Braves RHP Didier Fuentes debuted Friday night and looked okay for a guy who turned 20 just a few days ago (June 17). He allowed four runs in five innings but walked just one Marlin against three strikeouts. Pitchers a lot further along in their development have had much worse big league debuts, so while the statline isn’t impressive on its own, Fuentes is a rocketship of a pitching prospect in an organization that tends to coach these types into orbit. He started this season in High-A and has now pitched at four levels mostly as a teenager. His fastball velo was in the 81st percentile Friday night, and his 6.8 foot extension was in the 76th percentile. The heater got hit around in his debut, but I think it’s going to work against major league hitters as he grows into his early 20’s. Pretty good chance this was a spot start, and he’ll go back to Triple-A to get more than the one start he logged at that level.
I’m going to spend some words in the lower minors today because it’s pop-up season, and some young players are already separating themselves. We’ll get some false positives from early performers, of course, but it’s still prudent to carve out some roster spots for a few of these lottery plays.
I’m going to start with Guardians OF Juneiker Caceres (17, CPX) as an example of why all these guys matter even two weeks into their professional career. Signed for $300,000 out of Venezuela as a 5’10” 168 lb left-handed outfielder, Caceres received the eighth highest bonus in that Cleveland class then had perhaps the best debut of the bunch, slashing .340/.425/.504 with more walks (11.4%) than strikeouts (10.8%), good for a 144 wRC+ despite zero home runs on his ledger. Some players do fall off a bit when they come stateside to face complex league pitching, particularly after the Rule 4 draft enhances the pitching, but Caceres has gone the opposite direction, adding power and even improving his plate skills. He’s already hit three home runs in 27 games, slashing .341/.458/.553 with a 17.8-to-13.1 percent walk-to-strikeout rate. Oh and he’s kicked in five steals for good measure. This won’t have to continue much longer for Caceres to start jumping up the lists and becoming a dynasty asset.
Rangers OF Elorky Rodriguez (17, DSL) signed for $1,097,500 as a 5’10” 175 lb lefty bat who throws right handed and can play a little infield and a little outfield. He’s slashing .347/.484/.571 with three homers and three steals in 11 games. He’s also drawn 13 walks (21%) against six strikeouts (9.7%).
Twins SS Haritzon Castillo (17, DSL), who signed for $947,500 out of Venezuela, is slashing .412/.512/.676 with a homer and a steal through ten games, drawing six walks (14.6%) against eight strikeouts (19.5%). Listed at 5’10” 175, he’s a switch hitter with a good shot to stay at shortstop.
I’m curious about Athletics SS Edgar Montero (18, DSL), who signed for $1.2 million out of the Dominican Republic in 2024 and posted a 122 wRC+ in 54 DSL games. It’s curious because he’s in the DSL again this season with a 220 wRC+ through 13 games, slashing .409/.526/.795 with four homers and three steals. I’m starting to wonder if teams might pump the brakes on their kids coming over in the current political climate. Is that crazy? I mean they’ll be able to get the necessary papers because they’re employed, right? Anywho, Montero doesn’t seem to have much to learn from dominating the DSL all summer.
On the super-sleeper end (best said with lisp), Miami has found some gems. A switch-hitter listed at 5’10” 154 lbs, Marlins SS Luis Arana (17, DSL) signed for just $30,000 out of Venezuela, which looks like money well invested after just 12 games. Arana has drawn ten walks (19.6%) against just one strikeout (2%). He’s also popped two home runs and stolen four bases along with a slash line of .359/.510/.615.
Marlins C Almen Tolentino (18, DSL) played 20 games in the DSL last summer after signing for $135,000 in January of 2024, but he slashed just .080/.333/.120 with a 30.4 percent strikeout rate. (Oh cool, let’s add him to all our rosters!) What you see in that line and the 27.5 percent walk rate is a guy who’s not swinging the bat enough. Makes me wonder if he was injured because the version of Almen Tolentino playing in that league this season is a different dude. Increased aggression has led to excellent plate skills: 11.5% walk rate against a 13.5% strikeout rate. His .488 ISO jumps off the page. Not sure I’ve seen that. Aaron Judge read a career-high .379 ISO last season, for example. A left-handed hitter listed at 6’1” 160 lbs, Tolentino’s slash line is .412/.519/.902 with four home runs and five stolen bases through 12 games. Like Montero, he might be able to earn a promotion to the complex leagues, pending the paperwork.
You might want to sit down before this next bit. Don’t want to shock anyone. Okay you ready? The Guardians have another tiny infielder with outsized baseball skills. SS Jose Riera (17, DSL) signed for $400,000 as a 5’8” 145 lb right-handed shortstop and is hitting his way to dynasty relevance in a hurry, slashing .389/.542/.750 with more walks (16.7%) than strikeouts (12.5%) along with three home runs, four stolen bases and a 216 wRC+. Dang but they are good at this.
Thanks for reading!
