The Dominican Summer League, or DSL for short, is the first step in international players’ journeys to the major leagues. From former top Nats prospects such as Victor Robles to current ones such as Angel Feliz, players as young as 16 years old compete against other clubs’ prospects, hoping to earn a promotion to the complex league and, eventually, A-ball. The Nationals organization has struggled to produce much big league talent from their rookie ball levels, with Victor Robles being the only player to have
played in it and made any noise at the big league level since 2006.
One prospect looking to change that narrative is 17-year-old, switch-hitting shortstop Marconi German, who is putting up some of the strongest numbers of any Nats prospect in the DSL in ages. Since 2006, his 162 wRC+ ranks 4th among all Nats prospects in the DSL, including 2nd among 17-year-olds. Among all DSL prospects in 2025, German ranks 8th in wRC+, 3rd among 17-year-olds at the level. For reference, Jesus Made, a consensus top 10 prospect in baseball currently, had a 167 wRC+ in the DSL last year, and top 50 prospect Lazaro Montes had a 165 wRC+ in 2022. Organizations are more worried about tools than success at such low levels of the minor leagues, and luckily for the Nats, German has a solid blend of both. Let me break down the facets of German’s game that give him the potential to be one of the best Nationals prospects to come out of the DSL.
The Power
Despite being listed at 5’10”, 170 lbs, German has had some of the best power numbers in the DSL this season, with his 8 home runs being tied for 8th best in the league. His .230 ISO ranks 18th in all of the DSL, thanks to his smooth swing, which generates easy loft under the ball. As he matures, he should add physicality to his frame, turning even more of his doubles and triples into home runs.
The Plate Discipline
German’s batting average is .283, a solid number but not as high as you may expect for a prospect who’s performing as well as he is. That is because German has an excellent eye, walking 20.2% of the time, and when he does swing, he does damage. Walk rates are naturally higher in the DSL than in other leagues because most teenage Dominicans throw really hard with little to no command, but not everyone can walk more than they strikeout like German does, as he possesses a 1.02 BB/K ratio.
The Speed
Few DSL prospects have the blend of speed and power that German does, as he is 8th in the league in stolen bases with 33 in 53 games. Of the prospects above him in steals, only 1 has more home runs, and the rest don’t even have half as many as him. German’s speed is also a weapon for him on defense, as it’s allowed him to be a plus defender at shortstop and likely stick at the position in the future (as likely as predicting anything about a 17-year-old prospect is, at least).
Does The DSL Even Matter?
Some of you may be skeptical about how much a player’s success in the Dominican Summer League even matters in the grand scheme of things. It is true that the vast majority of prospects in the DSL never sniff the major leagues, and many that do never end up making much noise either. However, every year a few prospects rise above and break through, some going on to be stars such as Julio Rodriguez, who posted a 160 wRC+ as a 17-year-old in the DSL in 2018. German may never make a splash at the big league level, but he is putting up some of the best numbers not just this season, but in any season in the DSL for a Nats prospect. The next step for him will be the complex league, and if he continues to perform, he will get his chance at professional baseball in Low-A for the Fred Nats.
