Around the DSL: Week One is in the Books for the Yankees Rookie League

Yankees’ DSL shortstop Yonauris Rodriguez. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Hache.

The Baby Bombers of the Dominican have their first week of play in the books. The Yankees have two teams in the Dominican Summer League, and both are off to fast starts. Every Monday, our minor league coverage team will bring you a recap of the week in the DSL, highlighting some of the team leaders and promising superstars that hope to one day don the pinstripes. Without further adieu, let’s take a look Around the DSL.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE: BOCA CHICA SOUTH

The DSL Yankees 1 team is out to a roaring start. After starting the season 1-1, they have reeled off five consecutive wins to sit atop the division at 6-1. The week culminated with Sunday’s game as the Yankees trounced the DSL Mets 4-1. Left fielder Pedro Urena, a 19-year-old out of Santo Domingo Centro, DR has led the way thus far batting .435 with five RBI and 11 total bases on the young season. Third baseman Victor Rey, another 19-year-old prospect from Santiago, DR, is also off to a hot start. Rey, standing at 6’2” and 178 pounds, is hitting .400 with seven total bases thus far, with three multi-hit games in a row. Welfren Mateo, a 5’10” 170-pound catcher, is adding a little pop. He’s batting .381 with a home run and two RBI. Obviously the pitching has been sensational to stand at 6-1. 21-year-old Daris Vargas has led the way with two sensational outings already. Standing at 6’3” and 195 pounds, Vargas has ripped off back-to-back shutout performances spanning 10 innings, and striking out seven. Adonis Rosa, the soon-to-be 20-year-old swingman pitcher, has started one game and came on in relief in another. He is averaging a strikeout per inning. 20-year old Raynel Espinal already has two saves on the year.

DOMINICAN SUMMER LEAGUE BOCA CHICA NORTH

The DSL Yankees 2 squad is off to a great start as well, sitting in second place in the North Division. Their week ended with a 9-5 loss to the first place DSL Rangers who stand at 6-1. The Yankees 2 are being led by 17-year-old sensation Yonauris Rodriguez. Rodriguez, a shortstop standing at 6’1” and 135 pounds, is batting .400 on the young season with 12 RBI in just 6 games. 18-year-old center fielder Andy Diaz is off to an equally blazing beginning to the 2014 DSL season. The 5’11”, 190-pound outfielder is batting .375 with a home run and seven RBI thus far. He also has 16 total bases as almost 50 percent of his hits have been for extra bases. Fellow outfielder Cesar Diaz, is also seeing the ball well. He is batting .357 with seven RBI on the season. 22-year-old Jose Baez is the ace of the staff, but has run into some tough luck so far in 2014. The 6’2”, 210-pound righty sits at 0-1, but has allowed just three earned runs over his first two starts. His control has been the issue, allowing seven walks already as opposed to just five strikeouts. Of the Yankees 2 five wins, none have been registered by a starting pitcher, as the rotation is struggling early. Rolando Cavo, a 21-year-old 6’2”, 180-pound righty out of the bullpen, is already 2-0 allowing no runs to score this season.