The DSL season begins on Saturday. Due to a smaller signing class and the pressures of the league for teams to shrink their systems the Phillies have gone with a single team this year. That leaves the roster a bit more concentrated in talent than previous years. Since the Phillies gave most of their bonus pool to Francisco Renteria, the roster is dominated by only a couple of high level players, with more of the depth coming from less known signings. The information here has come from watching the 2025 DSL teams as well as home DSL Phillies games with some supplemental information from pre-signing reports. Players, age, h/w, and signing year+bonus has been included where available.
Top Prospects
OF Francisco Renteria – 1/9/09 – 6’3″ 216lbs – 2026: $4,000,000
Renteria is possibly the highest rated international hitter the Phillies have ever signed, and his bonus was commiserate with that hype. He didn’t light things on fire to open the spring, but has driven the ball more as games have continued. He hits the ball on the ground a bit too much, but he has plus raw power and a frame that should fill out with good muscle as he gets older. While he will chase a breaking ball, Renteria has a patient approach at the plate and has taken his fair share of walks. He is a plus runner, who plays the game hard and will likely be aggressive running the bases as the season goes on. He can play center right now, but it is a bit difficult to know how he will fill out by the time he is in his early 20s and if he will slow down as he fills out. He has the underlying tools and athleticism to be a star level player.
SS Juan Parra – 12/4/08 – 6’1″ 186lbs – 2026: $550,000
Despite the modest bonus, Parra was seen as one of the top 50 players in the class with the arrow up. He is a solidly built switch hitter (though mostly I have seen him from the left side). He has some chase, but overall has an advanced approach at the plate. He shows the ability to drive the baseball with a relatively quick and simple swing. Defensively he has a chance to stay at shortstop, but given his body type if he loses a step (he is a current plus runner) then he may need to slide over to second base, but for now there is no reason to move him off the position.
Hitters
C Sebastian Saenz – 11/4/08 – 5’10” 184lbs – 2026
Saenz’s signing bonus was not substantial enough to be reported, but he immediately slotted into 3rd in the primary batting order behind the Phillies top two signings. He is a solidly built catcher who needs some work behind the plate. His left handed swing already has shown that it is easily capable of exit velocities over 100 mph. He hasn’t always driven the ball, but he has been good at putting the ball in play.
C Deivis Velasquez – 10/8/07 – 5’10” 191lbs – 2025: $620,000
Velasquez was one of the notable signings in the Phillies 2025 class, but missed the entire year due to injury. Baseball America noted his bat was ahead of his glove. He is built like a catcher, and there doesn’t really appear to be much future physical projection remaining. He has hit in the middle of the batting order all spring, and has shared catching, first base, and designated hitter time with the other catchers on the roster.
OF Dayber Cruceta – 3/16/08 – 6’1″ 147lbs – 2025: $300,000
It will be Cruceta’s second trip through the league, a bit of a surprise if you looks at the stat line (30 BB 32 K .291/.438/.373). Cruceta has a definite feel to hit, he just is a string bean still. He has filled out some, but there is still a long way to go. That means he is lining balls for singles that you hope he is able to drive for power in the future. If he can fill out and add power he should be an interesting corner outfield bat.
OF Elian Adames – 9/15/07 – 6’2″ 190lbs – 2025: $75,000
In his first go around of the DSL, Adames hit .265, but up a frighteningly high strike out rate (52 in 188 PAs). He is built somewhat similarly to Renteria, and has a swing that will produce plus raw power. He didn’t get to that power as much last year because he is susceptible to offspeed pitches. He is athletic enough that he place a bunch of center field last year, but will likely move over to right field more in 2026 with Renteria on the roster. He is more of a boom bust prospect, but his upside is intriguing.
3B Patrick Silva – 2/5/09 – 6’4″ 210lbs – 2026: $20,000
The Phillies signed Silva out of Italy this offseason. He is a big kid and has a bit of stiffness in his movements in the field and at the plate. He clearly has solid raw power, but it hasn’t shown up in games yet. The stiffness and length to his swing does add some swing and miss to his game, and his size means he will always have questions about moving to first base in the long term. He looks fairly polished for a 17 year old at this level, which goes with his time playing in the Italian leagues and European competition.
C Nelson Prieto – 9/17/07 – 6’2″ 185lbs – 2025
Prieto missed the 2025 season due to injury and will be part of the catcher mix this year. Whereas the other catchers look more like catchers, Prieto looks more like the outfielders on this roster, and is built similarly to Alirio Ferrebus. He has some swing and miss to his game at the plate, but early in spring he put a charge into some balls. He has slid down the lineup as the season has gotten closer. Behind the plate he has some young catcher weaknesses, but no immediate need to move him off the position.
