Pirates ink deals with handful of international prospects

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates inked nine international players this week, according to an MLB source.

Dominican shortstop Adrian Valerio signed for $400,000 and Dominican outfielder Edinson Lantigua joined the organization for a $275,000 bonus. Both 16-year-olds played in the Dominican Prospect League.

The club also signed right-handers Yunior Montero, Junior Lopez, Julian Villamar and Ramon Garcia, shortstop Luis Perez, second baseman Raul Siri and lefty Christian Mota. All seven were eligible to sign in previous years, so they are slightly older.

Valerio is an athletic, slick-fielding shortstop with a good arm and good range. The switch-hitter trained at the Alexander Baseball Academy in his hometown of Salcedo in the Cibao region of the Dominican Republic.

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Lantigua has a tall, lanky frame with plenty of room to grow. His effortless swing should couple nicely with his growth. He has a strong arm and projects as a center fielder. He developed in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.