Marlins prospect José Castro mashed his 16th homer of the season in the Dominican Summer League, the most in the DSL since at least 2006. But his favorite home run swing of the season didn't come in a league game. That honor goes to Castro’s walk-off homer in an intrasquad game, which secured bragging rights in a competitive setting the organization views as a fun and effective way to develop its players. “It was a very exciting moment for me,” Castro said via interpreter Luis Dorante Jr. “A lot of fun. It was great.”

MLB.com's Jim Callis weighs in on which non-Top 100 prospects who played in the Dominican Summer League last year will be the most exciting to see play stateside in 2025.

Games in the DSL are a teaching tool and the real measure of success for international prospects in this league is progress. The league is affectionately referred to as the "kindergarten of professional baseball," but these kids can play and there's a reason why scouts from opposing teams can be spotted in the stands taking notes and reporting back to their superiors. The players in this league have enough value to be considered secondary pieces in Major League trades.