Guardians Baseball Insider

The Dominican Summer League opened up last week with both teams showing a strong start (marking this year already markedly different the last few seasons). As it would be too much information to cover each week, we will alternate reports on the DSL squads starting with the older Blue team this week and covering the younger Red team next week.

Day by Day

7/12 W 7-3 Blue at Athletics: W Cruz, L Restituyo
7/13 W 2-12 Athletics at Blue: W Polanco, L De La Rosa
7/15 L 1-3 Blue at Rays 1: W Cruz, L Contreras, S Mateo
7/16 W 2-3 Rays 1 at Blue: W Batista, L Castillo, S Almonte

Player of the Week

SS Angel Genao: 3/10, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 5 BB

The 17 year old Genoa has played in just three games so far, but already has two doubles, four runs knocked in and five walks. He has played short in two games and is yet to commit an error.

Who’s Hot

CF Christopher Espinola: 3/10, 4 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB

Espinola is also a 17 year old off to a good start through three games. He has reached in all three and scored a run in each as well. He has exclusively center and has only had a chance to field a few balls, but has not committed an error.

RP Bienvenido Polanco: 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

It was a nice welcome to the pros for Polanco as he went 3.1 innings in relief against the Athletics without allowing a run. He allowed just one hit and hit a batter with no walks and three strike outs in his professional debut.

Who’s Not

RF Erick Caripa: 1/8, 2 R, 2B, SB, 1 BB, 2 K

Altogether, it was a pretty solid week and a small sample size for the DSL Indians Blue, so Caripa’s rough start wasn’t really that bad. His only hit was a double, but he also walked and stole a base, scoring both times he reached base.

SP Kenny Pinto: 4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, HBP

No pitcher has made more than one start for the Indians Blue yet, so Pinto’s start sticks out despite not being that bad. The main difference between his and Victor Garcia’s is that Garcia managed to strike out a bunch of hitters with similar outcomes.

Up next (all starts 10:30 AM):

7/17 Blue at Red
7/18 Off
7/19 Red Sox Red at Blue
7/20 Blue at Red Sox Red
7/21 Off
7/22 Blue at Marlins
7/23 Marlins at Blue
7/24 Red at Blue
7/25 Off
7/26 Dodgers Bautista at Blue
7/27 Blue at Dodgers Bautista
7/28 Off
7/29 Blue at Royals Blue
7/30 Blue at Red