Back on July 2nd, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed a total of 20 international players. Teams don’t really announce international signings too often. They are usually announced by people like Ben Badler with Baseball America or Jesse Sanchez, who works for MLB. In fact, Sanchez announced all nine of the players the Pirates signed for at least $100,000 this year. The other way you find out players the Pirates sign is by me checking articles in Spanish daily.
I was able to get a six of the other names within a few days of the July 2nd announcement, but that still left five unknown names from that busy first day. The Pirates obviously signed at least three players shortly after July 2nd because we now know 23 names from the start of the signing period.
We announced the signings of Panamanian pitcher Jose Amaya (one of two pitchers the Pirates signed out of Panama), Colombian pitchers Yandy Vega and Andres Arrieta, center fielder Randy Romero, outfielder Cristian Navarro and left-handed pitcher Mario Garcia, all out of Mexico. We also announced the signing of Shendrik Apostel, the younger brother of prospect Sherten Apostel. He was signed well after the first group of 20 players. Navarro is currently at Pirate City for the Fall Instructional League, which is unusual for someone who was signed as an international free agent three months earlier.
Now we have seven more names to add to the list of players signed this July. Below you will find their name, age, position, height/weight and birthplace where available.
Eddy Vargas, 19-year-old (turns 20 on October 12th) left-handed pitcher from the Dominican. He’s 6’0″, 170 pounds.
Joseivin Medina, 17-year-old lefty throwing/hitting outfielder from the Dominican. He’s 6’4″, 190 pounds.
Juan Henriquez, 20-year-old (turns 21 on October 22nd) right-handed pitcher. He’s 6’3″, 185 pounds.
Bryan Mateo, 18-year-old (turns 19 on October 20th) lefty throwing/hitting outfielder from the Dominican. He’s 6’2″, 180 pounds.
Jose Maldonado, 18-year-old right-handed pitcher from the Dominican. He’s 6’2″, 169 pounds.
Robinson Ramos, 19-year-old catcher, right-handed hitter from the Dominican. He’s 5’11”, 185 pounds.
Wandi Encarnacion, 20-year-old right-handed pitcher from the Dominican. He’s 6’5″, 190 pounds.
