International Review Detroit Tigers
Top signing: 3B Adelyn Santa, Dominican Republic, $750,000.
July 2 eligible six-figure signings: RHP Emanuel Chavez (Dominican Republic), SS Steven Fuentes (Venezuela), SS Javier Betancourt (Venezuela), RHP Ricardo Mayora (Venezuela), RHP Anthony Castro (Venezuela).
Other six-figure signings: SS Aaron Sayers (Australia).
The highest bonus in Detroit's international signing class year went to Dominican third baseman Adelyn Santa, a 16-year-old from Azua who got $750,000 in July. Santa's mother lives in Spain and his older brother Johan spent two years with the Rangers in the DSL before being released. Santa, who trained with Javier Rodriguez and played in the International Prospect League, is 6-foot-1, 195 pounds and stands out for his righthanded raw power and arm strength. Santa is strong and hits balls a long way in BP, though some scouts think he needs to make more consistent contact in game situations. He has an above-average arm, though he has a thick body and doesn't run well, so he'll need to continue to improve defensively to remain at third base.
The best international prospect the Tigers have in their farm system is righthander Brenny Paulino, a 19-year-old flamethrower who trained with Carlos Paulino (no relation). The Tigers went back to Carlos Paulino last year on July 2 to sign another Dominican righthander, Emanuel Chavez, for $310,000 on July 2. Chavez, a 17-year-old from the Santo Domingo area, has a lanky 6-foot-3, 175-pound build with a lot of room to add strength. His velocity went up as July 2 approached and he sits at 87-90 mph, with the frame and loose arm to throw considerably harder in the future. Chavez is aggressive and has the makings of a curveball that could be a weapon in the future, and he's also learning a changeup.
The Tigers are one of the four teams that still operate a Venezuelan academy and a Venezuelan Summer League team, and they are one of the most active teams in the country, which has helped them net third baseman Francisco Martinez and outfielder Avisail Garcia, among others. The Tigers added a handful of their top international signings from Venezuela, including shortstop Steven Fuentes, who signed for $210,000 in July. Fuentes, a 17-year-old from Nelson Zapata's Caracas Baseball Academy, played this offseason in the Liga Paralela (the minors of the Venezuelan League) and showed some extra-base power by hitting .255/.286/.471 in 56 plate appearances. Fuentes is a raw tools guy with an athletic 6-foot, 170-pound frame, square shoulders and a lot of room to add strength. He's a switch-hitter with occasional power who's still learning to manage his at-bats. He's not polished defensively but has plenty of tools in the field, with plus speed, a strong arm and quick actions at shortstop.
Another Venezuelan shortstop, Javier Betancourt, signed with the Tigers for $200,000 in August. Betancourt is the nephew of Edgardo Alfonzo, who played in 12 big league seasons from 1995-2006, mostly as an infielder with the Mets. Betancourt's trainer was Roberto Alfonzo, who is Edgardo's brother and used to be a scout for the Mets. Betancourt, a 16-year-old who is 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, has the instincts of someone who has been around the game for a while. His tools aren't as loud as Fuentes', but he is more polished and plays the game smoothly. He's a righthanded spray hitter who has a good idea of what he's doing at the plate and a good internal clock in the field. He played in the Liga Paralela after signing and batted .275/.328/.314 with just five strikeouts in 57 plate appearances.
Venezuelan righthander Anthony Castro signed for $180,000 in July out of the Caracas area. A 16-year-old who trained with Johan Ocanto, Castro also pitched in the Liga Paralela, where he had a 3.60 ERA in 15 innings with eight strikeouts and 10 walks in 11 relief outings. Castro has the build of a quick-twitch point guard. He has an athletic, projectable 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame with room to get taller and stronger. He's more of a project than Chavez but he also has good arm speed on an 87-90 mph fastball that projects as a future plus pitch. His curveball shows good rotation and downward action, and it's his No. 2 offering ahead of his changeup.
Aaron Sayers (video) was the only player Australia produced last year who got a six-figure bonus, and the Tigers wrapped him up for $185,000 in April. Sayers, 17, focused on finishing school after signing but played last summer in MLB's Australian academy, where he hit .287/.331/.336 in 143 at-bats, and also had some brief exposure in Australia's winter league this offseason. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Sayers is an athletic lefthanded hitter who has a good idea of what he's doing at the plate for his age and hits to all fields. He has some strength and shows occasional power in batting practice, but it's not a big part of his game now and will have to be something he can develop down the road. His actions at shortstop are playable but he can be error-prone, and depending on how his body develops he may end up at second or third base. He played for Australia's youth national team at a recent qualifying tournament for the 18U World Junior Championships in Seoul, Korea, so he should be in the mix to attend that tournament when it begins in August.
from Baseball America
