2026 DSL Cardinals Preview
Credit: emanuelluna_09 on Instagram
The final Cardinals affiliate takes the field on June 1st at 10:00 AM CT in the Dominican Republic vs the Mets as the youngest members of the Cardinals organization get their season started. In recent years, the DSL has been the launching pad for some of the more exciting prospects in the system, including Rainiel Rodriguez, Ivan Herrera, Leo Bernal, and Yairo Padilla. In the past, names like Oscar Tavares and Carlos Martinez have come through the DSL ranks. This year’s team is headlined by a pair of 1+ million dollar signings as part of the 2026 class, including one of the most expensive signings in the team’s history. I’ll preview these players and more as we get ready for the season.
OF Emanuel Luna
The premier signee of the 2026 class for the Cardinals, Luna, is one of the most anticipated Cardinals international signees in a long time. Luna features an athletic physique with both strength and speed. A top 10 player in the 2026 class, Luna features great bat speed, which has allowed him to hit balls over 110 mph as a teenager. While there is some concern about Luna having some swing and miss in his game, he is known for his solid pitch selection and discipline at the plate. In the field, scouts believe that he can stick in center with solid fielding and good athleticism, though he could find himself in a corner spot in the future if he fills out the frame even more. All of this talk about Luna has people excited; now it is time to see how his professional career begins.
SS Carlos Carrion
Carrion was the other 1+ million dollar signee as the Cardinals gave him 1.1 million to sign with them instead of the Padres. Known for his ultra-athletic frame and movement, Carrion drew comparisons to the Mariners Felnin Celesten when he signed with the Cardinals. A switch-hitter, he looks more proficient from the left side of the plate compared to the right, and his defense, considering his athleticism, projects to be plus, though, like many young players, that will likely come with time and not straight away. Carrion will be a close second when it comes to intrigue this season, and seeing if the DSL staff can maximize his athleticism will be a storyline to follow.
C Sebastian Rojas
Surprise, the Cardinals have another highly-regarded catcher among their ranks in Venezuelan backstop Sebastian Rojas, who they signed for $450,000. The carrying tool for Rojas will be the defense, as he is known for his strong arm and being solid behind the plate. In terms of offensive potential, he is more of a bat-to-ball type of hitter over a power hitter, with room to potentially grow into more power.
3B Michael Cordero
One of the more intriguing returners to this season’s DSL team is Michael Cordero, who is the son of former big league pitcher Francisco Cordero. Cordero slashed .212/.359/.356 for a 95 WRC+ last season as a 16-year-old in the DSL, showing solid power potential with 3 homers and a .144 ISO, though swing-and-miss was a big issue at a 32% strikeout rate. It isn’t uncommon to see young DSL players make big gains between year one and year 2 in the DSL, and showing some more power while cutting down on the swing and miss could make Cordero an interesting prospect for the upcoming season. He’s also a solid defender at 3B.
OF Christopher Vargas
Vargas was signed out of the Dominican Republic for $300,000 this January, and his size and swing have me intrigued. Vargas stands a bit over 6ft tall and has a smooth right-handed swing, which makes me think he will generate a good amount of pull-side power, as he showed at his academy. While he has shown a pretty good arm and running in the past, a more filled-out frame means he is likely to get more corner outfield time this season than in center field. This is an intriguing player to watch this season.
1B/OF Luis Estrella
Outside of Emanuel Luna, if there is a prospect you should watch for pure power on this year’s DSL team, it would be Luis Estrella, who was signed for $300,000 out of the Dominican Republic. Estrella comes in at just over 6ft tall and 200 pounds, with a power profile being his main intrigue. With this power profile, there is likely to be some swing and miss, and being more selective at the plate may help Estrella maximize his profile. Based on photos I’ve seen defensively, he has been getting looks both in corner outfield spots and first base, and even with a strong outfield arm, probably projects more as a first baseman given his size.
RHP Rafeli Moronta
The Cardinals’ top pitcher by signing bonus during this year’s class, Moronta, brings a unique stateside experience to the DSL team. Moronta spent most of his pre-signing career in Florida, playing in Perfect Game tournaments against some of the best talent in the country, before heading back down to the Dominican Republic to be eligible when his signing period opened. Listed as 6’4 by MLB.com, Moronta features a fastball, changeup, slider combo with good spin rates and obvious projectability on his 6’4 frame. I’ll be interested to see where his command and velocity are this season.
LHP Andey Garrido
One of the top relief prospects on this year’s team is Cuban LHP Andey Garrido, who throws mid-90s from the left side with a solid array of secondaries that project him to be one of the better strikeout pitchers on this year’s DSL team. The big questions for Garrido will come with command and whether his body can hold up during a full DSL season, as he is a pure relief-type profile.
LHP Hendrick Cana
One of the bigger surprises to me was the fact that Hendrick Cana didn’t come stateside after posting a 2.43 ERA across 37 innings last season, striking out 37 batters. While walks were a bit of an issue for Cana (20 on the season), he held opponents to an impressive .206 batting average against and got the best results of any starter on the DSL team. Cana will return to the DSL this season, as the lefty has a low-90s fastball with really good movement, and then combines that with a plus changeup and solid curveball. Landing more strikes this year and getting to more velocity could take Cana’s game to the next level.
RHP Leonil de Leon
A former shortstop, Leon, recently transitioned to the mound and has found quick success, already being able to touch the mid-90s only a few years into his pitching development, which is why the Cardinals gave him a signing bonus of around $400,000. From reports, Leon can spin the ball well, and to go with his solid fastball, he has a sweeper, which can generate plus horizontal movement. The Cardinals are having success with a similar prospect right now in Xavier Cruz, who was a former SS transitioned to pitcher and now sits in the high 90s with two plus breaking pitches. If the Cardinals can replicate that success with Leon he may be one of the best pitchers to come of out of this this class.
