The DSL White Sox ended the season on a high note to ensure they would finish better than .500. Despite finishing with a -24 run differential, the club had a 29-26 record when it was all said and done.
On the plus side, the DSL White Sox finished with the No. 14 OPS (.769) out of 52 teams in the vast Dominican League. However, pitching was a different story, as the DSL White Sox finished 39th in ERA (5.98). This was not enough to make the playoffs, but the team had a respectable performance overall.
Pitching was hard to come by, but starting pitcher Orlando Suarez, 18, was a strong contributor to the staff. Suarez led the team in innings pitched (40), and his ERA (3.60) and FIP (3.96) were well above-average in the DSL’s run environment. Suarez also averaged 11.0 strikeouts per nine innings, as he did a great job of missing bats.
Yobal Rodriguez, 17, was another starting pitcher who was on top of his game. Rodriguez was fourth on the team in innings pitched (30 1/3), with an ERA (2.97) and FIP (3.64) that were lower than Suarez’s. Amazingly, Rodriguez did not allow any home runs, and he limited opposing hitters to a .161/.277/.188 slash line. Given how few hitters managed to make sharp contact, it is no surprise that Rodriguez was as successful as he was.
Fidel Montero, 21, used to be an outfielder but starting this season has pivoted to pitching. Montero had slashed .218/.333/.400 with a 98 wRC+ in 2024 with the ACL Yankees. This year, though, Montero was on the mound, and he performed well overall. In 28 2/3 innings, Montero posted a 4.40 ERA, and he held opposing hitters to a .684 OPS while averaging 10.7 strikeouts per nine.
Given the team’s strengths and weaknesses, there are many more players to highlight from the offense than the pitching staff. The crown jewel was outfielder Christian Gonzalez, 18, who slashed .424/.553/.606 (196 wRC+) in 86 plate appearances before earning a unheard-of promotion to the ACL. Gonzalez proceeded to slash .381/.435/.500 (142 wRC+) in 46 plate appearances in the Complex League, so it was a terrific 2025 by the young outfielder.
Outfielder Frank Mieses, 17, was an on-base machine in the DSL, slashing .285/.410/.415 (115 wRC+) in 130 at-bats. Most of Mieses’ playing was in center, where he added defensive value. Mieses also managed to display his speed, as he swiped eight bases in 11 attempts (73%). Mieses led the team in OPS (.825) among players with at least 100 at-bats.
Shortstop Yordani Soto, 17, was a tough customer at the plate, slashing .274/.423/.363 (113 wRC+). Soto had a sky-high walk rate of 17.9%, which was nearly as high as his strikeout rate (19.9%). After reaching base, which he did quite often, Soto was a big threat on the base paths. Soto stole 21 bases in 27 attempts (78%), as he found many ways to make an impact despite only launching one homer.
Catcher and first baseman Jose M. Mendoza, 17, was a very reliable batter, and he joined the elite OBP club with a .333/.410/.407 (113 wRC+) slash line. Most of Mendoza’s playing time came at catcher, where he threw out 11 of 39 base stealers (28%). That’s close to the break-even point for stolen bases, so Mendoza more than held his own in that department.
