With the Majors on All-Star break this week, it’s a good time to take a look at the newest additions to the team’s farm systems that they added through the international signing period that opened on July 2. Now the signing period goes through next year but a lot of the top-rated prospects have already been inked to deals. Teams can sign any player eligible from any country that qualifies under the international signing portion of the MLB rules. Countries like Japan and Cuba fall under different processes and players can't be directly signed from them without a couple of more steps being taken.
Most of the time these players are signing when they are 16 or 17 years of age and will take a few years to reach the upper levels of the systems, however their signings can also impact who teams are willing to trade away at the end of this month in trade deadline deals, like for Manny Machado or a number of different pitchers.
Diego Cartaya (C LAD) - The top prospect in this year’s market was Cartaya who is a 16-year-old backstop prospect out of Venezuela, a hot bed for productive (All-Star caliber) major leaguers like Salvador Pérez who some have comped him too. He is 6’2” and 199 lbs. both of which aren’t a problem for him staying behind the dish long term and his defense will keep him there too. Cartaya is a plus receiver and thrower behind the plate and his pitch recognition and command of the zone is quite advanced for his age. Catchers take a while to develop to a major league level as they learn to call a game and handle a pitching staff and framing, but many, myself included, believe Cartaya may be able to be advanced quickly once he gets into the actual Dodgers system, which could still be a couple of season of development center work away.
Marco Luciano (OF SF) - Luciano is the best hitting prospect in the class this year and has above average power and hit tools already at just 16 years old. Out of the Dominican Republic, the 6’2” 178-pounder has loads of athleticism that allow him to play shortstop and center field without much issue defensively at either spot. At this point he is mainly a gap-to-gap power guy but he does have the ability to shoot one of the fence with authority pretty easily. Given that he is a power hitter, you may think there is a lot of swing and miss in his game, but that’s not the case as his patience and knowledge of the zone is advanced and should help him transition to the pro ranks pretty easily, though he could move to a corner outfield spot eventually. Ultimately he wound up signing with the Giants for a $2.6 million deal.
Orelvis Martinez (SS TOR) - Another 16-year-old prospect, Martinez was signed by the Blue Jays for $3.5 million on the first day of the signing period and for good reason. Five above-average tools is what the young man possesses with his power being the best at a 60-grade. When you look at the tape of the Martinez in the batter’s box it’s one of the smoothest right-handed strokes I’ve seen in a while. Comps to Adrián Béltre have been flying since scouts first saw him, but he has a long way to go to live up to a likely first ballot Hall of Famer. At 6’1” and 188 pounds, he’s got the body type to stick at short and his defensive instincts are at the top of the chart. Toronto has a stacked farm system as of right now, but with likely five years between now and when Martinez is ready, things can change.
Richard Gallardo (RHP CHC) - The Cubs struck for a top-five prospect in this year’s class by signing Gallardo out of the same town in Venezuela as Diego Cartaya is from, though they got Gallardo for just a million dollars. Yet another 16-year-old prospect, he is the best pitcher of the class and features a three-pitch mix of fastball, curve, and changeup. All are above-average with a plus-fastball that sits 91-93 right now with great life to it. On the tape he has a fairly repeatable delivery though control and command are a bit rough at times, though that’s to be expected with him being just 16 years old. The curveball has the beginnings of a great pitch and the feel for the changeup is advanced for someone of his age. Being just 6’1” and 187 lbs. he should put more size on his frame, and possibly a few more inches, and be in the running for a top-of-the-rotation spot when all is said and done with his development.
Starlyn Castillo (RHP PHI) - A $1.6 million deal got Castillo signed with the Phillies at 16 years old and as, what some consider to be the best pitcher in the class. Castillo started touching 97 with his fastball at 15 years old and that continues to be his main pitch, which isn’t surprising being a young pitcher. It sits consistently at 93-96 throughout the starts and he works in a developing slider and changeup that are both average offerings right now. The motion is a bit loose at times and that can lead to pitches up in the zone and control issues plus the arm whip is a bit severe to generate the velocity he does. The size is very good for a kid of his age, 6’1” and 210 lbs., which means with some academy development the delivery will smooth out and he could add another pitch to the arsenal.
Kevin Alcantara (SS/OF NYY) - Alcantara is part of a hefty Yankees class that involves three in the top-11 at numbers nine, 10, and 11. Alcantara is number 10 in the class. He is listed at two different positions on a few different sites though at MLB pipeline he is stated as an outfielder. The frame, 6’5” and 175 lbs., profiles in center as the height is too much to manage short, but defensively he can glide in the outfield and takes great routes to balls. His 70-grade speed allows him to be a base stealing threat and cover a lot of ground in the field. Above-average hit tools in power and contact portend a top-of-the-order hitter down the road with a high average and on-base rate. With some more weight on the frame the power will come and make for a dynamic weapon at the plate, though that’s still a few years down the road.