Medina is looking much more polished and is racking up the counting stats. In 43 plate appearances, Medina is walking 25.6% of the time while only striking out just 14% of the time. Medina has slugged four home runs with 8 of his 11 hits coming as the extra base variety.

Yorfran is hitting the ball hard and up in the air as the 55% flyball rate shows though the 36.4% HR/FB rate is unsustainably high. Regardless the early results are intriguing for Yorfran Medina and I suspect he will be promoted stateside before too long. This is a high-upside grab in deep dynasty leagues.

Derek Bernard, 2B COL

(13 GP, .426/.550/.809, 5 HR, 12 R, 20 RBI, 6 SB)

Before you say “Rockies are going to Rocky” you are right… But we have seen that cream will rise to the top even with a franchise that looks like it can’t find its way out of a paper bag. Like Yorfran Medina, Derek Bernard is working on his second season in the DSL the only difference between the two is Bernard performed well in 2022 and remained. In 2022 Bernard slashed .308/.377/.439 with four home runs, 49 runs, 25 RBIs, and 11 SB in 56 games. Like Michael Jordan before him Derek Bernard “took this personally” and has shown up big this season.

With a .426/.550/.809 slash line with five home runs, 20 RBIs, and six stolen bases in only 13 games, there is a lot to like. Bernard has shown improved plate discipline, walking 21.7% of the time while only striking out 16.7% in 60 plate appearances. The only downside if you could call it that so far is that Bernard is hitting the ball on the ground 58.3% of the time, resulting in 12 of his 20 base hits being singles. Put the Rockies’ bias aside and buy into the talent while it is at its lowest cost to acquire.

Yeremi Cabrera, OF TEX

(12 GP, .395/.567/.744, 3 HR, 19 R, 9 RBI, 4 SB)

Texas Rangers player development has been on fire the last several seasons with evaluating and developing these international prospects. Yeremi Cabrera might be the next one to pop with the Texas Rangers. Cabrera has shown excellent plate discipline, walking 25% of the time while only striking out 10% in his 60 plate appearances. With an OBP north of .500 you you need to take notice even in a short sample size. So far Cabrera has hit two doubles, two triples, and three home runs as well putting the ball in the air 54.1% of the time.

Batting from the left side of the plate, Cabrera is a pull-side hitter but has raised his center field percentage by 10% over last season in the DSL. Yeremi Cabrera will be 18 in less than a week and if he continues to hit like this I won’t be surprised to see the Rangers gift him a trip stateside to play with the Low-A Down East Wood Ducks.

Rayner Arias, OF SFG

(11 GP, .381/.500/.738, 3 HR, 11 R, 15 RBI, 3 SB)

San Francisco has hit it big in the international department with recent call-up Luis Matos and has former top-five prospect Marco Luciano on the way, so could Rayner Arias be the next one? So far the numbers look promising for Arias who is playing in his first season of professional ball in the DSL. The 6’2” outfielder is currently slashing .381/.500/.738 with three home runs, 11 runs, 15 RBIs, and three stolen bases in only 11 games.

What has been more impressive is the patience at the plate. Arias has walked 18.5% while only striking out 16.7% in 54 plate appearances. With 8 of Arias’s 16 hits coming in the way of extra-base hits and the line drive rate at 17.6%, it is easy to see that Arias swings the bat with authority. It’s too early to be dropping comps or predictions on what he could be but let’s say I am very intrigued with the early results.

DSL Pitching Prospects Making Waves

Chalniel Arias, RHP NYY

(3 GS, 15.2 IP, 28 K, 2 BB, .230 AVG, 2.30 ERA)

Pitching can be difficult to decipher in the DSL as you will see mostly hitters have eye-popping numbers but Chalniel Arias jumps off the page right away. To start Chalniel Arias leads the DSL in strikeouts with 28 while limiting his walks per nine to only 1.15. Arias has been so successful because he has kept the ball on the ground 67.7% of the time and limiting the flyball percentage to only 19.4% so far. Across the board, the 19-year-old right-hander has improved over last season’s performance in the DSL.

Currently, Arias is being deployed as a starter, and with the 6’3” build he has the frame to stick. With a 16.09 K/9 this season, you can see the appeal to keep him there. Once again I must reiterate this is a small sample size but most of you who play in deeper leagues know you have to jump on these types of guys early or pay the price. It is much cheaper to drop these guys if they don’t pan out is my philosophy.

Jeter Martinez, RHP SEA

(3 GS, 13.2 IP, 19 K, 3 BB, .128 AVG, 0.66 ERA)

With a name like Jeter Martinez, how can you go wrong? The Mariners are hoping they just nabbed lightning in a bottle with Martinez. The 6’4” 180-pounder has been impressive so far this season. Over 13.2 innings pitched, he has struck out 19 batters; good for a 12.51 K/9. In this small sample size, Martinez has only given up three walks and no home runs over his first three starts.

Martinez has been successful at keeping the ball on the ground with a 2.14 ground ball-to-flyball rate. It is hard to predict how good Jeter Martinez or any of these pitching prospects will be with such little data to go off of but this much is certain, Martinez piques my interest in a future starter.

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