The Dominican Summer League is the largest of all the minor leagues. It encompasses 52 teams, which is nearly half of the entirety of all domestic full-season teams combined. Several clubs have two teams in the league, making the task of getting a complete picture of the circuit incredibly difficult.
Even so, there were more than a few players who stuck out to scouts patrolling the league this summer. The league was topped by Brewers shortstop Jesus Made—who is already on BA’s Top 100—and featured several players from the Guardians, Cardinals and Orioles.
A few of the players on the list—Houston and Baltimore righties Anderson Brito and Keeler Morfe, as well as Rangers shortstop Yolfran Castillo—showed enough promise to make their official stateside debuts before the close of the regular minor league season.
With more than 1,500 players in the league, it would come as no surprise if a prospect not on this list takes steps forward in the coming years. Even so, below is our best attempt at mining the DSL for the best talent it had to offer during the summer of 2024.
1. Jesus Made, SS, Brewers
There were 52 teams and 1,848 individual players in the DSL this year, and yet Made was a clear-cut choice as the league’s top prospect. The 17-year-old Dominican-born shortstop was resplendent on both sides of the ball, leading to outstanding analytical data and universal praise from scouts. Specifically, evaluators gushed about Made’s combination of twitchiness, athleticism and power, which showed up in bat speed that allowed him to impact baseballs with the kinds of charges rarely seen in a player so young. There is a bit of question about whether Made will remain at shortstop—which is understandable given how much longer he has until his body reaches peak maturity—but there is little doubt his combination tools, skills and polish give him a high chance to develop into a future all-star.
2. Yairo Padilla, SS, Cardinals
Padilla earned one of the bigger bonuses the Cardinals handed out in the most recent international signing period, and he spent the summer showing exactly why the investment was wise. Scouts praised Padilla both for what they saw on the field in the DSL and for what he could become several years down the line. He’s an athletic, instinctual player who should be a slam dunk to stick at shortstop thanks to outstanding lateral range and a 60-grade throwing arm. If he polishes his approach at the plate, he has a chance…