Pittsburgh Pirates Closing in on a Deal With International Free Agent Pitcher

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been quietly working hard this offseason in the international market and with international signing day coming this week, we will see a lot more talent joining the farm system.

Ben Badler of Baseball America first reported yesterday that the Pittsburgh Pirates will have a big spending International bonus pool for this year at just over $6 million to spend. With reports already indicating that the Pirates will be favorites to sign two top regarded prospects in outfielder Tony Blanco Jr and shortstop, Yordany De los Santos, they have now apparently agreed upon a highly sought after pitching talent from Taiwan.

Liberty Sports first reported that the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed on a deal with 20 year old international pitcher, Chang Hung-Leng. The report indicates the deal will be around $500,000 in signing bonus money. He is a right hander pitcher that has some filthy movement to his pitches alongside a good fastball. John Dreker from Pirates Prospects later confirmed that the Pirates are in fact the favorites to sign Hung-Leng later this week on January 15th.

This isn’t the first time Ben Cherington and company have looked for talent in Asia. Just last year they signed right-handed pitcher Po-Yu Chen from Tawian. Chen has been climbing up the Pirates boards and could soon find his way as one of the most talented pitchers in the system. Hopefully they see the same potential in Hung-Leng.

this is just another signing in what has been already 3 notable deals to have been reported. The International Draft period opens up on the 15th of this month so these deals should become official sooner rather than later.