Photo via San Francisco Giants
On Tuesday, July 2nd, The San Francisco Giants announced the signings of 25 international players. The 25 teenagers are all from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Panama, Colombia and Nicaragua. Don’t get too excited. You will not see any of these players taking the field at Oracle Park anytime soon.
Of the 25 signings – 10 are pitchers, five are catchers, six are infielders, and four man the outfield. Thirteen of the 25 teenagers are from Venezuela, nine are from the Dominican Republic, while one is from Colombia, Nicaragua and Panama each.
In his first international signing period as the Giants President of Baseball Operations, Farhan Zaidi did things a little different than the team has done in years past. Rather than using the majority of their allotted money to sign one or two elite prospects, he elected to spread the money out to several highly regarded prospects. A haul like this is a huge get for a farm system that has been in the bottom half of the league for the better part of the last decade.
The team did not publicize how much money each player receives. However, according to MLB.com, the largest amount was $1.2 million given to 16-year-old Venezuelan shortstop Aeverson Arteago.
Esmerlin Vinicio, a left-handed pitcher of the Dominican Republic, was the only Giants signing that appeared in MLB.com’s top 30 international players. It was reported that Vinicio was given a bonus of $800,000.
The highest ranked international prospect that is currently in the Giants farm system is Marco Luciano, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic. Luciano is off to a hot start in his professional career. In the Arizona League this summer he is hitting .372 with a 1.281 OPS and six home runs through his first 12 games. The shortstop may have the highest ceiling of any of the current Giants prospects, don’t be surprised if he climbs through the ranks quicker than most.
Another fan favorite that the Giants signed through the international signing period was Pablo Sandoval, who agreed to a $60,000 deal back in 2003.
How much of the $5.3 million dollars the Giants have spent is unknown, but the international signing period lasts until July 15th.
