What to know about the Amateur Scouting League

Jan. 15 is the big date on the international signing calendar, but not every prospect outside the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico joins a Major League organization at the very outset of the window. For those who hail specifically from the Dominican Republic, there’s another avenue to prove they have what it takes to make it to affiliated ball and potentially thrive on their way to The Show.

Welcome to the MLB Amateur Scouting League.

Here's a guide to help fans better understand one of MLB’s initiatives to identify and support Dominican talent.

What is the Amateur Scouting League?

The Amateur Scouting League is run in combination with MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program and offers an opportunity for amateur players in the Dominican Republic between the ages of 15-18 to play in front of scouts and technology accessed by all 30 Major League teams. More than 500 players participate, representing upwards of 100 different academies -- including ones run by trainers you may have heard of, like Bartolo Colon and Rafael Furcal. Teams played more than 100 games over the course of the season and postseason.

Where is the league?

The showcase circuit takes place around the entire nation of the Dominican Republic. Twenty teams are placed into divisions by region -- specifically North, South, East and Centro -- and are given color names (i.e. Royal Blue, Purple, Orange, etc.) to differentiate themselves. Each region is dedicated to a former Major Leaguer from that locale: Tony Peña (North), Vladimir Guerrero Sr. (South), Ricardo Carty (East) and Francisco Cordero (Centro).

What is the schedule?

Regular-season games begin in early May and run through late June. Clubs play twice a week for the duration of that period. The top club from each region then competes in the postseason at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo, home of Tigres del Licey and Leones del Escogido during Dominican Winter League play. This year’s playoff round just finished up, having run July 25-27.

Who won this year’s title?

The South Region's Green Team downed the East's Navy Blue Team, 4-3, in extra innings in Thursday’s championship game to claim this year’s crown.

What kind of technology does the league use?

Regular statistics are helpful in identifying who should jump to the next level, but the Amateur Scouting League goes beyond that, supplying players and evaluators with TrackMan data as well as high-speed video. All 30 Major League organizations have access to the analytics in their attempts to scout and sign new talent for their farm systems. Players who are age-eligible to sign have already been plucked directly from the league to play for MLB Clubs’ Dominican Summer League teams.

Who are this year’s statistical standouts?

Wander Frias, INF, Purple South: Frias went 8-for-16 with a triple, three doubles and an even 3/3 K/BB ratio over five games. His .500 average, .831 slugging percentage and 1.391 OPS led the 176 batters with at least 15 plate appearances in the regular season of this year’s showcase.

Anthony Reynoso, OF, Light Blue North: Reynoso did a tremendous job of marrying plate discipline with power, ranking second in the league with 13 walks (against seven strikeouts) while being just one of two sluggers with multiple homers (two in both cases). He finished with a .333/.571/.630 line over 42 plate appearances.

Yonatan Flores, INF, Black East: With a .480 OBP over 29 plate appearances, Flores certainly showed an impressive ability to reach base, and he was more than happy to flex another skillset when he got on. He went 11-for-12 in stolen base attempts and was the only player to reach double-digits in thefts this summer.

Deybi Salcedo, RHP, Navy Blue East: Pitching time can be limited in a summer league like this, and only five hurlers exceeded 20 innings in 2023. Of those five, Salcedo was the only one with a perfect 0.00 ERA, and his dominance didn’t stop there. The 6-foot-1 right-hander fanned 32, walked one and scattered four hits over his 20 frames. The Red Sox signed Salcedo on July 3.

Who won this year's awards?

Each region handed out an MVP and Cy Young Award at the end of the 2023 season. This year's winners were as follows:

North: Leordanys Menendez, SS, Royal Blue (MVP); Joelfry Rodriguez, LHP, Light Blue (Cy Young)
East: Luis Leon, OF, Green (MVP); Cristhopher Santana, RHP, Royal Blue (Cy Young)
South: Yunior Amparo, SS, Green (MVP); Jeiser Tellez, RHP, Green (Cy Young)
Centro: Yolfran Castillo, RHP, Black (MVP); Jose Guzman, RHP, Red (Cy Young)

How can fans follow along?

Replays of games from the 2023 season are available on the Trainer Partnership Program YouTube page. You can also follow along with the Amateur Scouting League on Instagram and Twitter. More information, including schedules and stats, is available on the league website.