The White Sox's Dominican Summer League affiliate opened play on Monday, giving the White Sox six minor league teams to follow on most days until the Arizona Complex League season winds down in late July.
This is the first DSL White Sox team produced from a full international signing period under the guidance of David Keller. He took over as the White Sox's head of international scouting in September 2024, which left him about four months to augment Marco Paddy's work arranging the previous signing class, and even though it'll be another year or two before a crop of players can entirely be attributed to his scouting staff as opposed to previous commitments, there are indications that his administration is operating differently.
For instance, when the White Sox announced their first 18 signings for the 2026 period back in January, they also disclosed the signing bonuses for each player, as opposed to the ones that count against pool space. It's a small detail that feels a little bit like pocket-watching, but it helps set initial expectations for players when we have little else to go on.
There were also more players from the Dominican Republic as the White Sox make inroads on territory they'd long conceded, and there are a lot more pitchers as well. Bigger changes are in store for next year, when the White Sox send the 2027 class to the new facility in Boca Chica. Let's all celebrate the last year James' trusty photo remains relevant by previewing the current roster.
DSL White Sox coaching staff
- Manager: Anthony Nuñez
- Pitching coach: JC Sanner
- Hitting coach: Moisés Nuñez
- Assistant pitching coach: Carlos Chavez
- Infield coach: Guillermo Reyes
The White Sox's renewed emphasis on signing international pitching prospects comes with two new pitching coaches. Sanner was hired away from the College of Central Florida, which is the same program that produced Zach Bove. Everybody else is returning.
Pitchers of note
- Roderic Ramírez
- Franchel Crisóstomo
- Yordani Marté
- Emmanuel Rodríguez
- Ronald Kelly
A new DSL White Sox roster often produces discrepancies in comparison to the January announcement with regards to how prospects actually spell their names. Roderic Ramírez (not Roderick) is the biggest investment of the class at $400,000, and Ben Badler reported velocity rising to 96 mph. Meanwhile, $275,000 16-year-old signing Yordany Marté (not Yordani) started the opener on Monday.
Crisóstomo ($350,000), Rodríguez and Kelly ($100,000 apiece) account for the White Sox's other six-figure signings. Crisóstomo's changeup has been cited as a reason for excitement multiple times.
Pitchers not (yet) of note
- Beinel Adon
- David Colmenares
- Jhoriel De La Rosa
- Alexander De Los Santos
- Juan Felix
- Ander Guzman
- Erlyn Lauriano
- Juan Martinez
- Albert Munoz
- Hansel Pinales
- Yoneiber Rodríguez
- Christopher Romero
- Jefferson Timaure
Lauriano ($75,000), Timaure ($70,000), Adón ($50,000) and Guzmán were listed in the White Sox's initial signing class announcement. Adón and Timaure turned 17 between then and now, so that leaves Romero and Rodríguez as the youngest pitchers of this group, if you're judging by age alone.
Catchers
- Ronald Cardozo
- Fernando Graterol
- Diego Natera
- Jose Suarez
Graterol, a 17-year-old Venezuelan, signed the biggest bonus of the class at $1.6 million. He ranked 25th on Baseball America's Top 100 Bonus Board on the strength of his power and athleticism for a catcher. Cardozo (not Cardoso), a $375,000 signing also out of Venezuela, got the start in the opener. He's listed at 6'5" on the roster, which would be huge for a catcher, but the White Sox's initial roster and BA list both say he's 6 feet even. Suarez gives the DSL White Sox a third Venezuelan signing at $40,000, while Natera returns after a very DSL line last year (.185/.415/.267).
Infielders
- Felix Lebron
- Samuel Luis
- Dionys Medina
- Hector Paulino
- Nestor Perez
- Carlos Vielma
Keller lauded Lebron ($180,000), a 17-year-old Dominican, for a well-rounded shortstop starter set -- foot speed, bat speed and arm strength. Vielma, a $400,000 signing from Venezuela, is the youngest position player on the roster, as he doesn't turn 17 until August. Luis, who turned 17 in February, is the second-youngest position player, and also the smallest. He signed out of the Dominican for $100,000, and both had impressive Opening Day performances, as you'll see below.
Outfielders
- Hector Hernandez
- Orlando Patiño
- Sebastian Romero
- Stiwarts Valdez
Romero inked the other seven-figure bonus, signing out of Venezuela for $1.5 million. He's a 6-foot-2-inch lefty with the ability to cover center field. Fellow 17-year-old Valdez ($130,000) is listed at 6'4" and 205 pounds, making him the biggest position player on the roster, and Keller said that frame produced power every time he watched him. Hernández is at the other side of the scale in every way (5'10", 150 pounds, $30,000 bonus), while Patiño, signed away from the Dodgers after Los Angeles had to reallocate international money toward Roki Sasaki in 2025, returns after injury limited him to 13 games last year.
White Sox Minor Keys: June 1, 2026
ACL Guardians 7, ACL White Sox 2 (7 innings)
- Nick McLain played center for five innings and went 2-for-2 with a walk.
- Christian Gonzalez replaced him and flied out in his only trip.
- Landon Hodge was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Jose Mendoza walked once and struck out twice.
- Yordani Soto homered, walked and struck out.
- Alejandro Cruz went 1-for-3.
- Frank Mieses was 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Cesar Familia: 1.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2 HR
DSL White Sox 11, DSL Arizona Black 4
- Félix LeBron walked thrice, struck out twice and stole a base.
- Sebastián Romero went 2-for-3 with two walks.
- Stiwarts Valdez went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Carlos Vielma tripled, singled twice and struck out twice.
- Ronald Cardozo was 2-for-3 with a walk.
- Samuel Luis, 2-for-4 with a double, walk and a strikeout.
- Yordany Marte: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
