D-backs sign pair of top SS prospects

January 17th, 2022

The D-backs added a pair of slick-fielding shortstops to their system to start the international signing period.

According to industry sources, the club reached a $1.1 million deal with infielder Abdias De La Cruz, No. 36 on MLB.com’s Top 50 International Prospects list, along with an agreement for a $900,000 deal with infielder Yerald Nin.

The D-backs have a bonus pool of $6,262,600.

Tall and wiry, the 6-foot-3 De La Cruz has a projectable frame and room to fill out as he develops. He’s athletic with solid footwork, quick hands and overall efficient infield actions to stay at shortstop as he makes his way through the Minor League system. At the plate, he’s a contact hitter who flashes gap power, and more importantly, the ability to make hard contact in games.

De La Cruz is also a solid runner and flashes above-average arm strength. He’s been praised for his makeup and baseball IQ.

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association finalized a deal in March 2020 that addressed the international signing period during the pandemic. The 2022 international signing period runs through Dec. 15, 2022, the second year in a row the period, which previously began July 2, started in January.

The current rules also state that teams are not allowed to trade any of their international pool money. Signing bonuses of $10,000 or less do not count toward a club's bonus pool, and foreign professional players who are at least 25 years of age and have played in a foreign league for at least six seasons are also exempt

Here are the prospects who have agreed to deals with the D-backs in the 2022 international signing period:

Abdias De La Cruz, SS, Dominican Republic -- $1,100,000
Yerald Nin, SS, Dominican Republic -- $900,000
Ruben Santana, 3B, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Andy Encarnacion, CF, Dominican Republic -- $605,000
Jansel Luis, SS, Dominican Republic -- $525,000
Abel Fuerte, RHS, Dominican Republic -- $450,000
Omar Moya, C, Venezuela -- $350,000
Jeffrey Amparo, RHS, Dominican Republic -- $270,000
Cristofer Torin, SS, Venezuela -- $240,000
Alejandro Rios, C, Venezuela -- $200,000
Albert Carpio, SS, Venezuela -- $150,000
Jose Alpuria, CF, Venezuela -- $100,000
Jose Colmenarez, C, Venezuela -- $50,000
Cesar Jimenez, RHS, Venezuela -- $50,000
Moises Lira, RHS, Venezuela -- $30,000
Diego Gonzalez, 2B, Venezuela -- $20,000
Gabriel Araujo, OF, Venezuela -- $10,000
Cesar Bonalde, OF, Venezuela -- $10,000