Pittsburgh Pirates News: Projected to Sign Yordany De Los Santos

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been making splashed in International free agency as of late.

Last year, there was a buzz around the Pittsburgh Pirates and their International signings.  The excitement started with outfielder Shalin Polanco.  Polanco received the team’s largest signing bonus during last year’s window.  The team gave him $2,350,000 to sign, which is the second-largest bonus given to an International free agent ever, behind Luis Heredia.

Polanco was highly rated on all major scouting websites.  On MLB Pipeline he was considered to be the 11th best prospect in the class, and the second-best outfield prospect available.  Obviously, all these signs point to him being a big-get for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Well, it looks like the Bucs are in line to grab another one of the premier Internationa free agents for the upcoming window.  Recently, MLB Pipeline released their Top 50 list for the upcoming International class.  On the list, they often project which teams the prospects are expected to sign with.  So it’s a good opportunity to learn about some of the more premier names of who could be available or not.

MLB Pipeline scouting report on Yordany De Los Santos: The teenager trains with Hector Evertz, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program, in the Dominican Republic. The Pirates are the favorite to sign him.

Right now, the Pittsburgh Pirates are only expected to sign one player on the list, but he is one of the top available players.  MLB Pipeline is projecting the Pittsburgh Pirates to sign shortstop Yordany De Los Santos.  De Los Santos is considered one of the top infield prospects available.  He ranks 12th overall on MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 list.  So two years in a row now the team has been able to grab one of the Top 15 talents.

First of all, he’s a right-handed hitter with a large frame and a nice offensive package at a premium position. He makes enough impact and barrels balls enough to make some evaluators think he could hit in the middle of the lineup in the big leagues one day.

This is the exact scouting report a fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates wants to see.  De Los Santos is already 6”1′, but only weighs 170 pounds.  The fact that he is already showing plus raw power is a good thing, but he clearly has plenty of room to grow yet.  MLB Pipeline does mention that he may move from shortstop if he does physically fill out. He can officially sign this coming January.