Miami Dade College Professional Athletes

The most pressing news out of the Miami Dade College alumni network this week came from Washington, where reliever Orlando Ribalta received encouraging MRI results following a right forearm inflammation diagnosis that initially set off alarm bells inside the Nationals' organization.

Ribalta was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to September 4, with the team recalling right-hander Yovanny Cruz to fill the roster spot. At this stage of the season, any IL move carries the specter of a campaign-ending shutdown — and early reports out of Washington sounded ominous. But the MRI told a better story. The Nationals came away with cautious optimism that Ribalta could return before the season closes out, a meaningful development for a bullpen arm who had been part of the club's late-season mix.

Forearm inflammation in pitchers is never trivial — the forearm's proximity to the elbow makes every such diagnosis one imaging session away from a far grimmer prognosis. That the MRI delivered the best possible update is a genuine relief, both for Ribalta's immediate availability and for any concerns about his offseason health.

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Elsewhere in the Alumni Ledger

Victor Caratini continued to provide steady value behind the plate for the Minnesota Twins. The catcher went 1-for-his-appearances Wednesday against Detroit, and followed it up with an RBI in Minnesota's 4-3 win over Cleveland on Saturday — a game that matters as AL playoff positioning tightens in September. Caratini's average sits at .221, modest by traditional measures but reflective of the defensive and game-calling contributions that have kept him on a contending roster.

Derek Law has been a quiet weapon for the Arizona Diamondbacks out of the bullpen. The right-hander tossed 2.0 clean innings against Kansas City on Monday before following up with another 0.2-inning appearance Wednesday. His ERA stands at a sharp 1.23 on the season — a number that speaks for itself regardless of role. At this point in the year, high-leverage arms with sub-1.50 ERAs become postseason planning assets, and Law fits that profile.

Derek Law and Orlando Ribalta Are Making Miami Dade Proud This September

Two Miami Dade College alumni are doing what relievers are supposed to do — get outs and keep their jobs — and both are making noise in the MLB's final stretch of the 2026 season.

Derek Law's Diamondbacks Bullpen Is a Legitimate Story

The most compelling number coming out of Arizona this week wasn't from the rotation — it was the bullpen's collective performance in a nine-inning shutout win over the Philadelphia Phillies on September 3. Taylor Clarke, Derek Law, Kevin Ginkel, José Cabrera, Brandyn Garcia, Jonathan Loaisiga, and Juan Morillo combined to hold Philadelphia to just three hits and two walks — the most pitchers used in a nine-inning shutout win in Diamondbacks franchise history.

Law was squarely in the middle of it. He threw 1.1 innings against the Phillies on September 2 and punched out two batters, then followed up with a clean inning against the Astros on September 5. His ERA, which ballooned to 6.75 after a rough outing versus the Giants on August 30, has steadily recovered to 1.93 entering the holiday weekend — a sign of a reliever who bounced back sharply when it counted.

"We take pride in what we do," one Diamondbacks reliever said after the shutout, according to Yahoo Sports. That ethos seems to be central to how Arizona is deploying its late-inning arms, and Law is a functional piece of that identity. A 1.93 ERA heading into September isn't a fluke — it's a reliever asserting himself.

Orlando Ribalta Is Cementing His 2027 Role in Washington

While Law is contributing to a contender, Orlando Ribalta is doing something equally meaningful across the league: securing his future. The Nationals right-hander is one of three Washington relievers — alongside Will Dion and Brad Lord — who have effectively locked down a spot in the 2027 bullpen, per Yahoo Sports.

Ribalta backed up that status with a sharp appearance on September 1, striking out two batters over a clean inning against the Braves while posting a 3.77 ERA. For a Nationals club in the middle of a deliberate rebuild, identifying reliable bullpen pieces a year in advance is organizational currency. Ribalta is earning his.

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MDC's MLB footprint is broader than just these two — Victor Caratini drove in a run for Minnesota on September 2, and William Silva continues to log innings for Atlanta — but Law and Ribalta are the headliners this week. One is riding a historically efficient Arizona bullpen into the playoff picture; the other is quietly building the kind of track record that earns a roster spot before spring training even opens. For a community college in South Florida, that's a pretty good week.

Miami Dade College | MLB Week of Aug. 16–22

Santiago Espinal isn't done yet — and he didn't have to leave the NL West to prove it.

The Miami Dade College product, who spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers this season after earning a spot on their Opening Day roster, has signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The move keeps Espinal in a division where he's already familiar with the competition, and gives him a fresh shot at reclaiming a big-league role. In Los Angeles, Espinal carved out a niche as part of the Dodgers' depth machine — a roster that has functioned as much as a revolving door of veteran talent as it has a championship-caliber squad. Now, he'll try to distinguish himself in the Arizona system.

It's a quietly significant move for a player who has bounced between organizations but continues to find takers at the MLB level. Espinal brings infield versatility and a professional track record that makes him a viable depth option for any contender. Whether the D-backs view him as a September call-up candidate or a system piece heading into 2027 remains to be seen, but the signing itself signals continued confidence in him as a player.

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Around the Bases

While Espinal's signing dominated the week's news for MDC alumni, a pair of former Sharks were active on the field.

Orlando Ribalta had a busy Friday, logging appearances for the Washington Nationals in back-to-back outings. The right-hander tossed 1.1 innings against the Marlins, striking out two, then followed with a clean one-inning, two-strikeout frame against the Rangers. His ERA sits at 3.32 — a respectable mark for a reliever in a bullpen that has leaned heavily on depth arms. Ribalta continues to hold his own in a Washington 'pen that's had plenty of turnover.

Victor Caratini is keeping steady behind the plate for the Minnesota Twins. The catcher drew walks in both of his tracked appearances this week — against the Phillies on Sunday and the Braves on Wednesday, when he also scored a run. His average sits at .225, modest but functional for a backup catcher whose primary value has always been framing and game-calling. At this stage of the season, with rosters expanding and playoff races sharpening, Caratini's ability to provide reliable depth is exactly what Minnesota needs.

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Miami Dade College continues to produce MLB-caliber talent across a range of roles — starters, relievers, catchers, and utility infielders — and this week was a reminder that its alumni footprint in the league runs deeper than most people realize. Espinal's next chapter is just getting started.