Complex League Climbers: Monday's Top Minor League Performances

The Monday blues don’t have to be a thing anymore. Complex Leagues kicked off Saturday and their off days are on Sunday, as opposed to other levels being on Monday. There is less info in complex league games for sure, but I will do my best to source out the info where I can.

Let’s dive into the top performers!

Complex League Standouts

Reinold Navarro, LHP, Pittsburgh Pirates, 18

Navarro signed last January and was pretty effective in the DSL last summer, posting a 3.38 ERA in 24 innings. While he struck out 32 percent of hitters, Navarro also walked 18 percent of the hitters he faced, leaving serious questions about his ability to throw strikes. On top of the bat-missing ability, Navaroo kept the ball on the ground at high clips and had a .144 batting average against.

Making his first start of 2025, Navarro shoved, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out eight batters. The Twins put out a pretty talented lineup, including Eduardo Beltre, whom Navarro struck out twice.

Navarro is much bigger than his listed 6’0”/178 and has pretty electric arm speed. The fastball works in the mid-90s and can touch the upper-90s on occasion with plus ride. He pairs it with a slider that works in the low-to-mid 80s. It is too soon to form an opinion on if the control improved with one start, but it was encouraging.

Being a two-pitch arm makes it tough to project a starter right now, but at 18 years old, there is still plenty of development to be had. Monday’s start was very encouraging.

Jose Feliz, RHP, Washington Nationals, 19

Feliz originally signed in January 2023 with the Nationals but an injury kept him from debuting until last season where he posted a 2.96 ERA with a 0.94 WHIP across 45.2 innings in the DSL. Feliz was the opposite of Navarro as he walked just six percent of batters he faced while striking out 30 percent.

The fastball works in the low-to-mid 90s with strong arm-side movement and sink. Feliz also mixes in a curve and changeup and will throw a slider on occasion.

On Monday, Feliz shoved, tossing four scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. Feliz did not issue a walk and struck out seven batters. Keep a close eye on Feliz, there could be some intruige here.

Kyle DeGroat, RHP, Kansas City Royals, 19

DeGroat was a late riser on the prep circuit as a righty out of Wallkill HS in New York. The Texas commit was snagged in the 14th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Royals and landed a bonus well north of slot value at $347k. After playing shortstop for most of his life, DeGroat fully transitioned to the mound in the fall of 2023, and people began to take notice. The former Stony Brook commit received more looks and committed to Texas.

Making his pro debut on Monday, DeGroat shoved, striking out seven batters in 3.2 scoreless innings. DeGroat walked just one batter and allowed three hits, showing off his dominance.

Having a strong lower half, DeGroat creates a ton-force. His fastball sits in the 93-94 mph range, but with unique traits. Throwing from a sub-five-foot release height, he creates strong IVB, averaging near 15 inches, which is elite from the release point. He gets good horizontal movement and has high spin efficiency on the offering.

DeGroat throws two variations of a breaking ball in his curveball and slider. The curve sits in the upper-70s with high spin rates north of 2600 rpm and good depth. The slider plays as a sweeper, around 80 mph with 12 inches of glove-side movement.

Rounding out his arsenal is a changeup that was not often needed against prep bats but one that has solid traits. It sits in the 83-85 mph range with some carry and ten inches of fading action.

Jayden Dubanewicz, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, 19

Dubanewicz was drafted in the 16th round last summer by the Brewers as a rather young 18-year-old out of Stoneman Douglas High School. The Brewers gave Dubanewicz a $665k bonus, over $500k above slot, to keep him away from his commitment to Florida.

Listed at 6’1”, Dubanewicz has plenty of projection on his frame to add to a fastball that presently works in the low 90s. Mixing in a slider, curveball, and changeup, Dubanewicz has a deep arsenal of pitches.

Dubanewicz had a weird start on the ledger as he allowed four runs(three earned), but he walked just one and struck out five. Errors kept several innings alive for the Cubs’ complex team. Really, the only hard contact Dubanewicz allowed was on an Alexis Hernandez double. It was a strong pro-debut for Dubanewicz.

José Anderson, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, 18

Anderson was among the strong Brewers DSL crew last summer, breaking out and mashing eight home runs with 20 extra-base hits while slashing .283/.403/.512. The centerfielder received just a $60k bonus when he signed, but is already proving his worth as he showed strong contact and solid power.

