The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SEVERAL Bahamian baseball players received the first minor league assignments of their professional careers this week.

Ian Lewis, the Miami Marlins’ No.29 ranked prospect in its pipeline, was briefly assigned to the DSL Marlins before the team reassigned him to the Florida Complex League Marlins.

In yesterday’s 12-9 loss to the FCL Astros, Lewis went 3-5 and scored a run. The 18-year-old infielder hit a two-run home run in his FCL debut and through nine games is hitting .303 with a .876 OPS, with 10 hits - including two doubles and a triple, six RBI, eight runs, and two stolen bases.

The Florida Complex League (FCL), formerly the Gulf Coast League and the Arizona Complex League (ACL), formerly known as the AZL, are rookie-level Minor League Baseball leagues that are the first rung on the minor-league ladder. No team can have more than three players with four or more years of minor-league experience.

Many of the latest signees made their debut in the Dominican Summer League. The DSL is a branch of affiliated minor league baseball that is played in the Dominican Republic. The league was founded in 1985. The 2021 season got underway yesterday for the first time since 2019 after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrew Arthur helped the DSL Marlins to a 10-8 win over the DSL Dodgers Bautista. The 6’5” outfielder was in the lineup as a designated hitter and finished 2-3 with one RBI.

Everette Cooper made his debut with the DSL Astros in yesterday’s action. He went 1-3 and scored a run in a 4-2 loss to the DSL Rays 1.

St Louis Cardinals infielder Adari Grant was assigned to the DSL Cardinals Blue. Grant went 0-3 in his debut, a 7-2 loss to the DSL Nationals.

Dax Stubbs went 0-4 in his debut with the DSL Orioles 2, a 13-4 loss to the DSL Mariners. Kristin Munroe was also assigned to the DSL Angels.

Baltimore Orioles’ first baseman James Rolle was assigned to the FCL Orioles Orange in the Florida Complex League. Rolle is hitless through five games thus far.

In 2019, Rolle spent time in the DSL and hit .283 with 32 hits, 10 RBI, and five home runs.

Oakland Athletics outfielder Davon Mackey was assigned to the ACL Athletics Gold and went 1-2 in a 5-3 loss to the ACL Cubs.

San Diego Padres pitcher Evan Sweeting was also assigned to the league with the ACL Padres.