4 highlights from the Brewers' 2025 Dominican Summer League season

While the Dominican Summer League (DSL) postseason is ongoing, with game two of the best-of-three championship series taking place this afternoon, the Milwaukee Brewers' DSL affiliates wrapped up play when the regular season came to a close early last week. The Brewers’ two DSL affiliates, the DSL Brewers Blue and DSL Brewers Gold, failed to qualify for the postseason with the former posting a 29-25 season record and the latter going 27-29. However, while the team's success didn't leave much to write home about, several individual prospects had exciting seasons worth highlighting.

Just a quick reminder, the DSL is one of two Rookie Leagues that the Brewers' minor leaguers participate in. The roster is generally made up of the team's most recent international free agent signings. It has served as the jumping-off point for the careers of big league superstars like Jackson Chourio, as well as top prospects like Jesús Made and Luis Peña who dominated the league a season ago. Here are four players that stood out during this year’s DSL season.

1. Infielder Juan Martinez turns in the best offensive performance by a Brewers' prospect in the DSL in 2025

Players don't generally spend multiple years in the DSL, especially when they post solid seasons like the one that Juan Martinez did in 2024. His numbers didn't necessarily jump off the page, but a .700 OPS with a .349 OBP suggested that Martinez could have taken the next step to the Arizona Complex League this year. However, at just 17 years old to start the season, the Brewers elected to have Martinez remain in the DSL for one more season, and that decision certainly paid off.

Martinez led all Brewers prospects in the DSL with a .977 OPS this season, which was good for 13th best in the entire league. His 13 doubles also set the Brewers-wide pace, and he showed even better plate discipline than he did in 2024, drawing 30 walks while striking out just 22 times. It combined for an impressive slash line of .321/.445/.532, all of which were the highest marks by a Brewers prospect this season.

Martinez, who signed with the Brewers as part of their 2024 international free agent class, is 5'11" and 170 pounds, nearly the same size as the team's No. 2-ranked prospect Luis Peña. Despite having a .532 slugging percentage, which was mainly the effect of his 13 doubles and seven triples, Martinez slugged just two homers, but still just 18 years old, there's time for him to fill out his frame and develop some more power. With the elite plate discipline that he displayed and 24 stolen bases in 25 attempts, if Martinez can add some power to his profile, he will immediately become one of the Brewers’ most exciting young prospects.

2. Brewers' top 2025 international free agent signing, Kenny Fenelon, displays exciting tools in first season of professional baseball

The Brewers signed three players ranked in MLB Pipeline's Top 50 international prospects this offseason, but the best among them, ranked No. 36 on the list, was outfielder Kenny Fenelon. As the top signee, Fenelon received a significant $1.3 million signing bonus in January while exciting Brewers fans with his unique blend of power and speed.

Those tools were on full display during the 2025 DSL season as Fenelon slugged five homers and swiped 18 bases over the summer. His five longballs were second only to Isais Chavez and Francis Sosa among Brewers prospects, who each slugged six homers over the course of the season. Meanwhile, his 18 stolen bases were the fourth most by any Brewer in the DSL this year.

Any time a prospect displays the power and speed that Fenelon did this year in the DSL, it's an exciting development as the combination of those two tools has become a coveted trait in today's game of baseball. While Fenelon did strike out quite a bit, 52 times in 50 games, and his .206 batting average might look worrisome, what he accomplished in his first season of professional baseball at just 17 years old is still very encouraging for a Brewers organization that invested a lot of resources in him.

3. Right-hander Diustin Mayorquin turns in most impressive pitching performance by a Brewers' prospect in the DSL in 2025

On the other side of the ball, there were several pitching performances by Brewers prospects that stuck out, but the best among them came from 17-year-old right-hander Diustin Mayorquin. The Brewers signed Mayorquin as part of their international free agent signing class this offseason. Mayorquin hails from the same country, Nicaragua, as another talented Brewers minor league pitcher, Carlos Rodriguez, who was up with the big league club this past week.

In 11 appearances of the season, including five starts, Mayorquin covered 47.2 innings and posted an excellent 2.45 ERA. He kept the walks way down, surrendering just seven all season, but it didn't impact his ability to miss bats as Mayorquin struck out 49 opposing hitters over the summer. Not only did Mayorquin cover the most innings of any Brewers prospect in the DSL this season, but his ERA was the best among Brewers prospects that threw more than 25 innings.

At just 17 years old, there's plenty to like about Mayorquin's profile. To have as much control of the zone as Mayorquin does at such a young age bodes well for his continued development in the Brewers' minor league system. Not only that, but the fact that Mayorquin didn't surrender a single home run all season means that he's not just leaving the ball over the heart of the plate to avoid walks; he's living on the corners. For an organization that prides itself on its ability to develop starting pitchers, Mayorquin's introduction to professional baseball is especially exciting.

4. Joan Peña sticks out as the best southpaw on the 2025 DSL Brewers

While Mayorquin takes home the award for best overall Brewers pitching prospect in the DSL this season, left-hander Joan Peña was the ace of the DSL Brewers Gold squad this summer. Peña, who is also just 17 years old, was part of the same offseason international free agent signing class as Mayorquin. He hails from the town of Herrera in the Dominican Republic.

Peña made 10 appearances, including six starts, for the DSL Brewers Gold squad during their 56-game season in 2025. He posted a 3.25 ERA across 44 innings pitched and collected 42 strikeouts. Peña struggled a little bit with free passes, issuing 15 walks and seven hit-by-pitches throughout the season, but he kept the ball in the ballpark, allowing just one homer all season.

Just like Mayorquin, at just 17 years old, there's a lot to like about Peña's profile, especially considering he does it all as a southpaw. With Mayorquin and Peña both putting on impressive displays in the DSL this season, there's much to be excited about when it comes to the future of Brewers pitching.