After watching Anderson’s homer in the Spring Breakout game in March and getting good feedback all spring, it seemed like Anderson might continue to take steps in the right direction. How do two homers in one game sound? Well, that is exactly what Anderson did on Monday.

Taking some aggressive swings, Anderson has shown the ability to hit the ball hard, having exit velocities that are well above-average for his age. It plays up due to the fact he put the ball in the air over 70 percent of the time and pulled 50 percent of his batted balls.

Anderson also showed solid ability to steal bases. While not the biggest name among this Brewers’ young international group, Anderson has the talent to be a very valuable prospect in a deep Brewers system.

Emil Morales, SS, Los Angeles Dogers, 18

On Monday, Morales did what he does best: hit homers. After driving in a run on a single in the first inning, Morales had a deep flyout in the second inning. Returning to the plate in the fourth inning with two runners on base, Morales delivered with a big home run to right field.

At just 17 years old last summer, Morales showed off both an impressive frame and a polished swing. His production spoke volumes: a .342/.478/.691 slash line, 14 home runs, 12 stolen bases, and 11 doubles.

Morales reached base in 43 of his 46 games in the DSL, showing impressive plate discipline with nearly as many walks as strikeouts, driven by a strong 20% chase rate. While his overall contact rate fell below 70 percent overall, the approach and power were good.

He combines quick bat speed with excellent lower-half torque, producing loud contact from a still-projectable frame. His 90th percentile exit velocity of 103 mph already approaches MLB average, while putting the ball in the air at a rate north of 70 percent.

If Morales can make enough contact against better pitching, his bat will play.

Robert Arias, OF, Cleveland Guardians, 18

Arias fits the mold of the hitter Cleveland loves to sign on the international market: a strong athlete with advanced bat-to-ball skills. Signing with the Guardians for a $1.9 million bonus, Arias put together a strong performance in his 41-game DSL sample. He slashed .247/.367/.347 with 29 stolen bases and 11 extra-base hits. Having a lean and projectable body, Arias could tap into more power and end up with above-average skills across the board if all clicks.

With a unique swing from the left side, Arias may not look like he would make contact consistently, but he does and has strong bat-to-ball skills. The contact rate was north of 80 percent, and Arias struck out less than nine percent during 180 trips to the plate. He showed strong plate discipline skills and rarely expanded the zone. He looks to have a projectable frame with broad shoulders, so there is a chance that we could see Arias grow into more power with time.

While Arias collected his first professional home run on Monday, it was an inside-the-park homer. Still, Arias hit the ball hard, and he even added his first stolen base of the year. Arias looks like he could be a prospect who takes a step forward this year.

Eli Lovich, OF, Chicago Cubs, 19

Two games into the 2025 season, and Lovich looks the part. A hit and a steal on Saturday was followed up by a three-hit day with another stolen base on Monday. Lovich looked quite comfortable facing off against a strong Brewers team that included Jayden Dubanewicz starting.

Lovich landed in the 11th round with the Cubs, getting a $650k signing bonus. Grabbing that amount over slot value is notable, and there is a good reason why the Cubs drafted him. The 6’4” lefty outfielder can rake. With long legs and an explosive lower half, Lovich gets to power with ease, posting exit velocities at the top of his draft class.

With a swing geared for loft, Lovich utilizes a big leg kick to get torque in his lower half, and his quick bat generates easy power. Lovich runs well and has a good approach. The question is, how will he handle better pitching? The complex might not prove to be all that difficult for him.

Yandel Ricardo, SS, Kansas City Royals, 18

Ricardo was the Royals’ top international signing in 2024, getting a $2.4 million bonus. He did not live up to the bonus last year in the DSL, slashing just .213/.330/.336 with two home runs and 14 stolen bases. A smooth glove at shortstop, Ricardo has grown and filled out his 6’1” frame.

Ricardo is a natural right-handed hitter and makes better contact from that side, but as a newer switch-hitter, he seems to be serviceable. Ricardo has a short swing from the right side but generates easy power to the pull side and can drive the ball to all fields well.

He is off to a strong start in his first stateside season, collecting three hits, including a double on Monday, which followed a Saturday game where he reached base twice and scored both times. Ricardo also swiped two bases on Monday. Keep a close eye on him as he could move up the rankings.