| Yasel Antuna | |
| Team: | Free agent |
| Position: | Shortstop / Third baseman |
| Birth Date: | 26 October 1999 |
| Birth Place: | Peravia, Dominican Republic |
| Bats: | Switch |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Statleague: | MLB |
Yasel Eneudy Antuna (born October 26, 1999) is a Dominican professional baseball infielder who is a free agent.
The Washington Nationals signed Antuna to a minor league contract as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic on July 2, 2016. They gave Antuna a $3.9 million signing bonus, the largest they had ever awarded an international free agent by $2.4 million to that point.[1] Antuna was described by scouts at the time as a potential five-tool player who profiled as a future everyday shortstop in the major leagues.[2]
Antuna debuted professionally in the Gulf Coast League with the GCL Nationals in 2017, appearing in games at shortstop and third base. He played in both games of a double-header on July 23, 2017, in which the GCL Nationals no-hit the GCL Marlins in both seven-inning games, committing a throwing error in the second game that accounted for one of the Marlins' two baserunners in the contest.[3] Midseason rankings that month by MLB Pipeline ranked Antuna as the Nationals' eighth-best prospect.[4] Antuna finished his 2017 season with a .301 batting average in the Gulf Coast League, playing mostly shortstop with several appearances at third base as well.[5]
In August 2018, Antuna underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery.[6] Antuna appeared in three games for the GCL Nationals late in the 2019 season, after which Baseball America ranked him as the Nationals' ninth-best prospect.[7] Antuna was a non-roster invitee to the Nationals' 60-man player pool for the 2020 season, which was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] On November 20, 2020, the Nationals added Antuna to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[9]
Antuna was assigned to the High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks to begin his 2021 campaign, alongside a number of other Washington top prospects.[10] On December 1, 2022, Antuna was sent outright off of the 40-man roster.[11]
Antuna split the 2023 season between the rookie–level Florida Complex League Nationals, Wilmington, and the Double–A Harrisburg Senators. In 63 games split between the three affiliates, he batted .181/.305/.293 with four home runs, 28 RBI, and eight stolen bases. Antuna elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.[12]