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This morning the Dominican Summer League gets started. Then 10 hours later the Arizona Complex League will get underway. It puts an end to the “off day” on Monday in the minor leagues that we got during the first two months of the baseball season. There are more built in off days for the complex leagues than the full season teams. Both the DSL and ACL Reds will play a 56 game schedule that begins today and ends on August 22nd.

While we don’t have rosters yet for either team – they’ll likely show up right before game time. With that said, we do know who to look for one each roster (though there could certainly be some guys who have taken steps forward who will pleasantly surprise).

The Arizona Complex League Reds

The Top Prospect

It would be tough to say that someone on the roster is a higher rated prospect than Ricardo Cabrera. Cincinnati’s top international signing in January of 2022, Cabrera currently ranks as the Reds #12 prospect. The infielder got out to a slow start to his career last season. During June he hit just .120/.274/.200 with 19 strikeouts in 62 plate appearances. When July began it was like the light switch was turned on and he never looked back – from July through the end of the season he hit .314/.403/.461 and had 21 strikeouts in 120 plate appearances. He’s set to bat leadoff and start at shortstop.

Who to keep an eye on

While Cabrera is the only current Reds Top 25 prospect on the roster at this point, that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of guys that we shouldn’t be keeping track of as the season begins.

Outfielder Esmith Pineda was one of the bigger signings in 2022 and he got out to a great start with the DSL Reds. He hit .367/.456/.592 in the first three weeks of the season, but then he suffered an injury that cost him the remainder of the year.

Carlos Sanchez wasn’t a big signing at the time (Baseball America didn’t mention him during their review of the signing class that mentioned nine other players), but he was one of the best performers in the entire Dominican Summer League last year and his tools showed better than expected. At the plate he hit .355/.506/.442 with 14 steals, 40 walks, and 28 strikeouts in 182 plate appearances. Defensively he saw action at third base and in right field. He really struggled at third base, posting a sub .800 fielding percentage.

On the mound you will have a few guys to keep your eyes on, starting with Jose Montero. He was dominant for the DSL Reds in 10 starts last season, posting a 2.92 ERA with 48 strikeouts and 11 walks in 37.0 innings. The Venezuelan right-hnaded starter made one appearance at the very end of the season with the ACL Reds where he struck out five batters in 2.2 innings.

Ben Walmsley should be back on the mound after pitching in Arizona last season as a 17-year-old. The left-hander from Australia had 25 strikeouts in 20.2 innings and didn’t give up a home run last year, but did give up 25 hits and walk 10 batters.

Ben Brutti was the team’s 11th round pick last summer, but got bonus in line with a 4th round pick. He didn’t pitch last season as a pro, so when he takes the mound he will be making his professional debut. As a senior in high school he got up to 97 MPH with his fastball with an inconsistent, but potential plus slider.

Dominic Scheffler signed with the Reds in January out of Switzerland. He pitched in both Japan and Germany while attending high schools in both countries. He’s been up to 94 MPH. The lefty also has a good breaking ball.

The Dominican Summer League Reds

The Top Prospect

While not technically ranked in my Reds Top 25 prospects, Alfredo Duno is a top 25 caliber prospect. He’s only unlisted because I only update my rankings twice a year unless a very special circumstance arises and this signing came in between updates. Duno was the top signing by the organization in this year’s international signing group and like Cabrera the year before, one of the top rated prospects in the entire signing group in baseball. He got the largest signing bonus the team has ever given out to a non-Cuban international signing.

The catcher is a potential 5-tool player. That’s a rarity for catchers, who tend to lack the speed to warrant that kind of thing. Duno runs well, though. It’s the other tools that stand out and had him so highly rate. His bat speed and raw power jump out at you, and he’s got plenty of arm strength behind the plate.

Who to keep an eye on

Shortstop Alfredo Alcantara was the second biggest signing back in January by the club. Expected to become a good defender with all the tools to remain at shortstop, he’s also got a chance to hit.

Rafhlmil Torres is another shortstop to watch for. The Venezuelan is lauded for his defense. He’s also a switch hitter who has plenty of tools and there’s some projection in his frame.

12 Responses

  2. Laredo Slider

    Thanks for the update. Even tho ACL/DSL players are several years off, I enjoy following their progress.

  3. RedBB

    Great list Doug of future Reds to get excited about. Carlos Sanchez plate discipline is pretty darn impressive for someone his age. If he can start developing some power and keep that discipline then that will be even more impressive.

  5. Krozley

    Duno 2-2 so far with 3 RBIs as the DH. Nice start to professional career.

    • MBS

      Nice start to his professional career. Also I didn’t know Duno was so big, 6’2, 210 lbs at 17.

  6. Krozley

    He’s also on the ACL Reds roster, which just refreshed.

    • Laredo Slider

      Krozley, where did you find a ACL Reds roster? TIA.

      • Doug Gray

        We go through this every year: Pay no attention to the complex league rosters until the games start. They aren’t correct.

      • Doug Gray

        Also, Cabrera’s in Arizona, batting leadoff and playing shortstop tonight.

    • Doug Gray

      Lol. No. They don’t have any broadcasts. You get the box score, and if you’re lucky, it’s updated semi-frequently. And some nights you’re unlucky and it’s an hour after the game actually ended that you get the final few innings updated.