Your 2015 DSL Cubs!

The Dominican Summer League (DSL) begins play tomorrow (Saturday 5/30), and the Cubs will be fielding a team in the DSL for the 19th consecutive season. 

There are 38 teams in the DSL in 2015 (all 30 MLB clubs have at least one DSL affiliate, and the Astros, Mariners, Mets, Orioles, Rangers, Red Sox, Reds, and Yankees have two each). The Mariners unexpectedly moved their club in the Venezuelan Summer League (VSL) to the DSL just prior to the start of Spring Training, leaving just four teams in the VSL (VSL Cubs  VSL Phillies, VSL Rays, and VSL Tigers), but the VSL itself may not exist beyond this season, meaning the Cubs, Phillies, Rays and Tigers may operate two teams in the DSL next season.  

14 members of the 2014 DSL Cubs (RHRP Assael Aquino, RHRP Luiz Escanio, C Eric Gonzalez, RHSP Junior Marte, RHSP Jose Morel, C-1B Richard Nunez, OF Chris Pieters, RHSP Andri Rondon, RHRP Aneuris Rosario, INF Miguel Ruiz, RHSP Pedro Silverio, INF Franklin Tineo, RHRP Deibi Torres, and OF Luis Ubiera) will be returning to the club in 2015, while twelve others (RHRP Pedro Araujo, OF Roberto Caro, RHSP Oscar de la Cruz, 2B Frandy de la Rosa, LHRP Andin Diaz, OF Jenner Emeterio, OF Robert Garcia, IF-OF Carlos Jimenez, C Yohan Matos, RHSP Erling Moreno, OF-1B Jose Paniagua, and RHSP Santiago Rodriguez) are presently at Cubs Extended Spring Training in Mesa and are unlikely to return to the DSL in 2015.

Catcher Eric Gonzalez was at Extended Spring Training with the other twelve, but was sent back to the DSL last week after going 0-13 with one walk and five strikeouts in 14 Cactus League EXST Plate Appearances. Gonzalez was signed by the Cubs last June, and hit 254/297/322 in 19 DSL games last season. 

20-year old Chris Pieters (signed by the Cubs as a 16-year old out of Curacao in 2011 - $350K bonus) will be making the unusual conversion of LHP to outfielder with the DSL Cubs in 2015, but a 9.31 ERA and 119 walks surrendered in 77.1 IP over three seasons can do that to a guy.    

14 of the 33 players on the DSL Cubs 2015 Opening Day roster will be making their pro debut in 2015 (these players are underlined below). Another (RHP Hector Garcia) was purchased from a Mexican League team post-2014, and three more (RHPs Luis Aquino, Julian Aybar, and Miguel Estevez) were signed after being released by other MLB organizations.  . 

Because they exceeded their pre-assigned 2013-14 International Signmg Bonus Pool limit by more than 15% (when they signed OF Eloy Jimenez, SS Gleyber Torres, RHP Jen-Ho Tseng, RHP Jeferson Mejia, RHP Erling Moreno, and C Yohan Matos), the Cubs were restricted to signing no player to a bonus in excess of $250,000 in the 2014-15 International Signing Period (ISP), Eight of the twelve players receiving six-figure signing bonuses from the Cubs during the 2014-15 ISP have been assigned to the DSL Cubs, including LHSP Wander Cabrera ($250K), CF Jose Jules ($250K), RF Samir Lara ($250K), SS Fidel Mejia ($250K), 3B Rafael Mejia ($250K), SS Yeiler Peguero ($250K), RF Yovanny Cuevas ($200K), and 3B-LF Tony Rijo ($100K).    
 

DSL CUBS: 33

* bats or throws left
# bats both 

PITCHERS: 18
Assael Aquino
Luis Aquino (previously released by CLE)
Julian Aybar (previously released by TB)
* Wander Cabrera 
Wagner Disla 
Luiz Escanio 
Miguel Estevez (previously released by CIN)
Hector Garcia (purchased from Yucatan - MEX)
Fauris Guerrero 
Junior Marte 
Jose Morel 
* Pablo Ochoa 
Eury Ramos 
Andri Rondon 
Aneuris Rosario 
Pedro Silverio 
Jesus Tejada
Deibi Torres 

CATCHERS: 3
Eric Gonzalez
Richard Nunez 
Raymond Pena 

INFIELDERS: 6
# Fidel Mejia 
Rafael Mejia 
# Yeiler Peguero
Tony Rijo 
# Miguel Ruiz 
Franklin Tineo 

OUTFIELDERS: 6
Yovanny Cuevas 
Wander Feliz 
Jose Jules
Samir Lara
* Chris Pieters (ex-OF)
Luis Ubiera  

MANAGER
Juan Cabreja

COACHES 
Claudio Almonte (Hitting Coach) 
Armando Gabino (Pitching Coach)
Carlos Ramirez (Assistant Coach) 

ATHLETIC TRAINER: 
Jose Alvarez 

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
Tom Sanchez