The Dominican Summer League is the only place in the minor leagues that still holds an actual All-Star game. A decade ago they took place all of the minors, but they now seem to be a thing of the past. Their annual showcase will take place on Sunday at the Milwaukee Brewers complex. The Cincinnati Reds will have two players there and one coach.
Outfielder Yeycol Soriano and left-handed pitcher Christian Lopez both made the National League team. They will be joined there by Jose Montilla. The DSL Reds manager will be serving on the coaching staff. Montilla’s DSL Reds are in second place in the DSL West at 23-12.
Yeycol Soriano is in his second year in the Dominican Summer League. Last year he hit .273/.388/.427. This year he’s played in two more games than he did last season and he’s hitting .275/.382/.385. There’s now as much power this season – he’s yet to homer after hitting two last season – but he’s added 10 steals after having just six last season. With that said, Soriano has been in a slump over the last week, going 0-12. When the teams were likely picked, he was probably hitting better for 2024 than he had shown in 2023.
Christian Lopez is also in his second season in the Dominican Summer League. In 2023 he pitched in five games and threw just 7.0 innings. This year he’s pitched in eight games, but his workload has been much bigger as he’s tossed 25.2 innings and worked mostly as a starting pitcher.
The lefty has not allowed an earned run in six of his eight outings. In the other two outings he has allowed three total earned runs, leaving his ERA at 1.05 on the season. Over the span of his 25.2 innings he’s given up just 15 hits, walked just five batters, and he’s struck out 35 of the 99 hitters he’s faced.