While the White Sox turned over their international scouting department, it's not something that's going to bear immediate fruit. New special assistant to the general manager David Keller only had about four months to finalize the signing class in January, they're still using the outdated academy from which they're trying to move, and they're still trading away international bonus money, this time for immediate bullpen depth.
For the time being, the signs of progress are more being told than shown. Keller talked up the investments in international data, and was happy to report early success in growing the number of signings from the Dominican Republic, but relatively speaking, it reads like Chris Getz trumpeting the size of secondary leads.
It'll take a full year to understand what Keller's version of a signing class looks like, versus one that's a watered down version of the old strategy under Marco Paddy, and then there's the matter of what kind of boost a new facility can provide. For the time being, between the White Sox's media session after announcing the July signings and Ben Badler's review of the team's international signing class at Baseball America, here's a rundown of the players most worth tracking at the bottom of the Minor Keys.
DSL White Sox coaching staff
- Manager: Anthony Nuñez
- Pitching coach: José Brito
- Hitting coach: Moisés Nuñez
- Assistant pitching coach: Stolmy Pimental
- Infield coach: Guillermo Reyes
Every position is the same except hitting coach, because the White Sox couldn't pass up the opportunity for double the Nuñez.
Pitchers of note
- Cesar Familia
- Diego Perez
- Yobal Rodríguez
- Orlando Suarez
- Natanael Valerio
Familia ($350,000, Dominican Republic) and Rodríguez ($230,000, Cuba) are 17-year-old right-handed newcomers, both are said to hit 93. Where they differ? Familia has more on his frame and has a slider as his best secondary pitch to date, while Rodríguez touts a changeup. Perez (16) and Valerio (18) made Badler's "Sleeper Watch" section this year, with the latter being a shortstop who just converted to pitching. But Suarez was considered an under-the-radar signing last year, and he remains so after a 6.41 ERA with a lot of hits and walks allowed.
Pitchers not (yet) of note
- Darlyn Almanzar
- Cesar Bolivar
- Felix Doroteo
- Juan Felix
- Reinder Gomez
- Jhonny Morao
- Albert Munoz
- Cesar Nunez
- Emmanuel Ramirez
Without anything but ages to go off of, Felix and Munoz don't turn 17 until July, and Ramirez until August.
Catchers
- Jose M. Mendoza
- Diego Natera
- Juan Oviedo
- Deury Ramos
Mendoza and Natera are the younger and active catchers in the bunch, as both are 17. Natera signed for $225,000 out of Venezuela, and Badler says he moves well behind the plate with flashes of home run power. Oviedo is on the 60-day injured list, and Ramos on the restricted list.
Infielders
- Rafael Alvarez
- Juan Berroteran
- Alejandro Cruz
- Igor Escobar
- Eduardo Herrera
- Jehancarlos Mendez
- Jefrank Silva
- Yordani Soto
Cruz is the main attraction, an 18-year-old Cuban third baseman who signed for $2 million. The hope is that he doesn't end up like Herrera, who signed for $1.8 million in the previous class and hit just .197/.323/.250 over his first 40 professional games. Mendez is also returning to the DSL after a tepid debut year, although because he was the youngest player on last year's roster, he's still a year younger than Cruz and Herrera this time around. Alvarez and Berroteran are on the 60-day injured list.
Among the new names, Badler has thumbnail sketches of Silva ($350,000 bat-first infielder from Venezuela) and Soto ($300,000 defensive-oriented shortstop). He notes Soto's age, saying he'll be 16 for nearly the entire season. Escobar is a mere three days older.
Outfielders
- Hendry Alcala
- Jeremias Aponte
- Alan Escobar
- Christian Gonzalez
- Frank Mieses
- Orlando Patino
Patiño headlines this group, as he was signed away from the Dodgers for $570,000 as they dropped some commitments in order to gather as much money possible for Rōki Sasaki. The 17-year-old Venezuelan bats righty and started his career in center, with Keller saying he believed the bat could translate to a corner. Fellow Venezuelan Escobar, a $350,000 signing, is the youngest in this group, as he doesn't turn 17 until August. He and Mieses, a 17-year-old righty who signed for half the amount, have advertised gap power and the ability to cover center without burner speed. Gonzalez, a $550,000 signing, returns to the DSL after showing an above-average eye, with hopes of showing something else that can support it (.265/.395/.303, 11-for-22 stealing bases).
