Cristopher Larez, Photo via DSL Mets
In the 2024 season, both of the New York Mets’ Dominican Summer League affiliates fell short of their playoff aspirations, however, strong individual efforts allow for encouraging takeaways. The DSL Mets Orange finished with an even .500 record at 27-27, earning them a fifth place finish in their nine team DSL Southern Division. The DSL Mets Blue found even less success, finishing in seventh place of the eight team DSL Eastern Division with a 21-33 record. Ironically enough, the highlight of the season for the Dominican Summer League Mets affiliates was the combined no-hitter thrown by the DSL Mets Blue against the DSL Mets Orange on June 17th. Right-hander Jose Guevara, one of the bright spots for the 2024 DSL Mets, started the game with six shutout innings before handing the ball off to 18-year-old left-hander, Jose Gomez, to close out the seven inning contest.
The DSL Mets Blue recorded a .243 team batting average, which ranked 19th in a 51 team Dominican Summer League. The Blue pitching staff struck out 511 batters, which ranked 5th. The DSL Mets Orange, on the other hand, recorded a .214 team batting average (40th) and pitched to a 4.98 team ERA, which ranked 29th and coming in just one spot above the DSL Mets Blue. Top prospects, like the Mets top international signee from the 2024 class, 17-year-old Venezuelan catcher Yovanny Rodriguez, did not live up to expectations for the DSL Mets Orange. In 146 at-bats, Rodriguez slashed .219/.359/.715 with 2 HRs and 32 RBIs. Furthermore, the age-related season ban for Mets 2023 international signee Anthony Baptist, who received a bonus of $1.1 million, set the Mets Dominican Summer League affiliates back even more.
Despite the lackluster team outcomes, Mets fans and international scouting personnel should be quite pleased and optimistic with some of the player development that took place at the Mets’ Dominican Republic facility this season. The Mets awarded 17-year-old outfielder Edward Lantigua, who signed for $950,000 in 2024, the organizational Dominican Summer League Player of the Year Award. The Dominican Republic native slashed .263/.397/.792 with 1 HR, 22 RBIs, and 9 SBs. On the pitching side, 19-year-old right-hander Jose Guevara won the organizational Dominican Summer League Pitcher of the Year Award. The Venezuelan native logged 44 innings in the 2024 season, pitching to a 3-2 record and a 1.64 ERA while retiring 52 batters via the strikeout. Guevara started the DSL Mets Orange combined no-hitter on June 17th, as he went six scoreless innings and struck out ten DSL Mets Blue batters.
Aside from those two players who were recognized with awards for their efforts in 2024, it is important to keep an eye on youngsters Rainer Reyes, Vladi Gomez, and Anthony Crespo moving forward. 21-year-old Dominican outfielder Rainer Reyes found some success in his second professional season, slashing .252/.383/.807 with 30 RBIs and a DSL Mets leading 6 HRs. 19-year-old Dominican middle infielder Vladi Gomez slashed .264/.399/.767 with 1 HR and a promising 28 SBs in his second professional season. Finally, on the mound in his second professional season, 20-year-old Anthony Crespo logged 50 innings, posting a 3.24 ERA and striking out 53 batters. All three of these players, in addition to those who were awarded within the Mets organization, are worth keeping a close eye on in the 2025 season as they make the transition stateside to the Mets Port St. Lucie Complex.
Overall, the Mets Dominican Summer League Affiliates had underwhelming seasons, but a combined no-hitter and standout individual performances shed a positive light on the 2024 campaign.
2024 DSL Mets Orange Coaching Staff:
- Manager: Felix Fermin
- Bench Coach: Gretchen Aucoin
- Hitting Coach: Leo Hernandez
- Pitching Coach: Cristhian Martinez
- Catching Coach: Adrian Abreu
2024 DSL Mets Blue Coaching Staff:
- Manager: Gilberto Mejia
- Bench Coach: Alejandro Montiel
- Pitching Coach: Wander Cabrera
