Esmil Valencia, Liomar Martínez among 5 Marlins picked in LIDOM rookie draft

[Ely Sussman]

The Dominican Winter League (LIDOM) held its annual rookie draft on Wednesday night. Over the course of 16 rounds, the league's six teams took turns selecting players with Dominican roots who have reached the full-season level of Minor League Baseball, acquiring their rights for future seasons should they choose to participate in winter ball later in their careers.

Five current Miami Marlins farmhands were picked:

• OF Esmil Valencia (Round 2, Águilas Cibaeñas)
• LHP Dameivi Tineo (Round 5, Tigres del Licey)
• RHP Liomar Martínez (Round 7, Gigantes del Cibao)
• RHP Michael Pérez (Round 8, Tigres del Licey)
• RHP Juan Reynoso (Round 15, Gigantes del Cibao)

Tineo, Martínez, Pérez and Reynoso were signed by the Marlins as international amateur free agents and have been with the organization ever since. Valencia arrived from the Houston Astros earlier this year in the Jesús Sánchez trade. He ranks 25th on the Fish On First Top 30.

It's unlikely that any of these 2025 draftees will appear in LIDOM games during the upcoming season. None of them are older than 22 years old, while the average age for active LIDOM players is about 29. Only Reynoso has experience above the Low-A level. The vast majority of players who appear in regular season games have at least tasted Double-A.

The one Marlin who will definitely play during the 2025-26 season is Troy Johnston. He's returning to Toros del Este for a third consecutive year.

LIDOM's opening day is October 15.

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