2008 DSL Analysis, Part 2 – Roster Movement
Team Level
In the Farm System hierarchy, just where does the DSL fit in the overall scheme of things?
It is considered a feeder system for our Gulf Coast League team in Viera, the Rookie level league. Most High School draftees are assigned to the GCL, most the college kids usually go to Vermont, or Short Season A ball, shorthand of “A-“. Above Vermont is Full Season A ball, Hagerstown Suns, and rounding out the A league hierarchy, Potomac Nationals at “A+”.
DSL Divisions
The breakdown of each division in the DSL follows no other rhyme or reason except geography. Both Nats teams are in the 4 team Santo Domingo West division. There is a Santo Domingo North division (5 teams), a San Pedro de Macoris Division (5 teams), and 2 Boca Chica divisions (North with 11 teams, South with 9). The Nats’ division itself is incestuous, as Detroit and San Diego have all shared Jose Rijo’s “Hill of Dreams” complex with the Nationals, though San Diego may have moved to a new complex. The teams only play within the division during the season, the postseason is the 1st time they face the other divisions.
Team Roster Movement
From examining stats at MILB.com the last two years, there are many players showing stats from both teams. So there is roster movement from one team to another during the year. This can only be assumed to be moving from the development (i.e. #2) team to the advanced team. Seemingly, once you show promise on the #2 team, one can expect to play for the numero Uno team in the division.
This past summer, 8 players played significantly for both, Luis Ortega (21 yr old, RHSP, 8-3, 1.84, 83 IP, 14 BB, 92 K), Hendry Jimenez (18, 2b, .300/.405/.417), played key roles for the #1 after starting on the #2 squad. Also playing for the #1 squad at year’s end, were Jose Batista (19, 3b), Joaquin Santamaria (18, P), and Wanel Vasquez (21, P). This was Jimenez’ 2nd season in the DSL, hopefully he makes the jump to Florida next year.
The demotions were 3. Juan Urdanata (19, 1B) probably filled in for Eduardo Urbino (see below) before returning to the #2 team, Raudy Almonte (19, LHSP) started for the #1 but ended on #2 due to terrible pitching. Victor Mota (19, RHP) was able to get alot more pitching time for the #2 team, after starting on the #1.
If the name Raudy Almonte rings a bell, back in December of 2006, Svrluga of the Post, and Todd Jacobson of the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star wrote articles on the Dominican and Jacobson mentioned Raudy’s tryout with the Nats:
The link may take awhile to load, so be forewarned, but it’s worth it.
There is also some movement from the DSL #1 team to the States. This year, only 2 made the jump: Eduardo Urbino, a 20 yr old 1b, only 2 games GCL, but back in the DSL for the playoffs; and Osvaldo Rodriguez, a 24 yr old who after a 4 yr professional break, excelled in his comeback enough to get in 4 starts in Potomac and Hagerstown after going 12-0 for DSL #1.
In 2007, 2 DSL guys also played with the GCL Nationals, one was a post injury demotion (Moises Corporan). 2006 had a rash of movement, as 10 players were switched between the GCL and DSL. Probably half were promotions, half demotions since all the stats were not exemplary.
Without looking at the 2006 movements, and compared to the rash of promotions in all other levels of the Nats Farm System in recent years, one could have surmised the problem of getting work visas precluded a large number of mid-season promotions. However, the 10 players moved between the two levels 3 years ago, seem to refute that reasoning.
Jacobson’s other articles on his Dominican trip are here, they make a nice read.
Continued Tomorrow.
VladiHondo-
Great work! This is the biggest unknown to me as part of the organization and the farm system.
A quick follow-up question: with regards to the movement, it does not seem like we are getting many players from the Dominican to our teams in the states. How do we compare to other teams in this regard?
Thanks.
Ryan, Today’s numbers were just movement during the season – our stateside minors had ALOT of mid-season promotions and movement. But only 1 DSL guy got a mid-season promotion. Weird.
Instead, the Nats signed 9 undrafted free agents to fill the holes in the GCL and Vermont. These were guys that NO team drafted in 50 rounds of drafting. That was very unusual. (on the Big Board, they’re the guys highlighted in blue).
When you look at how many 2007 DSL guys played in the States in 2008, that number is 12. San Diego had 6 (with only 1 DSL/VSL team), Toronto had 11 (with 2 DSL teams).
Vladi-
A follow-up question, if you will indulge me: it seems like the Nats are doing well in terms of wins and losses down there, but it doesn’t seem to be translating into a great pipeline of dominican prospects coming to the States… is this a product of signing so many players and stacking one team with the best players, OR are we just too early in the process to see the progress being made?
Thanks again!
Could be wrong, but would guess that a major reason for the lack of players jumping from the Dominican Summer League to the States during the season is the hassle of getting visas and related issues.
Keep up the great work!