Even though snow is on the ground in the greater Chicagoland area and temperatures have been mostly frigid, part of the baseball world felt like it was July with reported international signings flooding social media and teenagers with dreams putting on hats publicly for the first time. July 2 is notoriously billed as international signing day for Major League Baseball, but the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out those plans along with seemingly everything else in 2020. Due to the March agreement between the owners and the MLBPA, the international period was pushed back to Jan. 15.
While teams and players have had handshake agreements in place for at least six months and most of them from years ago originally, the official start of the 2021 international signing period was anti-climactic for most observers. For the players signed, however, they can begin their journey as a professional and officially navigate their path toward the major leagues with their chosen team. The Chicago White Sox haven’t announced their entire signing class, but the names have been well detailed here at FutureSox over the past few months.
The franchise did announce their deal with the most significant player signed in the class. His presence will add to the organization’s storied history of providing an avenue for Cuban baseball players of all different ages. Yoelqui Cespedes is a 23-year-old outfielder who was ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the signing class by Jesse Sanchez at MLB Pipeline. The versatile outfielder is the younger half-brother of major league veteran Yoenis Cespedes.
Much debate has been had over the impact that Cespedes could have in professional baseball. While some outlets have him highly regarded, others question the hit tool among other facets of his evolving game. The outfielder hasn’t played game action in over a year and the book won’t even begin to be written until he takes the field with a minor league affiliate sometime later this summer. The White Sox are optimistic about the player and his timeline however after rewarding him with a bonus of $2.05 million.
Special Assistant to the General Manager Marco Paddy is the man at the forefront of international operations for the White Sox and he was the one leading the charge on securing Cespedes’ services. In a conference call with members of the local media, Paddy ascertained that the club is getting a player who possesses all five tools.
“Yoelqui is a natural center fielder with the ability to play all three outfield spots and there are a lot of tools,” Paddy said. “He can run, he can throw, he’s a disciplined hitter with a good feel for the strike zone and he’s shown power to all fields.”
Speculatively, Cespedes will likely need some minor league seasoning. Starting in High-A with the Winston-Salem Dash seems appropriate. However, it doesn’t seem like the White Sox are anticipating a long minor league career. While adding that he never wants to put a timetable on a player’s arrival, Paddy noted that the young athlete is pretty close to the majors.
“From a baseball standpoint, he’s close,” Paddy said. “He’s advanced and knows how to play the game. Since he was 19 years old he’s been on the Cuban National Team and has gotten lots of experience.
The veteran evaluator also praised his time in the World Baseball Classic and the Caribbean Series before mentioning that it was “just a matter of him getting adjusted and doing the things he needs to advance.”
It’s very likely that Cespedes was slated to sign with the White Sox back in July when the period was originally scheduled to be consummated. During his time off from the game though, Cespedes has been working out in Port St. Lucie, Fla., at Yoenis’ ranch in addition to prioritizing the facilities available at Indian River Community College. Paddy confirmed that the outfielder is in “great physical shape and ready to go.” He’s just “waiting for the call.” Some time in big league spring training might not be completely out of the question.
The White Sox believe that Yoelqui can play center field. He won’t need to with Luis Robert entrenched there for the next decade but it’s the profile that they’re paying for. Paddy believes in the defensive ability and stated that Cespedes has “pure speed, gets good breaks and reads on the ball.” He’s shown the ability to play the position in the past during his time in the Serie Nacional and while participating in international competition. Paddy believes that his “defense will play above average at every outfield position” because he plays under control and displays a plus-plus throwing arm.
The organization feels that the 5-foot-9, 205-pounder has 20-25 home run potential eventually. Scouts have expressed some skepticism about whether the power potential would play in an outfield corner, but adding strength has been a priority of Cespedes since defecting.
“Since he’s been in the states for over a year, he’s worked extremely hard to build up his strength in the weight room,” Paddy said. “He’s also shown the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark to all fields.”
The speed and arm will be what gets Cespedes to the big leagues but developing plus power could be his path toward becoming a big league regular.
For whatever reason, the White Sox didn’t announce their full international class on Friday. The press release from the team states that the club expects additional international signings in the coming weeks. One of those signings is Cuban right-hander Norge Vera. The agreement has been known for months. The White Sox feel that Vera is a starting pitcher and Paddy alluded to frontline potential. He will receive $1.5 million.
In summarizing a scouting report for the local media, Paddy relayed that the righty is 6-foot-4 with a fastball that sits in the 94-97 mph range. He also has two breaking pitchers in a curveball and slider and the feel for a changeup as well.
“He’s very mature with a good head on his shoulders and he knows how to pitch,” Paddy said.
Norge’s father was one of the best pitchers in Cuban history so the bloodlines are apparent. Paddy also echoed that the projectable right-hander “has a feel for the strike zone with room on his frame to add an additional 20-25 pounds” in the future.
Vera has already spent some time at the White Sox facility in the Dominican Republic. He’s likely to pitch at a stateside affiliate this year. He could join a rotation at Low-A Kannapolis that should include recent prep righties Jared Kelley, Matthew Thompson and Andrew Dalquist. Ben Badler of Baseball America called Vera the “best pitcher in the international class” and the White Sox are expected to make the signing official later this week.
“We think this class has a chance to be as good as any other class we’ve signed,” Paddy said. “When you have a chance to sign two Cuban players with experience, high ceilings and ability and combine that with the younger kids from Venezuela and the Dominican, I think it’s a good combination.
“We have a chance to have a really good class.”
Along with the two high-profile Cuban additions, the club is expected to sign four prospects from Venezuela and two known from the Dominican Republic. Victor Quezada, a 17-year-old power-hitting third baseman, is the headliner of the younger group. He’s expected to sign for $525,000 out of the Dominican. Manuel Guariman is a 17-year-old catcher with power and defensive skills. Guariman is the top signing out of Venezuela, expected to receive $475,000. Outfielder Dario Barrero ($350,000) and right-handed pitcher Adrian Gil ($250,000) will sign with the organization out of Venezuela as well.
The Cuban pipeline might continue into future international classes as well.
“The success that Cuban players have had with us really helps,” Paddy said. “Every Cuban player on the market has seen how well Jose [Abreu], [Yoan] Moncada and Luis [Robert] have adjusted to our team and they like the city and the organization helps tremendously.”
Paddy said the Cubans already on the roster “like that we are aggressive on the Cuban market and they serve as ambassador for us. They’re looking forward to seeing young Cuban players.”
There will be other Cuban players available in the 2022 international period that begins next January. Sources have confirmed to FutureSox that the White Sox are confident in their pursuits of Oscar Colas who is MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 player on the market. He could receive a bonus of nearly $3 million by waiting until the next signing period and it appears that he will do just that.
We will continue to track the rest of the signings in this period and future periods here at FutureSox. Money talks in most cases, but the development of a strong Cuban pipeline and the stewardship of Marco Paddy will guide the White Sox in their future endeavors.
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