Adalberto Mondesi Mounts MLB Comeback Bid in Dominican Winter League

Adalberto Mondesi is working his way back toward the major leagues, currently playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic with Águilas after a four-year absence from live competition. According to reports from The Athletic by Will Sammon, Ken Rosenthal, and Katie Woo, the 31-year-old infielder has appeared in three games, going 4-for-12 with two doubles, a triple, and four strikeouts. His last major league appearance came during the 2022 season, followed by a lost 2023 campaign in the Boston organization due to knee surgery.

During his early years with the Kansas City Royals, Mondesi established himself as one of the game's premier baserunners, leading the majors with 24 stolen bases during the shortened 2020 campaign and collecting 75 total steals between 2018 and 2019. Despite his elite speed and defensive versatility across shortstop, second base, and third base, his career has been plagued by a high 30.2% strikeout rate and severe durability concerns.

Evaluators note that Mondesi's viability for an MLB roster spot will hinge heavily on whether his lower-body surgeries have eroded his game-breaking speed. Without elite base-stealing capability, his difficulties making consistent contact could limit his path back to the big leagues. He has split his defensive reps between second base and shortstop during his current winter league stint.

What to watch next: Monitor Mondesi's continued production and health in winter ball to see if major league scouts express formal interest.