FanGraphs posted a leaderboard of international picks with the teams rumored to be signing them. Nationals expected to go over budget; Padres expected to go
insane.
Quick word from FG's Eric Longenhagen about our strategy here: "Teams outspend their pools because they think they can acquire more talent by breaking the rules in one year than they can by following them for three."
http://www.fangraphs.com/scoutboard.aspx?draft=2016int&type=0&pos=allThey have us pursuing Dominican SS Luis Garcia, 16, just like MLB did in ZDK's first post. Summary from that link:
Scouts have praised Garcia's athleticism and they like his projectable body. In the batter's box, Garcia has gained a reputation for making good contact, especially in the inner half of the plate. Like most prospects his age, Garcia still needs to improve on his hitting mechanics and approach at the plate. He's expected to be able to drive the ball to all fields once he improves on the minor flaws in his batting technique.
On defense, Garcia has shown decent footwork and good hands. He has the range to make the routine plays and his overall skill set on defense is expected to improve once he is placed into an academy and receives more instruction. He has also shown a strong arm.
Garcia has displayed the ability to use his skill set in games. The Venezuelan teen racked up five hits and scored four runs in three games during Major League Baseball's International Showcase in February. He also walked twice.
Garcia is trained by his father, Luis Garcia Sr., and is expected to sign with the Nationals.
FG also has us pursuing Venezuelan OFs Ricardo Mendez and Victor Garcia, the latter of whom was projected by MLB as going to the Cards:
There are two words that come to mind when scouts discuss Garcia: raw power.
Garcia might have the most raw power in the entire international prospect class of 2016 and that's saying something. He also projects to hit for average when he fully develops.
The teenage outfielder has been known to put on a show during batting practice and hit balls out of the ballpark to all fields. Overall, he projects to be a run-producing, middle-of-the-lineup type of player, but like most international prospects his age, Garcia is working on his discipline at the plate and pitch recognition. He still needs plenty of at-bats and will benefit greatly from daily instruction inside a team's academy when he signs.
He's shown an average arm and decent range on defense, but his bat remains his prominent tool. Garcia is trained by Francisco Ortiz in Venezuela. The Cardinals have emerged as the frontrunner to sign the young slugger.
We're also pursuing SS's Yasel Antuna... (quote again from MLB.com - link in ZDK's post)
Is Antuna the top shortstop from the Dominican Republic in this year's class?
Let the debate begin.
Here's what we know: Antuna has the potential to be a five-tool player and has very polished actions on offense and defense for his age.
On defense, he has soft hands and good body control. He has a strong arm that continues to improve. He might not wow scouts with explosive actions on defense but he has good range and many project him as an everyday shortstop in the big leagues one day.
Antuna has slight upstroke on his swing from both sides of the plate and hits the ball hard from each side of the batter's box. It's clear Antuna has idea of what he wants to do when he steps to the plate. The shortstop has shown gap-to-gap power and that part of his game is expected to improve as he matures. Scouts rave about his overall hitting potential.
The Nationals are the favorite to sign the teenager. He trains in the Dominican Republic with Jaime Ramos.
...and Jose Sanchez...
Add Sanchez to growing list of talented shortstops from Venezuela. The country has been churning out productive middle infielders for decades and Sanchez is putting himself in a position to be among the next group to excel.
Scouts like Sanchez's lean and athletic body. They also like the fact that it is just starting to fill out and he will be much stronger in the future.
But for now, Sanchez's tools on defense are evident. He has good hands and fluid defensive actions. He plays with confidence and makes the plays look easy. He has shown good footwork at an early age and that part of his game will improve as he develops and receives daily instruction in a team's academy.
On offense, Sanchez has a chance to hit for average and show more power as his body matures. He also shows good instincts on the bases. He profiles as an everyday regular shortstop.
...while MLB's pick to be another Nats recruit, Yunior Severino, is listed by FanGraphs as now leaning toward signing with the Braves.
Over the next week or so, FanGraphs will be publishing scouting reports on several of these players, so stay tuned, or perhaps stay Antuna'd.
