Miami Marlins Minor League Watch: Dominican Summer League

The Miami Marlins minor league feeder system runs seven layers deep.

At the very bottom of the pyramid, there is a league outside of the contiguous United States in the Dominic Republic, the Dominican Summer League. Populating that league are the youngest professional players in the Miami Marlins major league affiliate system. The Cuban National Series in Cuba generally has a few 16-year-olds as well.

These players, including some not yet high school graduates (that’s why it’s a SUMMER league, duh), are amongst the least refined talents in pro baseball. There are currently 15 players in the Miami Marlins system under the age of 18-years-old.

The DSL starts generally around the beginning of June every year, this year on exactly June 1st.

June 1st

Some major league teams, 17 of them, actually, have two contenders in the DSL, including the Boston Red Sox. Their top DSL affiliate, the DSL Red Sox 1, opened their season against the DSL Marlins on June 1st. Boston’s entrant topped Miami’s by a convincing 9-3 final score. The Marlins only collected four hits in total, including a solo home run by third baseman Cristhian Rodriguez. Yoelvis Sanchez collected a single, a walk, and stole two bases.

On the mound, no Marlins player made a positive impression. Yoilan Quinonez walked four and allowed two runs on two hits in 3 2/3 innings. Wandy Moya (0-1, 40.50) lost after giving up three more runs in just 2/3 of an inning. Maycold Leon struck out four and didn’t walk any in 3 2/3 innings, but gave up four runs on six hits.

June 3rd

Most of the series in the DSL consist of a pair of games, a “home-and-home” series where the home team is rotated despite the location remaining the same. In the series closer, the Sox affiliate finished with another win, by a 9-5 score.

The Marlins did reach base safely 14 times by hit or walk, while also striking out as many times. Rodriguez hit a pair of singles, while Elvin Ozoria, Jandel Paulino, and Arquimedes Cumana each matched his total base output with a double per. Jonaiker Osorio had a pair of RBI.

Delvis Alegre whiffed six over four innings, while giving up two runs on three hits and zero walks. Breidy Encarnacion struck out three in four relief innings, and allowed one run. Frank Valera (0-1, 67.50) took the loss after surrendering five runs on two hits and two walks.

June 4th

The Marlins started their second series of the season on Tuesday against the Dodgers “Bautista,” and dropped a 3-1 decision. Each team collected a total of three hits. Rodriguez had two of them for the Marlins, both singles. Melenciano hit the only multi-base hit in the game for them, while the team collectively drew more walks (five) than struck out (four).

Henry Valencia gave up only one run on two hits and no walks over four innings, while striking out four. Guillermo Ramirez pitched two no-hit innings and struck out three in relief, and Zaquiel Puentes (0-1, 9.00) took the loss despite allowing only one hit and no walks in two innings.

June 5th

The Marlins finally got their first victory of the year, with a convincing 10-5 win against the Dodgers club. Despite scoring 10 runs, the Marlins only finished with five RBI, also benefitting from five errors from Dodgers Bautista.

The Dodgers outhit the Marlins, 11-to-9 in the game. Anthony Felipe hit a single, a double, and drew a walk to lead the offense. Jonathan Chinchilla, Isaac De Leon, and Cumana also hit doubles in the win. Josan Mendez (1-0, 1.80) won, striking out four in five innings while giving up one run on four hits. Sandro Bargallo struck out three over 1 1/3 shutout innings for the save.

June 6th

Paulino led the Marlins offense with three singles and two RBI in an 8-3 win over the DSL Braves on Thursday. Wandy Moya (1-1, 16.20) earned a win after pitching a hitless third inning. Mario Doble was the real winner of the Marlins pitching staff, after four no-hit, one walk innings of relief. He struck out six and earned a 12 out save.

Felipe hit a two-run triple and the Marlins outhit the Braves, 11-to-5. Melenciano, Sanchez, Felipe, and Ozoria each stole a base off Braves pitching.

June 7th

The Marlins regained .500 and earned a sweep over these Braves with a 6-2 win on Friday. They gained nine hits to just five for the Atlanta affiliate. De Leon hit a double and two singles with a pair of RBI to lead the Miami affiliate’s offense. Sanchez and Cumana each hit a pair of hits, Cumana’s included a triple. Leon struck out five in four shutout innings, and Quinonez (1-0, 1.17) earned the win.

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Quinonez struck out four over four innings, and allowed an unearned run on two hits. Frank Valera earned a save after a perfect ninth.

June 8th

The DSL Royals (1) came in for their two-game series on Saturday (concluding tomorrow) and lost, 4-3 to the DSL Marlins. Sanchez hit a triple and a solo home run to lead the Marlins offense. Julio Machado hit a pair of singles, and Encarnacion (1-0, 2.00) pitched five one-hit innings, allowing only a solo home run and striking out one batter. Ivan Perez struck out a batter in a perfect ninth for the fourth save by four different pitchers on four consecutive days.

Check back next Sunday for another DSL update. Thanks for reading. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and subscribe to our daily newsletter to keep up with the Miami Marlins.