Dominican Summer League Tweaks Playoff Format For 2025 With New DSL Cup
The Dominican Summer League kicks off on Monday, June 2 and continues until August 19. The 52-team league features some of the youngest players in the sport, including most of the international free agent players who signed this past January.
Last year’s brightest prospects in league started with the dynamic Brewers duo of Jesús Made and Luis Peña, as well as current domestic complex league standouts like Joswa Lugo (Angels), Rainiel Rodriguez (Cardinals) and Esteban Mejia (Orioles).
While the DSL regular season will feel the same, the playoffs will look a bit different. This year, the league is introducing the DSL Cup. The format is explained in a release from Major League Baseball.
The eight DSL division winners based on winning percentage and the eight teams with the best winning percentage that did not win their division will qualify for the postseason. In pool play, the 16 teams will be divided into four pools of four teams each and will participate in a round-robin competition.
The team with the best record in each pool will advance to the championship bracket, which will consist of a two best-of-three semifinals before a final round.
This year’s playoff teams will look to dethrone the Red Sox, whose roster last year included up-arrow outfielder Justin Gonzales, who needed just one game in the Florida Complex League before advancing to full-season ball.
