2025 DSL Phillies Season Preview

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The DSL season kicks off on Monday, June 2. The Phillies are once again fielding two teams (Red and White), and to start both teams have a fairly even spread of talent. This year, the Phillies did not not give out a bonus of $1,000,000 or more, and opted to trade over $1,000,000 to the Dodgers for Dylan Campbell as part of the Dodgers signing of Roki Sasaki. This means that there is not an immediately notable prospect who will dominate headlines and looks. That does not mean there are not players to watch, and because of the Phillies streaming their home games I was able to watch a full month of Spring Training games to get a nice look at who they have on the teams this year. This is not an exhaustive list of players who may be prospects on these teams, it is based on who has received notable bonuses, were being featured in lineups, or were interesting to me. You can find all of the tracked velocities for players this spring in my Phillies Pitch Data spreadsheet.

This is published before team assignments are official, so this is based on where players have played this spring.

Hitters to Watch

  • IF Nieves Izaguirre (Red) – Izaguirre was the Phillies top signing this winter, though at $800,000 he wasn’t one of the larger signings across the sport. He has similarities to the last two big money infielders signed by the Phillies in Starlyn Caba and William Bergolla. He has a good approach and pitch recognition, and even in the spring he was working counts and taking walks. He is more athletic than Bergolla, and might have more power potential than either, but it likely will still be below average. He is swapping back and forth with Marrero on the infield spots, and while there is a chance he can stick at short, he will never be Caba defensively and second might be his long term position.. It would be good to see him at least drive balls into the gap this year and show that he has enough bat to make second a realistic path forward.
  • C/1B Anderson Navas (Red) – Navas was noted as a breakout signing a year ago, but looked completely overwhelmed at and behind the plate last season. He has played a lot of first base due to the number of catchers on the rosters, and that is a worry because he is 6’4″ and while not a disaster behind the plate, is not as adept as he might need to be given his size. It will be interesting to see if he eventually moves fully to first or they start giving him some reps in the OF given his arm strength. He has been one of the most notable players at the plate this spring. He still has some swing and miss, and the tendency to hit the ball on the ground too much, however he has hit the ball with authority, with many balls over 100 mph exit velocity including an intrasquad 108.4mph pulled home run. If the bat comes around, the position conversation becomes less relevant.
  • SS Romeli Espinosa (White) – Espinosa stands out on the field due to his size alone. He is a tall, skinny, 6’4″ in a body that more resembles Elly De La Cruz than the typical Phillies international shortstop signing. His swing is a bit long, unsurprising given his long arms, but he can hit the ball hard already and while he has some swing and miss and chase at the plate, it is not too concerning for a player turns 17 on June 5. Espinosa’s bonus was likely not large, as it wasn’t reported, but he has already been slotted into the top of the lineup in a place of prominence.
  • OF Nathanael Cijntje (Red) – After getting $337,500 from the Phillies in 2024, Cijntje was limited to just 4 games due to injuries. He is not the biggest guy, but he is solidly built and athletic. He has a chance to play center field with some offensive impact. He has hit the ball hard on a line this spring.
  • OF Jalvin Arias (Red) – Arias was the Phillies biggest signing in 2024 and so far as disappointed due to injuries and ineffectiveness. He is a solidly build outfielder with plus raw power, but he has struggled to make contact, despite a decently patient approach. He was not moved stateside this year and has slid down DSL lineups.
  • OF Josueth Quinonez (Red) – Quinonez is probably the best offensive performer from last year’s teams still on the roster. He hit .311/.397/.385 with 16 walks and 15 strikeouts in 46 games last year, though with a .074 OPS he is going to need to show more power in games.
  • IF Elias Marrero (Red) – Marrero was the Phillies second largest signing just behind Izaguirre. It looks like the two of them will swap back and forth on the double play combination. He can play short right now, but much like Izaguirre he might be a second baseman in the long term. He is a left handed hitter with a bit more of a projectable frame, though there isn’t much present power yet.
  • 3B Domingo Morla (Red) – Morla is a more physical hitter, who has shown some ability to drive the baseball.
  • OF Dayber Cruceta (White) – The Phillies signed Cruceta for a mid tier bonus this winter. He is a long and lanky left handed hitting outfielder. He has plenty of room to fill out, and he has a swing that is currently a bit long, but should be geared for power in the long term.
  • C Deivis Velasquez (White) – Velasquez signed for the third highest bonus in the Phillies 2025 class, as a bat first catcher. He will start the year on the 60 day IL.
  • OF Leonardo Carpio (White) – Carpio is the other medium bonus outfielder from the Phillies class, he is a corner outfielder with reportedly solid power.
  • SS/OF Maylerson Casanova (Red) – Casanova played exclusively shortstop in 2024, but has moved between infield and center field this spring. He was very strikeout prone last year, but had surprising power for his side. He might not hit, but if he can play the two premium up the middle positions defensively he will hand around for a bit.
  • OF Eduardo Guillen (Red) – Guillen is a Cuban left handed hitting corner outfielder/first baseman signed this winter. He has shown the ability to drive the ball with good exit velocities for a 17 year old.

