Looks like Boston just inked some teenagers, including some pretty interesting names. This is likely just the first batch, given that the players whose bonuses were announced only amounted to about 2/3 of the Sox' ~$5m pool.
The headliners are a pair of Dominican shortstops, but there are more behind them and surely more to come. This group includes three players from the MLB.com top-50 IFA list.
The headliners are a pair of Dominican shortstops, but there are more behind them and surely more to come. This group includes three players from the MLB.com top-50 IFA list.
- Freili Encarnacion $1.2m SS DR
- MLB.com's #19 International prospect
- Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 50 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
- Consistent and confident, Encarnacion is one of the best hitters on the international market.
The teen projects to have plus power and already shows the ability to hit high and deep home runs in games. It helps that he has a disciplined approach at the plate and a good feel for the strike zone. He has shown the ability to spray the ball across the outfield, and has a knack for squaring up the ball and driving it up the middle.
On defense, he shows good hands, a plus arm potential and will have a chance to stay at shortstop. He could still make the switch to third base if he outgrows the position.
Encarnacion’s makeup has been described as special. He’s a leader and likable with a great demeanor. The teen trains with Pedro “Nube” Nivar, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in the Dominican Republic. The Red Sox are the favorite to sign him.
- Fraymi de Leon $1.1m SS DR
- MLB.com's #50 International prospect
- Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
- De Leon has the right mix of now tools and future projection to make him an interesting prospect and a player to watch for years to come.
At 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, there’s plenty of room to grow and add strength. And the belief is that the additional strength will impact all parts of his game, specifically his power at the plate and speed in the future. For now, De Leon has a line drive approach at the plate with gap-to-gap power. He’s already a fringe-to-average runner. On defense, the teen is a twitchy shortstop with solid defensive actions and a decent arm that should keep him at the position.
The teen trains with Raul “Banana” Valera, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, at the Banana Baseball Academy. The Red Sox are the favorite to sign him.
- Johanafran Garcia $650k C VZ
- MLB.com's #34 International prospect
- Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 45 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
- Garcia is built like Yadier Molina. He’s husky, strong and extremely durable. And while he could eventually develop into an all-around defender like Yadier, Garcia is better known for his bat over his defense at this stage of his career.
The teen simply has a great feel for hitting and performs well at the plate in games and showcases. He has displayed the ability to spray the ball all over the field with authority and has what has been described as “sneaky” pull power to his pull side.
He’s no slouch on defense. He has average hands and projects to have an average arm. He moves well behind the plate and continues to work on his blocking and receiving skills.
Garcia trains with Jonathan Valdez in Venezuela. The Red Sox are the favorite to sign him.
- Natanael Yuten $400k OF DR
- Jancel Santana bonus TBA SS DR
- Yosander Asencio bonus TBA SS DR
- Willian Colmenares bonus TBA RHP VZ
- Denison Sanchez bonus TBA RHP VZ
- Inmer Lobo bonus TBA VZ
- Marvin Alcantara bonus TBA SS VZ
Maybe as more information dribbles out we can collect it in this thread.
