Teenager Yoeilin Cespedes Stands Out With DSL Red Sox
Yoeilin Cespedes is just 17 and in the Dominican Summer League, and so it’s early to get too carried away by his performance.
Still, at the start of his professional career, the shortstop is showing signs of not only significant in-game power but a surprisingly mature approach that allows him to get to it with unusual frequency.
Already, Cespedes looks like one of the top hitting prospects to come through the organization’s academy since Rafael Devers a decade ago.
“He definitely stands out offensively,” Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero said. “He’s been one of the better offensive players that we’ve had there in a while.”
Through 24 games, Cespedes hit .340/.369/.528 with three home runs—including a 469-foot blast—to go with five walks and 11 strikeouts. His low walk and strikeout rates reflect a confident approach and sound bat-to-ball skills in two-strike counts.
“He’s a very intelligent guy,” Romero said. “He just has an idea already about what to expect, that with two strikes, I’m not going to see X, so let me zone in over here.”
Cespedes’ calling card is certainly his bat, which carries middle-of-the-order potential. But the thickly built, 5-foot-10, 180-pound teenager has also shown enough progress at shortstop—particularly with strength gains that have improved his first step—to continue developing at the position.
The Red Sox signed Cespedes for $1.4 million out of the Dominican Republic in January.
Given Cespedes’ overall advancement as a hitter, there’s a chance he could get to the Florida Complex League as soon as this season. If his impressive DSL debut carries over to the U.S., he could quickly emerge as one of the more highly regarded prospects in the system.
“He’s really advanced for his age, for where he is,” Red Sox farm director Brian Abraham said. “He stands out.”
SOX YARNS
— Low-A Salem outfielder Miguel Bleis had season-ending surgery on his left shoulder due to a shoulder subluxation. He’s expected to be healthy for spring training.
— After hitting only one home run in 42 games for Low-A Salem, 19-year-old outfielder Roman Anthony smashed six homers in his first 14 games with nearly as many walks (12) as strikeouts (14) following a promotion to High-A Greenville.
