Morning Rundown: Pirates in line to sign pair of International players, Padres sign Go, Kevin Newman
Pirates linked to multiple BA Top 50 international players, Padres sign Korean pitcher, Kevin Newman signs minor league deal.
Baseball America dropped their Top 50 International prospects for the 2024 signing period on Wednesday, and who are the favorites to sign each of them.
The Pirates are mentioned to be linked to two players, Bralyn Brazoban and Abdiel Feliz.
Brazoban was ranked 12th on Baseball America, where they mention him having a ‘lean, athletic frame with a mix of power and speed.’ They also talk about his ability to stick in center field due to his speed, as long as he doesn’t outgrow the position.
MLB Pipeline gives him a ‘55’ hit tool, although BA did mention some scouts said he might be a power-over-hit guy after seeing him face live pitching.
When it comes to Feliz, who ranked 34th on BA, he is scouted as a glove-first player who has the skills to stick at short. Offensively, he is a switch-hitter with ‘solid bat-to-ball skills for his age,’ but they did mention he has a slap approach that could limit his power.
The San Diego Padres signed Korean pitcher Woo-Suk Go to a two-year deal, with a mutual option for a third. The deal is believed to be worth around $4.5 million.
San Diego got pretty hard by free agency regarding their bullpen, most notably losing closer Josh Hader.
A familiar face is heading to the desert on a minor league deal. Former Pirate first-round pick Kevin Newman signed with the NL Champion Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday.
He joins an organization that had their starting shortstop make the All-Star game, and their top prospect also plays the position.
In 253 plate appearances last year for the Cincinnati Reds, Newman batted .253/.311/.364 with a wRC+ of 78.
Every Monday during the offseason, we will be doing a mailbag article. Please send in your questions to have them answered! Either comment below with ‘mailbag’ entered in the message or email us at bucsondeckqa@gmail.com.
I look forward to answering what you guys have!
lol at scouts pretending they have any fucking clue if a 15 yo will be hit-first or power over hit why do they intentionally make themselves look this stupid.
A question I'd like to ask the front office...
Why aren't you spotting talent in your own back yard? It's clearly there with JJ Wetherholt predicted to go early in this year's draft. The Phillies grabbed Rincon in the 14th round of the 2022 draft. (Signed around slot $125,000 or $150,000).
I'm not talking about the national spotlight guys that go in the top 5 rounds, but guys that are getting D1 scholarships and can be drafted in the 11th round or later. (JJ Wetherholt in 2021)