Marlins prospect Deyvison De Los Santos earned national recognition on Sunday when he was named one of three finalists for Minor League Hitter of the Year. Red Sox utilityman Kristian Campbell and Giants first baseman Bryce Eldridge are the other two prospects who will compete with De Los Santos for the honor, which will be announced on MLB Network‘s second annual MiLB Awards Show on September 30.
The nomination is the culmination of a spectacular breakout season for the 21-year-old. Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, De Los Santos had several good seasons in the Diamondbacks system, including winning the Single-A California League batting title in 2022. Still, a mediocre 2023 campaign (.254/.297/.431) caused Arizona to leave him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. The Guardians scooped him up but made what turned out to be a critical mistake by returning him to the Diamondbacks before the season.
In just six months, De Los Santos would go from a roster afterthought to one of the best-hitting prospects in baseball and the centerpiece of one of the deadline’s biggest moves. He earned a promotion to Triple-A after posting an incredible 1.122 OPS in 38 Double-A games, then blasted 14 more home runs in 49 games in Reno. The Marlins acquired him in a trade with closer A.J. Puk, and though De Los Santos slowed down a bit in a new system, he still ended up leading the Minor Leagues with 40 home runs and 120 RBI.
Even if De Los Santos doesn’t end up taking home Minor League Hitter of the Year, it was a spectacular season for the slugging first baseman and one that should have him on the cusp of the majors in 2025.
Photo Credit: Deyvison De Los Santos #13 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles hits the ball during the game against the San Antonio Missions at HODGETOWN Stadium on April 07, 2024 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
