El Caribe carries a great story about the new wave of young Dominican baseball players who are considered to be top prospects for major league teams. During the first weeks of the Winter Baseball League, some of the novice sluggers have been so outstanding that they have taken over positions normally filled by big-name players. Throughout the six teams, there are 40 such newcomers, many of whom arrive on the heels of a very good season in the Minor Leagues. These ballplayers have made the prestigious lists compiled by Baseball America, the publication that compiles the best prospects throughout the Minor Leagues. Some of the new talent includes Andy Marte, a third baseman and one of the most highly-regarded recruits. Marte was ranked third among prospects from the Carolina League. There is also Ramon Nivar, who plays for the Escogido team in Santo Domingo and who burned up the AAA circuit with Oklahoma. Last year he was fourth in the AA league and this year debuted in the big leagues with the Texas Rangers. Freddy Guzman, an outfielder, is ranked twentieth in the Pacific Coast League (AAA), and Victor Diaz, a second baseman, has been labelled one of the top ten prospects in the New York Mets system. Other names that stand out are Adriano Rosario, Feliz Pie, Eric Aybar, Wilson Valdez, Onil Joseph, Dennis Bautista and Victor Mendez. As veteran reporter Heriberto Morrison says, these kids are playing so well that some will take over positions reserved for major league stars. Given the high level of the play in the Dominican Winter League, this is a very high compliment. For the sports fan, it’s just another reason to catch a ball game.