Los Angeles Angels prospect Juan Cespedes delivered a record-setting Dominican Summer League performance Saturday, stealing eight bases in the Angels’ 9-1 win at the Angels DR Complex—an MLB-organized single-game mark not seen in at least 2005.
The Dominican Summer League game was supposed to be about the scoreline. It ended up being about how fast Juan Cespedes could turn one base into the next.
In the Angels’ 9-1 win at the Angels DR Complex on Saturday. the Los Angeles prospect stole eight bases in a single game—an achievement that made him the first Minor League player known to steal eight in a contest since at least 2005. His total also surpassed the previous Dominican Summer League mark of seven stolen bases. set by Johan De Los Santos of DSL Pirates Black on Aug. 12, 2025.
Cespedes didn’t rack up his day with a flood of reaching. He got on base only twice officially, going 1-for-4 with a single and drawing a walk in four plate appearances. But what happened once he was on base turned the afternoon into something historic.
After drawing a leadoff walk in the first inning. he stole second and third immediately. then scored when the delay in a double steal paid off—swiping home on the delayed play. In the second inning. he reached on a throwing error by the shortstop and moved quickly again. stealing second base right away.
Even when the at-bat didn’t produce a clean situation, his legs kept finding openings. After grounding into a fielder’s choice in the fourth. he took over on the basepaths again. stealing both second and third. His final two stolen bases came in the sixth inning after a one-out single to left field. He stole second on the next pitch and then third two pitches later before eventually scoring on an RBI single.
The day ended with a strategic decision. Cespedes was removed after six innings and replaced in center field by Yelinson Betances. Angels player development officials indicated the move was made to provide defensive opportunities for other players.
The burst of speed is already catching attention beyond one game. Cespedes was signed out of the Dominican Republic during the 2026 international signing period and received a reported bonus between $250,000 and $300,000. He was not ranked among MLB’s Top 50 international prospects, but his pace has become a standout tool.
At 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, the switch from shortstop to multiple defensive positions is powered by elite athleticism and aggressive baserunning. Through his first 56 plate appearances. he reached base 30 times and successfully stole 25 bases in 27 attempts. building the kind of game-changing threat that turned Saturday’s 9-1 win into a record-setting day.
When Cespedes left the field after six innings, the stat line already told the story: eight stolen bases in the Dominican Summer League, with a Minor League single-game mark not known to have been reached in decades.
Juan Cespedes Los Angeles Angels prospect Dominican Summer League stolen bases Angels DR Complex Johan De Los Santos Yelinson Betances international signing period
8 stolen bases is wild, dudes faster than the WiFi at my house.
So he only got on base twice but still stole like 8??? That math feels off. Either way, stealing home is insane.
Wait is this the Angels minor league guy? I thought Angels prospects were all pitchers now lol. Also “stole home on delayed play” sounds like a walk-off thing? Not sure.
I don’t even care about the score, the way they’re saying record since 2005?? Like wow. But if he only went 1-for-4, wouldn’t that mean he wasn’t doing much at the plate. Yet somehow it’s “historic” because of errors and double steals… baseball is confusing.