Alfredo Silverio Gets Another Chance- Dodgers Sign Three More Minor Leaguers

Continuing from my post yesterday about the five minor leaguers the Dodgers have signed and invited to Spring Training as non-roster players (Gregory Infante, Hector Correa, Kelvin De La Cruz, Juan Abreu, and Wilkin Castillo), today they announced that they have signed three additional minor leaguers. Alfredo Silverio, once a top prospect in the Dodgers organization, was re-signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Silverio was outrighted off the 40-man roster earlier this month.

Alfredo Silverio was once ranked as a top Dodger prospect. Photo: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

The injured Silverio missed the entirety of the 2012 season after suffering major injuries in an offseason car accident on January 23, 2012 in his native Dominican Republic. Silverio’s injuries included a concussion, a bruised neck, shoulder, back, and elbow. He had to undergo Tommy John Surgery subsequently in May.

Alfredo Silverio, 24, has been called a young Raul Mondesi and had a breakout season in AA Chattanooga in 2011. He hit .306 with 16 homeruns, 85 RBI, and 90 runs in 132 games as a Lookout that year. After being drafted at the young age of 16 by the Dodgers, Silverio played in the Dominican Summer League for three seasons. He has played in the minors for some time without turning any heads until 2011 in AA. After blooming late and impressing out of Tennessee, he was placed on the 40-man roster November 2011 in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Since Silverio is not currently on the 40-man roster, he will be susceptible to the Rule 5 Draft, but due to his injuries it is unlikely that he will be selected by another team.

I wrote about the talented young outfielder in my post A Glimpse Into the Future: Alfredo Silverio which was written mere days before his horrific accident. Perhaps Silverio will be able to work his way back to right himself on to the path towards the Majors. He was one of the prospects in the Dodgers organization which I was most excited to see succeed. The Dodgers have re-signed Silverio, and he will get another chance to shine.

The Dodgers also signed Nick Evans, a 26-year old first baseman to a minor league

Ozzie Martinez spent time in the White Sox organization before he was sold to the Dodgers last season. Photo: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

deal. Last season he was unable to play for the majority of 2012 after breaking his left hand and succumbing to surgery while on the AAA-Indianapolis Indians, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2004 draft by the New York Mets, and he made his MLB debut on May 24, 2008. He played some of four season (from 2008-2011) with the Mets, and he has hit .256 in 159 Major League games.

Ozzie Martinez, a 24-year old shortstop, was signed by the Dodgers to a minor league contract as well. He was sold to the Dodgers in July by the Chicago White Sox who acquired him from the Marlins in the Ozzie Guillen deal. He played 34 games with the Marlins in 2010-2011, and he batted .258 during that span. Martinez hit .255 in 39 games with the AAA-Albuquerque Isotopes last season.