The Arizona Complex League has some company on Mondays while the full-season affiliates are sleeping, because the Dominican Summer League is underway.
Assessing the DSL White Sox at the start of the season always involves guesswork because it's the first documented pro experience for a good chunk of the roster. One only has signing bonuses and ages from which to make determinations, because the guys with the sizable signing bonuses are the only ones whose scouting reports circulate outside the organization.
Here's the complete roster, and here's the write-up of the most recent signing class. It's from February, and I had to revisit it in order to remember which player was which.
Pitchers
Norge Vera: Before Yoelqui Céspedes signed, Vera was the headliner of the White Sox's most recent signing class. Instead, he'll have to settle for second banana status with a $1.5 million bonus. He'll probably be spending the whole year in the DSL for tax purposes, which isn't ideal for somebody who turned 21 last month, but hey.
Adrian Gil and Carlos Hinestroza: The two other pitchers with six-figure bonuses in last year's class, Gil is the youngest pitcher on the roster at 17 years old, and Hinestroza isn't far behind at 18.
Yohemy Nolasco: Don't know anything about him, but he's the second-youngest pitcher on the roster, as he just turned 18 on Monday.
Position Players
Manuel Guariman: The youngest player on the DSL White Sox -- a 17-year-old who doesn't turn 18 until February -- Paddy called him an offense-first catcher with a strong arm.
Alberto Bernal: It sucks to get off to a rough start in the DSL at 17, then lose an entire season due to circumstances beyond your control. He's a $300,000 max signing out of Cuba during the Luis Robert Penalty Box Era, so maybe there wasn't anything there the whole time.
Dario Borrero: He's listed as a 6-foot-5-inch, 190-pound first baseman, but he should be in the outfield mix as well.
Victor Quezada: The 17-year-old third baseman received a $500,000 bonus for his power potential from the right side.
Carlos Jimenez: The 6-foot-4-inch, 220-pound outfielder drew comparisons to Benyamin Bailey, partially due to build, and partially due to Panama offering fewer reps. Don't mistake him with Cesar "Enoy" Jiménez, Eloy's brother.
Randel Mondesi: He's the son of Raul Mondesi, and the brother of Adalberto Monedesi.
* * * * * * * * *
ACL Giants Orange 7, ACL White Sox 1 (7 innings)
- Wilber Sanchez went 0-for-3.
- Elijah Tatis ended an 0-for-21 start to his season by going 1-for-2 with a walk. He was picked off/caught stealing.
- Logan Glass went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
- Benyamin Bailey was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
- Jefferson Mendoza was 0-for-1 with a walk and an HBP.
DSL White Sox 4, DSL Orioles1 3 (7 innings)
- Victor Quezada went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
- Alberto Bernal walked and struck out twice.
- Dario Borrero went 1-for-3.
- Carlos Jiménez went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Carlos Hinestroza: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
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(Photo via @whitesox on Twitter)