IF Nieves Izaguirre – 1/9/08 – 5’9″ 160lbs – 2025: $800,000
Izaguirre was the biggest signing in a down 2025 Phillies signing class. He missed almost all of July and August with an injury. He had a passive approach at the plate, which did not quite fit with his lack of power. He looks a bit bigger this spring, and he should be able to grow into below average raw power, and he will need to translate passive into patient. Defensively he fits at second base, but he could probably slide around the infield if needed. He has to stay healthy first to get on track.
- IF Carlos Severino – 3/7/08 – 6’0″ 180lbs – 2025: $200,000
- Severino is another notable 2025 signee that missed all of the 2025 season due to injury. He was noted as an athletic infield who needed to grow into strength when he signed. He has been mixing into the various infield positions and batting towards the bottom of the lineup.
- IF Javen Maduro – 10/25/08 – 5’11” 180lbs – 2026
- Signed out of Aruba, Maduro has had a good spring as part of the infield group, in particular he has succeeded at drawing walks against the generally poor command that populates the DSL.
- C/IF Jose Tovar – 10/20/08 – 5’11” 171lbs – 2026
- Tovar is listed as a catcher but has mostly been seen at second base so far as the Phillies played scrimmages this spring. It remains to be seen if that was just a player shortage or a positional move. He has mostly been a bench player for the team.
- OF Edwin Ramirez – 6/15/08 – 178lbs – 2026
- Ramirez doesn’t have a listed height, but he is another tall lanky outfielder. He has not appeared in a game for the last month of spring.
- OF Jose Briceno – 9/20/08 – 5’9″ 171lbs – 2026
- Much like Ramirez, Briceno has been missing from the lineups for the last month, but appears to be more outfield depth than a notable player.
Pitchers
RHP Yilmar Samudio – 3/25/09 – 6’3″ 168lbs – 2026 $100,000
Signed out of Panama, Samudio looks like a pitcher of note. He has good size, and will sit 91-95 with his fastball. He has some feel for a mid 70s curveball, with his high 80s changeup a bit firm. He will be one of the starting pitchers for the team this year, and growth on his offspeed pitches and control will be things to watch for Samudio this year.
RHP David Victorino – 6/22/07 – 5’11” 160lbs – 2026
Victorino was an older signing this January. So far he looks like a reliever, with his velocity ticking up all spring to be 91-96 by late in the spring. He has shown a power curveball that has performed well against DSL hitters. He could see his innings expand if he shows starter traits or if he is one of the only effective arms they have.
RHP Albertt Medina – 6’1″ 162lbs – 2025
Media returns after a good first season (25.1 IP 2.49 ERA 9 BB 20 K). He isn’t a big guy, but after sitting 87-91 last year he has been more 89-93 this spring. He has a changeup and a breaking ball, that may be a slider and a curveball. He has pitched in a multi inning relief role, but has the arsenal to give starting a go.
RHP Cristian Rego – 8/22/08 – 6’3″ 226lbs – 2026: $300,000
The Phillies signed the Cuban, Rego, later in the signing period for a decent bonus. He has been behind some of the other arms in terms of getting into games, but will get up to 95 with his fastball. Presumably the Phillies will work him into a starting role as he gets stretched out given his signing bonus.
RHP Justin Burgos – 1/19/09 – 6’5″ 200lbs – 2026: $300,000
Burgos was the Phillies top pitching signee this offseason, and he looks like a bit of a project. He is a big guy who shows athleticism in his delivery, but right now his fastball is 89-91, even if he looks like he might be in the mid 90s in the future. What makes Burgos interesting is his curveball, which is a big breaker that will need more power, but shows a feel for spin that should allow him to grow out his arsenal over time. He has a changeup and ok for the DSL control.
LHP Samuel Ortiz – 1/7/09 – 6’2″ 193lbs – 2026
Ortiz’s velocity has been a bit inconsistent this spring, sitting from mid 80s to low 90s. He has filled the zone while throwing a slider and changeup as well. Baseball America noted that his breaking ball has good spin rates and has shown a touch more velocity as an amateur than he as so far. He is being deployed as one of the team’s starting pitchers.
- RHP Rainy Mota – 1/26/06 – 6’1″ 170lbs – 2023
- At 20 years old, and nominally entering his 4th DSL season, Mota is the old man of the team. He was poor in 2025 after barely pitching in his first two years. His velocity is up to 91-95 with a slider after being 88-93 last year. He probably gets what amounts for leverage innings for this team.
- RHP Jorge Mitre – 6/12/06 – 6’2″ 179lsb – 2025
- Mitre returns for another year in the DSL bullpen. At 19, he will be one of the older players on the roster despite signing last year. His velocity is up slightly this spring, sitting 89-93. He will show a slider, curveball, and changeup as well.
