Via the SP international thread
According to Baseball America the Red Sox are poised to break their bonus cushion this year. Here is there excerpt from Badler's new July 2nd column:
Red Sox Push For Pitching
After picking up some of the top position players in the Dominican Republic over the last few years like Rafael Devers, Wendell Rijo and Manuel Margot, the Red Sox appear focused on pitching this year. They have a $1.88 million bonus pool, the second-lowest in baseball, but it looks like they will go well beyond that this year and face the maximum penalty.
The Red Sox are considered the favorites to sign 16-year-old Venezuelan righthander Andres Espinoza (video), who some scouts consider the No. 1 pitcher available this year and will likely fetch the highest bonus among July 2 pitchers. Like Dominican righthander Marcos Diplan, who signed with the Rangers for $1.3 million last year, Espinoza has big-time stuff packed into a smaller frame.
Reports vary about Espinoza’s height. He was around 5-foot-10, 160 pounds last year, and while he hasn’t showcased much recently, those who’ve seen him say he’s grown since then and put on another 20 or so pounds. Espinoza has pitched in multiple national and international tournaments, and his experience is evident in his command and savvy. He has good mechanics and throws strikes with one of the best fastballs in the class, ranging from 90-94 mph. He has good feel for a potentially above-average curveball and a developing changeup. He’s trained at the 9Stars Sports Management academy run by Felix Luzon.
Dominican righthander Christopher Acosta stood out at the MLB showcase in San Pedro de Macoris in January. Acosta threw strikes—a rare occurrence at the event—and didn’t walk anyone or allow a hit in two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Acosta, 16, is a tall, lanky pitcher (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) with good pitchability and the three-pitch mix to project as a starter. He has a loose arm and a lively fastball that touches the low-90s. He throws a mid-70s curveball that has some loose rotation but has power and good depth. Some think his best pitch is his lively changeup, which he mixes in more frequently than most pitchers his age. Acosta trains with Alberto “Chico” Fana and is expected to command more than $1 million.
http://bit.ly/1kIrvqq
According to Baseball America the Red Sox are poised to break their bonus cushion this year. Here is there excerpt from Badler's new July 2nd column:
Red Sox Push For Pitching
After picking up some of the top position players in the Dominican Republic over the last few years like Rafael Devers, Wendell Rijo and Manuel Margot, the Red Sox appear focused on pitching this year. They have a $1.88 million bonus pool, the second-lowest in baseball, but it looks like they will go well beyond that this year and face the maximum penalty.
The Red Sox are considered the favorites to sign 16-year-old Venezuelan righthander Andres Espinoza (video), who some scouts consider the No. 1 pitcher available this year and will likely fetch the highest bonus among July 2 pitchers. Like Dominican righthander Marcos Diplan, who signed with the Rangers for $1.3 million last year, Espinoza has big-time stuff packed into a smaller frame.
Reports vary about Espinoza’s height. He was around 5-foot-10, 160 pounds last year, and while he hasn’t showcased much recently, those who’ve seen him say he’s grown since then and put on another 20 or so pounds. Espinoza has pitched in multiple national and international tournaments, and his experience is evident in his command and savvy. He has good mechanics and throws strikes with one of the best fastballs in the class, ranging from 90-94 mph. He has good feel for a potentially above-average curveball and a developing changeup. He’s trained at the 9Stars Sports Management academy run by Felix Luzon.
Dominican righthander Christopher Acosta stood out at the MLB showcase in San Pedro de Macoris in January. Acosta threw strikes—a rare occurrence at the event—and didn’t walk anyone or allow a hit in two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Acosta, 16, is a tall, lanky pitcher (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) with good pitchability and the three-pitch mix to project as a starter. He has a loose arm and a lively fastball that touches the low-90s. He throws a mid-70s curveball that has some loose rotation but has power and good depth. Some think his best pitch is his lively changeup, which he mixes in more frequently than most pitchers his age. Acosta trains with Alberto “Chico” Fana and is expected to command more than $1 million.
http://bit.ly/1kIrvqq