UPDATE 11:59 AM: The Pirates officially announce the move, via press release. Also in the release is a statement from Rene Gayo:
“We are very excited to sign Michael. He is a young player with now tools that are still developing. He is also an instinctive and aggressive performer with a very strong opportunity to be a five-tool player. I want to thank and congratulate Scouting Supervisor Juan Mercado and our staff for doing such a fine job on the acquisition of this player.”
11:27 AM: The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed center fielder Michael DeLaCruz for $700,000, Pirates Prospects has learned. De La Cruz is from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, and is a lefty/lefty outfielder. The bonus given to DeLaCruz matches the bonus given to Julio DeLaCruz (no relation between the two), who received $700,000 on July 3rd.
Michael has the chance to be a five tool outfielder. He put up 6.47 to 6.50 60-yard dash times as a runner at the age of 15. In a game, he’s a 4.0 runner to first, and 11 seconds from home to third. All of those times put his speed as a 70 runner on the 20-80 scale. His arm and defense grade out as a 60 currently on the 20-80 scale, with room for improvement in the future.
DeLaCruz is a line drive, extra base hitter, but has the potential for 20-25 home run power down the line. He’s 16 years old, and is 6′ 0″, 175 pounds.
+ postsTim is the owner, producer, editor, and lead writer of PiratesProspects.com. He has been running Pirates Prospects since 2009, becoming the first new media reporter and outlet covering the Pirates at the MLB level in 2011 and 2012. His work can also be found in Baseball America, where he has been a contributor since 2014 and the Pirates' correspondent since 2019.
I like what a poster on PG Plus said…..I hope both of these guys make it so that I only have to buy one jersey!
Awesome! Keep ’em coming, Mr. Gayo!
Seems like every other international signing has five tool potential- what to these guys eat for breakfast?
Los Wheaties?
It’s simple. If you want to be an athlete that gets paid in south America, you play baseball.
Ian….the Dominican Republic is NOT in South America.
Simple…if you wanna be a scholar….take Geography.
LOL
Also, the main point was just that in those areas, there’s no football, basketball, or hockey to compete with for athletes. Whereas in most of those areas it’s either baseball or soccer, and it doesn’t seem like soccer’s the sport that guys can get out of their country with.
just messin whicha….:)
Im aware of that. Lol. It was more of an attempt to identify the region. To be more specific; the islands, Mexico, and South America.
Seems like every other international signing has five tool potential- what to these guys eat for breakfast?
Our Latin signings are really starting to excel. I’m excited to see where these guys will be in a few years
Our Latin signings are really starting to excel. I’m excited to see where these guys will be in a few years