Prospect analyst Wilber Sánchez (@wilberdata) dropped a profile on September 6 that’s already making the rounds among scouts: Daniel De La Rosa, a 14-year-old Dominican shortstop who runs the 60-yard dash in 6.2 seconds, throws from short at 98 MPH, and has already posted exit velocities above 102 MPH. Sánchez calls him the best prospect in the 2029 international class — the window that opens in January of that year, when De La Rosa would be around 16 and eligible to sign his first professional contract.
Why These Numbers Matter
Context helps. Wandy Asigen, the Dominican shortstop who finished as the #2 player in the 2026 international class and signed with the Mets for $3.9 million, clocked a 6.55-second 60-yard dash — considered elite speed at the time. Jasson Domínguez, when he was the most talked-about prospect of his generation, was breaking 6.3 seconds, and that was headline news. De La Rosa, according to Sánchez, is hitting 6.2 seconds at 14 years old.
The 98 MPH arm strength from shortstop is an outlier at any age. And a 102 MPH exit velocity puts his contact in a range that most professional shortstops don’t reach consistently. For more market context: Mairon De La Rosa — a Dominican shortstop from the 2027 class, no apparent relation to Daniel — received a $3.8 million offer from the Mariners before his signing window even opened. The market for elite Dominican shortstops doesn’t need much convincing.
What We Know, What We Don’t
Honesty matters here. De La Rosa’s numbers come from a single tweet by @wilberdata — no public video attached, no confirmation from MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, or any major outlet. In the pre-signing Dominican prospect ecosystem, private showcase numbers routinely circulate before anyone can verify them independently, and they don’t always hold up under scrutiny.
In the tweet’s image, De La Rosa is wearing a Tampa Bay Rays practice uniform. That does not mean he’s signed or that any verbal agreement exists. Teams regularly loan gear and facilities to pre-signing prospects who train at their Dominican academies as part of the evaluation process. The Rays have been active in that market — they signed outfielder Maykel Coret as their top signing in the 2025 class and have maintained a strong presence in the Dominican Republic — but wearing a team’s uniform is not the same as being that team’s prospect.
One more thing worth stating clearly: the 2029 class has no official rankings yet. No credible outlet ranks players who can’t sign for more than two years. The «best prospect in the 2029 class» label is Sánchez’s opinion — a respected voice in the Latin prospect space — not an MLB Pipeline or Baseball America designation. That distinction matters.
The Clock Is Already Running
De La Rosa would be between 16 and 17 when the signing window opens in January 2029. MLB rules require prospects to be at least 16 at signing and turn 17 before September 1 of the signing year — which means clubs across baseball are already watching, taking notes, and in some cases working directly with him at their academies.
The Dominican Republic consistently produces 15–16% of the highest-projection talent in MLB’s minor league system. A Dominican shortstop with elite athletic tools is exactly the profile that moves international markets. If De La Rosa’s numbers hold as he grows — and that’s the big «if» for any 14-year-old — January 2029 is going to have at least one very large number next to his name.
