Dominican Summer League Prospects Set to Breakout

The Dominican Summer League kicks off next Monday, and we will officially have all Minor League levels underway. With that being said, there will be plenty of pop-up names and prospects to jump on quickly. Oftentimes, the best players are not those who signed for the largest bonuses.

While it is hard to gather information on these players, I have tried to utilize a few contacts I have on the international side to form a list of who the best players in the DSL might be. So, with that being said, which prospects are set to break out and perform the best in the Dominican Summer League? Let’s break them down.

Top Dominican Summer League Prospects Set to Breakout

Josuar De Jesus Gonzalez, SS, San Francisco Giants, 17, 6’0"/167

Gonzalez is the consensus top prospect in the J15 class from those I sourced. While he lacks the tall, projectable frame that some in the class have, Gonzalez still has room left to add to his athletic 6’0” frame. He is a quick-twitch athlete who runs exceptionally well and has a great feel for hitting.

The switch-hitter starts with an open stance and uses a small leg lift to transfer his weight. His entire body works together, and Gonzalez has strong hands, which allows him to create good bat lag and speed through the zone. From the right side, the setup is similar, but Gonzalez has a bit more pre-swing movement and drops his hands a little more before starting his swing. The right-handed swing is geared more toward an upper-cut approach.

He has shown impressive power for his size from both sides of the plate. The speed is presently plus or better, and scouts who have seen him in-game rave about the feel to hit. There are times when he reportedly gets off-timing on breaking balls, but for the most part, Gonzalez is polished.

Kevin Alvarez, OF, Houston Astros, 17, 6’4”/185

Alvarez is a high-waisted, impressive athlete who has plenty of projection. After moving from Cuba to the Dominican Republic in 2021, Alvarez has displayed an impressive skillset and has steadily improved.

The left-handed swing is picturesque and Alvarez controls the barrel extremely well for someone with long levers. He starts with the barrel just slightly above his shoulders and a wide stance before using a leg kick. He leads with his lower half before exploding the barrel through the zone. The bat speed comes easy for Alvarez.

Alvarez won’t be a huge threat on the base paths, but the power and hit combo is impressive.

Brailyn Antunez, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, 17, 6’0”/194

Antunez has been known for some time as one of the better players in Venezuela, especially hailing from Jackson Chourio’s hometown, Maracaibo. After being an infielder for most of his life, Antunez transitioned to centerfield and plays it exceptionally well.

Antunez has a swing at the plate that resembles Vlad Guerrero Jr. in some ways. Starting with his back elbow high, Antunez uses a leg lift for timing, but returns it to almost the same spot it started. He tips the barrel, but it works great for Antunez and his powerful stroke.

Having strong pitch recognition skills, Antunez adjusts well to breaking balls in the box. The swing can get a bit long sometimes, but the bat-to-ball skills are above-average. He sprays the ball to all fields well and can leave the yard to the pull side. Reports I have heard since signing day rave of Antunez. The Brewers might have done it again, folks.

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