Alexander Santana Debut in GCL

[TuckerBlair89]

A new name popped up in the GCL today. Alexander Santana. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... ntan001ale

He played in the DSL before getting the promotion to the GCL, and pitched 28.0 innings with a 1.93 ERA and 36 K

In his GCL debut today he pitched 4.0 innings with 1 H, 0 R, 8 K, 1 BB allowed.

It's hard to follow the DSL since we generally get zero news or information on them. So it's always neat seeing a guy drop on the radar like this. He's also 20 though, so keep that in mind.

[Ampontan]

The official Minor League website carries the DSL box scores:
http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/league.j ... lb&lid=130,
which I've started following for the first time this year.

[legmason]

Interesting. Looks like he was signed in 2009 and spent last year in the DSL and posted almost identical numbers there in just about 30 innings as he did this year, giving up 6 earned runs and striking out a ton. Could be an interesting story here. Gotta love his strikeout to walk ratio so far, even if it's a small sample size.

[TuckerBlair89]

The official Minor League website carries the DSL box scores:
http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/league.j ... lb&lid=130,
which I've started following for the first time this year.

I generally don't look at them because I know nothing of the players and the stats are essentially meaningless down there.
But it's another league, so always fun to follow.

[ofahn]

I generally don't look at them because I know nothing of the players and the stats are essentially meaningless down there.

I've been watching the DSL for a number of years and I've noticed that talent level varies from month to month and year to year. Often you will see better talent (competition) early in their season until some of the better players get promoted to Rookie Ball or Short Season in the states. Other years some of the best Dominican talent signed is advanced enough to come right to the states so the talent level in the DSL is low across the board.

Essentially, what I'm saying is that DSL stats are subjective, at best; and that its primary purpose is as a development league. Veloz hit less than .230 there last year but was hitting better in the GCL until he was suspended.

[j.q. higgins]

so, although santana is older, he appears to have beensigned as an outfielder, so maybe there's a bit of a developmental curve?

[TuckerBlair89]

I've been watching the DSL for a number of years and I've noticed that talent level varies from month to month and year to year. Often you will see better talent (competition) early in their season until some of the better players get promoted to Rookie Ball or Short Season in the states. Other years some of the best Dominican talent signed is advanced enough to come right to the states so the talent level in the DSL is low across the board.

Essentially, what I'm saying is that DSL stats are subjective, at best; and that its primary purpose is as a development league. Veloz hit less than .230 there last year but was hitting better in the GCL until he was suspended.

That's a very good observation, and I think it's about right besides the exceptions (which there always are).

so, although santana is older, he appears to have beensigned as an outfielder, so maybe there's a bit of a developmental curve?

Yea it seems like that. Orioles have had a lot of guys being converted to pitcher recently.
I'm sure don knows a little more on Santana.

[Ampontan]

I generally don't look at them because I know nothing of the players and the stats are essentially meaningless down there. But it's another league, so always fun to follow.

Several of the players were signed this past offseason after DD took over, such as Moreno from Brazil and Marrugo from Colombia. The guy with the Italian sounding name is actually from Guatemala. I started following the box scores to keep up with what the new signings did.

[TuckerBlair89]

Several of the players were signed this past offseason after DD took over, such as Moreno from Brazil and Marrugo from Colombia. The guy with the Italian sounding name is actually from Guatemala. I started following the box scores to keep up with what the new signings did.

I mean I look at them, but I just don't make any conclusions off them.
But you are right, a lot of new signings there.

[DougDE]

What was Veloz suspended for? Hadn't heard that

[TuckerBlair89]

What was Veloz suspended for? Hadn't heard that

Don said they just missed curfew or something. Nothing big of a deal

[j.q. higgins]

yeah, they made a lot of under the radar south and central american signings. aguiar, hernandez and perezossi are all from guat. i don't know of anyone else really putting much energy there, but that just may be my own ignorance.