The Blue Jays have signed Venezuelan shortstop/centerfielder Franklin Barreto, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 5’9″, 175-pound prospect is Baseball America’s top-ranked international prospect in the July 2nd class. Terms of the deal are not yet known but Barreto had been expected to sign with the Blue Jays for nearly $2MM.
Badler writes that few amateurs have ever matched the 16-year-old’s history of dominance representing Venezuela in international competitions. Several teams had Barreto as the No. 1 player on their board and some scouts project him as a future plus hitter. Most teams, however, don’t expect him to stick and shortstop and expect to see him wind up in centerfield.
The Blue Jays also signed Venezuelan shortstop Luis Castro, according to Ben Badler of Baseball America. The 16-year-old right-handed hitter, ranked No. 9 by Baseball America, marks the second major signing by the Blue Jays this morning, who also inked Venezuelan prospect Franklin Barreto. Terms of the Castro deal are not yet known but it could not be for more than ~$900K if Barreto’s is worth roughly $2MM, as reported.
It is never a bad thing to wake up to the Blue Jays signing one of the top international options available to further deepen one of the top prospect systems in baseball.
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