The Dominican Summer League season opened today with two games. The FCL was also in action today, while the full-season teams were off. I’ll note that it appears that the DSL team are now also called Black and Gold, but the boxscore still shows the unoriginal Pirates1/Pirates2 names so I went with that below.
FCL PIRATES BLACK
Starting Pitcher: Ryan Harbin 4 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO
Notable Performances:
Juan Jerez 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, 2 BB, SB
Angel Basabe 2-for-6, 2B
Deion Walker 1-for-4, RBI, SB
Luis Tejeda 2-for-4, 2B, BB, SB
Game Recap: Starter Ryan Harbin had a solid outing, despite six base runners in four innings. He allowed just one run, while striking out six batters. Harbin debuted with three shutout innings, then gave up three runs over three innings in his second start, so this was somewhere between those two performances. Christian Charle took over in the fifth and finished out the game with one run over five innings. It was the first run that he has allowed this year in 13 innings.
Juan Jerez, who was rated as the top DSL Pirates prospect after the 2019 season, had a strong game, with a single, double, two walks, an RBI, run scored and a stolen base. He has an .875 OPS through the early goings this season. Rayber Romero also did well, with two hits, two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. Angel Basabe had two hits, including his first double. Luis Tejeda had two hits and a walk, plus his second steal. He collected his second double. Carlos Canache had two hits, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base. Deion Walker, who missed the first week of the season, went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI. Pirates won this game 9-2.
FCL PIRATES GOLD
Starting Pitcher: Joelvis Del Rosario 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
Notable Performances:
Jasiah Dixon 1-for-3, RBI, HBP
Tsung-Che Cheng 0-for-3
Jack Herman 3-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
Daniel Rivero 2-for-2, 3B, 2 RBI
Game Recap: Starter Joelvis Del Rosario had an outstanding outing, with five shutout frames on four hits, no walks and four strikeouts. It’s his second straight start with five shutout innings. Johan Montero followed with two scoreless innings before the game was called early due to rain. The Pirates won 10-0.
Through the middle of the sixth, this was a 1-0 pitching duel. Pirates scored on a Daniel Rivero sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the sixth, nine runners crossed the plate. Jack Herman scored two with a single. Rivero brought in Herman with a triple. Geovanny Planchart had an RBI single. An error made it 6-0. Jasiah Dixon made it 7-0 with an RBI single. Randy Romero brought in two runs with a triple, then scored the tenth run of the game on a wild pitch. Herman had three hits, Romero and Rivero had two hits each. Dixon scored two runs.
DSL PIRATES1
Starting Pitcher: Antwone Kelly 0.2 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 0 SO
Notable Performances:
Javier Rivas 0-for-4
Shalin Polanco 1-for-3, RBI, BB
Ewry Espinal 0-for-1, 2 BB, HBP
Omar Alfonzo 0-for-4
Jesus Castillo 1-for-4, SB
Enmanuel Terrero 0-for-2, BB
Ruben Vizcaya 1-for-2, 2B, BB
Game Recap: The lineup for the Pirates1 is LOADED with talent. That list of notables you see is strong from top to bottom, including top prospect Shalin Polanco, who had a single, walk, RBI and run scored in his pro debut. Ruben Vizcaya had a walk and a double, which was the only extra-base hit for the Pirates. Jesus Castillo had a single, stolen base and run scored.
Antwone Kelly signed out of Aruba, which is a rare signing from the country, and he was considered to be very raw. His start in the opener showed that he still has some work to do to catch up to players from more advanced baseball countries. He gave up five runs before being removed in the first inning. Wilbur Martinez took over for Kelly in the first and tossed 2.1 no-hit innings. Jesus Clode, a hard-throwing reliever, took the mound in the fourth and threw three shutout innings. The Pirates1 (Pirates Black) lost 5-3 in this game that was limited to seven innings.
We had issue with our 2020 international signing tracker, so we will have to redo it when we get a chance, but here’s the 2019 tracker for info on those players and here’s the main post for the first day signings this year.
DSL PIRATES2
Starting Pitcher: Roelmy Garcia 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 3 SO
Notable Performances:
Wesley Zapata 0-for-3
Samuel Escudero 0-for-3
Jeral Toledo 2-for-3, 2B, RBI
Esmerlyn Valdez 0-for-2, BB
Gustavo Armas 0-for-3
Rodolfo de la Cruz 2-for-2, 2B, RBI, BB
Game Recap: The DSL Pirates2 opened up with Roelmy Garcia on the mound. He was a top signing during the start of the 2019 international signing period due to strong velocity with elite arm speed that could allow him to have a plus-plus fastball in the future. His control was below average though, which could lead to more days like his debut with two no-hit innings, four walks and three strikeouts. Wilkin Valdez followed with two shutout innings. Lewys Guzman allowed a run in his 1.2 innings. Rafael Mendez recorded the final out of the sixth and Jose Garces handed the seventh without any issue in the 2-1 win in seven innings.
The lineup for the Pirates2 has some talented signings, including Jeral Toledo ($600,000 bonus), Esmerlyn Valdez in the cleanup spot, talented outfielder Gustavo Armas, and Samuel Escudero, who the Pirates recently acquired in a trade with the Brewers. Rodolfo de la Cruz also has a big bat and he showed that in this game, going 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and a walk. Toledo had two hits, including a double, plus he drove in a run. Jhonson Pena had a single, walk, RBI and stolen base in two plate appearances.
