6/2 Gameday Thread: 2 DSL Openers! Happy Mata's Day!

-- The Red Sox signed 17-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Denny Daza for $250,000 on July 2. Daza is physically underdeveloped (5-foot-11, 160 pounds) but consistently hits well in games. A righthanded hitter, Daza has a short stride, quick hands and a compact, direct swing with clean path to the ball. He has good plate coverage and great feel for hitting the ball where it’s pitched, staying through the ball well to lace line drives all around the field. Daza has good bat speed but doesn’t have the strength right now for more than doubles power. An offensive-minded player with the potential to hit toward the top of the lineup, Daza will develop as a shortstop, where his feet work well, but his arm and speed are fringy and he could end up a better fit at second base. He trained with Emiro Barboza.

-- The Red Sox also gave $10,000 to 17-year-old Dominican center fielder Gilberto Jimenez in August. A good athlete with a limited baseball background, Jimenez has made fast progress over the past year. At 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, Jimenez is a plus runner who projects to stick in center field. A righthanded hitter when he signed, Jimenez is now a switch-hitter whose aptitude and athleticism has helped him make quick adjustments. He’s a line-drive hitter with gap power who made a strong impression with his performance at Dominican instructional league.