- RHP Luis Mirabel – 12/29/07 – 6’1″ 154lbs – 2026
- Mirabel is in the mix of starter/bulk innings pitchers to open the year. He has a low 90s fastball and mixes in a low 80s slider and firmer changeup. He has some of the usual control issues for the level.
- RHP Wilfry Michael – 6/11/08 – 6’0″ 185lbs – 2026
- Wilfry was a later (April) signing this year, but is still on the younger side. He is solidly built and has shown a fastball in the low 90s with the ability to bump it a little bit higher, albeit with some control problems. He has a mid 70s curveball as well.
- RHP Rene Yrish – 11/20/06 – 6’1″ 165lbs – 2024
- It will be Yrish’s third season in the DSL and if you look at his surface stats you might confused as to why. Over 34.2 IP he has a 13.76 ERA with 54 walks and 23 strikeouts. He has been up to 100, but has been more 93-97 this spring with poor, but not disastrous control. He also will show a slider and some sort of changeup/splitter. He is pitching in middle relief right now, and if he throws enough strikes he could be very interesting, but that is an enormous IF.
- RHP Ronaldson Estevez – 5/13/08 – 5’11” 180lbs – 2026
- Ronaldson is a small RHP with a fastball that will mostly sit in the 87-92 range. He has a big slow curveball that looks like it might fool some hitters at this level.
- RHP Jose Romero – 1/11/09 – 6’0″ 169lbs – 2026
- Romero is a sort of typical DSL reliever. He is 88-91 with a curveball, and is on the smaller side and relatively young.
- RHP Alexandre Moreti – 5/8/07 – 6’4″ 205lbs – 2026: $10,000
- The Phillies signed Moreti out of a Japanese high school this offseason as part of their attempts to break into the market. He has gone from looking like a disaster this spring, to just merely bad. His delivery is stiff and he does not appear to repeat it well. His fastball will sit 85-88 and throws a decent number of a mid 70s slow breaking ball. He will throw a changeup and seems to be working in a slider as well. He has some size, and it wouldn’t be the first time a pitcher took some time.
- RHP Filippo Sabatini – 3/2/07 – 6’3″ 168lbs – 2025: $80,000
- Signed out of Italy in 2025, Sabatini suffered a season ending elbow injury just before last season. He has yet to appear in a game this year and presumably won’t be ready to appear in games until at some point late in the summer.
- LHP D’Wichi Ramirez – 10/30/08 – 6’0″ 148lbs – 2026
- Ramirez is a bit of a funky lefty reliever. He throws in the 88-90 range with a slider and changeup.
- RHP Jhoener Tovar – 2/18/09 – 6’1″ 177lbs – 2026
- Tovar is a short reliever who will sit 90-93 with a curveball. He will start the year on the 60-day IL.
- RHP Jorge Miranda – 9/28/08 – 6’3″ 207lbs – 2026
- Miranda is a relatively big dude, but his fastball has been more mid 80s so far this spring, while also throwing a low 80s breaking ball
- RHP Wandelin Garcia – 1/8/09 – 6’1″ 149 lbs – 2026
- Garcia was more in the 80s in his first appearance, but it looks like he will sit in the low 90s with his fastball. He has shown a mid 70s curveball and should pitch out of the bullpen.
- RHP Francisco Mercedes – 8/12/09 – 6’5″ 185lbs – 2026
- Mercedes is the youngest player in the org, but he also looks to be one of the more projectable. He is tall and lanky, with room to put on strength, but is not particularly broad. Right now he is throwing 88-92 with what may be one or two breaking balls (slider and curve). His control is not particularly great, but given his age and size it would not be surprising to see him add velocity over the next few years.
- LHP Leonardo Larez – 6/24/09 – 6’1″ 158lbs – 2026
- As far as I can tell Larez is one of the only guys to not appear in a Spring Training game. He will be one of the youngest players on the roster this year.
- LHP Yoel Zambrano – 7/14/09 – 5’10” 161lbs – 2026
- Zambrano is just a little guy who comes from a three quarter delivery. He won’t turn 17 until the middle of the summer as well. He sits in the high 80s with a curveball and changeup as well. He has the look of a guy that could grind through the minors for a few years and suddenly surprise you as a weird lefty reliever.
Outlook
Just by being one team instead of two, the DSL Phillies should be better than their previous iterations. They have some real star power in Parra and Renteria, but the lineup is largely full of players who can drive the baseball and take a walk. The DSL can be a swingy league and that potential hasn’t translated to a bunch of runs this spring, but there is interesting hitters throughout the lineup. The pitching staff is still a DSL pitching staff, there are going to be games where they walk everyone, and overall it is a fairly young group which won’t help that. There are going to be games where the pitching just takes them out of it. There are still some good arms that should keep them in a lot of games as well. Given the size of the league and the youth of this roster, they feel like an above average team, but probably not enough to find themselves in a postseason spot unless some of the bats unexpectantly breakout.