Yasel Antuna
Free agent
Shortstop / Third baseman
Born: (1999-10-26) October 26, 1999 (age 24)
Peravia, Dominican Republic
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right

Yasel Eneudy Antuna (born October 26, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder who is a free agent.

The Nationals signed Antuna to a minor league contract as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic on July 2, 2016. They gave Antuna a $3.9 million signing bonus, the largest they had ever awarded an international free agent by $2.4 million to that point.[1] Antuna was described by scouts at the time as a potential five-tool player who profiled as a future everyday shortstop in the major leagues.[2]

Antuna debuted professionally in the Gulf Coast League with the GCL Nationals in 2017, appearing in games at shortstop and third base. He played in both games of a double-header on July 23, 2017, in which the GCL Nationals no-hit the GCL Marlins in both seven-inning games, committing a throwing error in the second game that accounted for one of the Marlins' two baserunners in the contest.[3] Midseason rankings that month by MLB Pipeline ranked Antuna as the Nationals' eighth-best prospect.[4] Antuna finished his 2017 season with a .301 batting average in the Gulf Coast League, playing mostly shortstop with several appearances at third base as well.[5]

In August 2018, Antuna underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.[6] Antuna appeared in three games for the GCL Nationals late in the 2019 season, after which Baseball America ranked him as the Nationals' ninth-best prospect.[7] Antuna was a non-roster invitee to the Nationals' 60-man player pool for the 2020 season, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] After the season, the Nationals selected Antuna's contract, promoting him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[9]

Antuna was assigned to the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks to begin his 2021 campaign, alongside a number of other Washington top prospects.[10] On December 1, 2022, Antuna was sent outright off of the 40-man roster.[11] He elected free agency on November 6, 2023.[12]

References

  1. ^ Castillo, Jorge (March 8, 2017). "Nationals' savvy interest in older Dominican players is beginning to pay off". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  2. ^ Reddington, Patrick (July 2, 2016). "Washington Nationals reportedly sign shortstops Yasel Antuna, Luis Garcia as International Signing period begins". Federal Baseball. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  3. ^ Maun, Tyler (July 23, 2017). "GCL Nationals toss back-to-back no-nos". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  4. ^ "2017 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  5. ^ "Minor League Wednesday: A look at how the Nationals' prospects performed in 2017". The Washington Post. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  6. ^ "Nationals' Yasel Antuna: Recovering from TJS". CBS Sports. January 16, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  7. ^ Kerr, Byron (February 4, 2020). "Baseball America Nats No. 9 prospect: SS Yasel Antuna". MASN Sports. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  8. ^ Lusk, Lacy (October 27, 2020). "Yasel Antuna Just Wants To Keep Playing". Baseball America. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  9. ^ Pete Kerzel (2020-11-20). "Nationals select contracts of Yasel Antuna and Joan Adon - MASN News & Information". Masnsports.com. Retrieved 2021-05-02.
  10. ^ Dykstra, Sam (May 4, 2021). "These are the most loaded MiLB rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  11. ^ "Nationals Outright Yasel Antuna, Josh Palacios".
  12. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-11-06

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