Ben Badler from Baseball America has the Pittsburgh Pirates in on at least two players when tomorrow’s July 2nd international signing period begins. There will undoubtedly be more, but the big name at this time seems to be shortstop Kevin Sanchez from the Dominican Republic. Sanchez comes from the same trainer as Michael de la Cruz and Jeremias Portorreal, two of the top Pirates’ signings over the last three years. Badler notes that Sanchez will get a bonus north of the $375,000 that Portorreal got in 2013, but it will be less than the $700,000 that de la Cruz got the previous season.
The Pirates are also in on catcher Samuel Inoa, who will receive a bonus in the low six figures. No scouting reports or details on these players, but assuming they sign tomorrow, then we will surely hear something. Not every player signs on July 2nd, as there are players that won’t be eligible to sign until their 16th birthday, as long as it falls before September 1st. Portorreal for example, was born on August 7,1997, so he was signed on August 7th. Pirates top signing from last year, Yondry Contreras was born on September 11,1997, so while he is only five weeks older than Portorreal, he had to wait until the following year to sign.
If I can find any information on these players today, I’ll update this article.
Update 8:43 PM: Sanchez is apparently extremely fast, as in a plus-plus runner. Inoa is apparently the opposite when it comes to running, but he has real good opposite field power. I’m sure there will be better reports on them tomorrow, but that’s the information I got from someone who has watched them play.
