Juan Cespedes did something Saturday that no minor league player has done in at least 19 years. The Los Angeles Angels prospect stole eight bases in a single game for the Dominican Summer League Angels. Eight. In one game.
The 17-year-old outfielder reached base only twice officially — a single and a walk in four plate appearances — but he turned those into a track meet. After drawing a leadoff walk in the first inning, he swiped second and third, then scored on a delayed double steal by stealing home. In the second, he reached on a throwing error, stole second. In the fourth, he grounded into a fielder’s choice, then stole second and third. In the sixth, he singled, stole second on the next pitch and third two pitches later.
The previous DSL record was seven steals, set by Johan De Los Santos last August. No affiliated minor leaguer is known to have stolen more than eight in a game going back to at least 2005, according to available records.
Cespedes signed with the Angels during the 2026 international period for a bonus between $250,000 and $300,000. He wasn’t ranked among MLB’s Top 50 international prospects, but his speed has quickly become his calling card. Through his first 56 plate appearances, he reached base 30 times and stole 25 bags in 27 attempts.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound switch hitter moved from shortstop to multiple outfield and infield spots, driven by elite athleticism and aggressive baserunning. Angels player development officials pulled him after six innings to give other players defensive reps, according to team sources.
Eight steals in a game is the kind of number that makes you double-check the box score. It’s real. And it happened in the Dominican Summer League, where a teenager just did something nobody in affiliated ball has done since before he was born.
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