Pitchers to Watch

  • RHP Geremy Villoria (Red) – Villoria received the largest bonus the Phillies have given to a pitcher since Starlyn Castillo. He isn’t a hard thrower, sitting only 89-93. However, his slider and changeup show good feel for a guy who won’t turn 17 until August. He isn’t huge, but at 6’2″ 175lbs he has the frame to add strength and velocity with time. He has as much of a starting pitcher base as you are going to see for a kid of his age.
  • RHP Gustavo De La Cruz (White) – De La Cruz was a late signing as an 18 year old last summer, getting into 4 games and 4.1 innings of work. He was 89-93 with a curveball during that time. He is stretching out as a starter now, and while the velocity has been inconsistent, he will touch up to 96 and can be as low as 90, but probably comfortably more 92-95. He has a firm changeup that needs more feel, and his curveball has promise but lacks consistency. Consistency is an overall theme, as he will put together some solid stretches but then just lose the zone and his delivery. He has filled out some, but at 6’3″ 190lbs he has good size to work with.
  • RHP Rene Yrish (White) – Yrish’s arm strength popped early in 2024 as he was up to 96 as a 17 year old. His control was poor, at best, and his 15 appearances were a disaster (10.64 ERA 22 IP 27 BB 15 K). This spring, he touched 99 early in short bursts and the Phillies began the process of stretching him out. Pacing himself, he looks to be more 92-97 with 98-99 available early in an outing. He is very fastball heavy, but will occasionally throw what looks to be a high 80s slider a firm changeup around 90. His control is still below average, but he has very intriguing arm strength for his age.
  • RHP Deiry Gonzalez (Red) – Gonzalez is a 6’1″ starting pitcher who will sit 87-92 and mix in a breaking ball and a changeup. He just turned 17 and throws a decent amount of strikes, making him sort of the prototype of a young low bonus pitcher you see if you can improve into something more.
  • RHP Naiker Velazquez (White) – Velazquez is an older RHP who signed over last summer and was pretty bad in his debut, but started to show a bit more velocity (up to 95) in the fall. He has a projectable frame at 6’5″ 195 lbs that could possibly have some more velocity to grow into. He has been more 90-93 this spring and struggled with his command. He mixes in a changeup and a breaking ball.
  • RHP Joshue De La Cruz (White) – Joshue actually signed at the very end of the 2023 period, but didn’t debut until June of 2024 where he pitches out of the rotation. He was mostly high 80s last year, but as of his last appearance was 89-94, touching 95. He throws a slider and a changeup, which both need some work. Unlike some of the other pitchers on these rosters, he has shown a better ability to throw strikes. He is a bit on the older side (19) and has filled out more, but the velocity increase over the spring is very encouraging about his future.
  • RHP Darling Reyes (Red) – Reyes put up a good ERA last year, but his RA/9 and walk rate hint that he wasn’t as good as that number indicated. Reyes is an arm strength reliever on the older side (this is his age 20 season) who was up to 98 last year and 96 this spring. He will mix in a changeup and a curveball, but the big watch point for him will be whether he can improve his control.
  • RHP Pedro Peralta (Red) – Peralta has not popped up in a game this spring yet, the last looks at him were during a very poor 2024 season. He is taller than his listed 5’11” and has projection on his frame. His delivery and consistency has been a mess the last two years, but he was up to 98 last year as a 17 year old and will pitch the first two months of this season at 18. He has struggled to throw strikes and maintain velocity within starts or start to start. He has a changeup, and will flash a decent looking slider.
  • LHP Carlos Duran (Red) – Duran got a $200,000 bonus this winter and just turned 17 in May. He is shorter, but sturdily built. His fastball will sit anywhere from 87-91 and he will mix in a breaking ball and changeup. He has some bouts of control issues, but looks athletic enough he should be able to reign that in and possibly add some more velocity as he grows.
  • RHP Rainy Mota (Red) – Mota pitched in 2 games in 2023 and then missed last year due to injury. He looks taller than 6’1″, and is still fairly lanky. He has generally been 88 to 93, touching up to 94. He has a slider and a changeup as well.
  • RHP Hanfermin Vargas (Red) – Vargas is one of the oldest arms on the roster (he will turn 21 in August), but as a December 2023 signing, he still is fairly early in his journey. He is incredibly skinny, but managed to start 11 games last year, with good surface, and poor underlying numbers. He touched up to 95 last year, but has mostly been up to 92 this spring. The chance for any prospect shine is waning fast, but if he can replicate anything near his number of starts and 2.82 ERA he will be valuable contributor.
  • LHP Reyner Zambrano (White) – Zambrano is a tall, lanky lefty who is currently 86-88 with feel for a changeup, slider, and big breaking curveball. He was an overage signing this winter, but is still just 18 and if he can fill out and add velocity might be interesting.
  • RHP Jesus Montiel (White) – Montiel signed last summer and appeared in only one game last year. He is tall (6’4″) and skinny with a whippy delivery. His fastball peaks at 93, but he has mostly sat 89-91. He throws a breaking ball that has looked from a slider to a curveball, and has worked in a changeup as well. He is stretched out as a starting pitcher.

Expectations and Overall Thoughts

The hitters overall seem to be a step ahead of the hitters. Not mentioned in the above group are an interesting group of catchers including Gabriel Azocar, Luis Hernandez, Rey Cruz, and Anderson Araujo who have all piqued interest this spring. The bottom of the lineup hitters have also shown some interesting upside as well at times. I don’t think there is anyone who looks like they are going to break out as the next next Tait or Caba where they are going to be a top 10 org prospect next offseason. However, the collective should help keep both teams competitive in games all season.

It is the DSL and throwing strikes is not always something that should be taken for a given, but there are some bouts of wildness among this group. When the teams were competing for championships there was a core of good for the level pitching, and while there are some interesting arms on both teams, there aren’t those veteran arms that are going to raise the pitching floor. There is a chance that a lot of games get ugly this season and end up in high scoring affairs.

Something good change, but in the large hyper competitive league that is the DSL, these fill like above .500 teams but not real front runners for postseason spots. Really the difference will come back to lacking star power who is just going to separate them from their peers, and really that these two teams look fairly balanced when it comes to talent as opposed to there being an A team and a B team. It should be a fun season for both.