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Pirates Make a Big Move to Improve Their Scouting Presence in Venezuela

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The Pittsburgh Pirates recently signed four prospects out of Venezuela, including two 16-year-old pitchers last week. We heard that the Pirates were trying to expand their presence in Venezuela last month and it turns out that they recently signed a very influential scout in the country who no doubt had a hand in signing these newest players.

Emilio Carrasquel, who has worked in Venezuela for the Seattle Mariners since 2001, is now with the Pirates. He has signed numerous Venezuelan players for the Mariners who reached the majors, including the big prize of Felix Hernandez, plus players like Asdrubal Cabrera and Luis Valbuena. Carrasquel has also signed players out of Brazil, including Thyago Vieira, who tops 100 MPH with his fastball, and pitcher Luis Gohara. Both debuted in the majors last year.

Below, you can see Carrasquel working with outfielder Andres Monzon last week, who is eligible to sign during the upcoming July 2nd signing period.

https://twitter.com/fsbacademy/status/969961343901143048

John Dreker
John Dreker
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball. When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.

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