Rockies sign Cuban SS Dyan Jorge

January 15th, 2022

The wait is over for Cuban shortstop Dyan Jorge.

The infielder, who ranks No. 15 on MLB.com’s Top 50 International Prospects list, and the Rockies agreed to a deal for $2.8 million.

The Rockies, who have a bonus pool of $6,262,600, have not confirmed the agreement.

Jorge, 18, was the shortstop for Cuba's team in the U-15 Baseball Cup in Panama in 2018 and defected from the island in late '19. He was declared eligible to sign a few months later.

Jorge has continued to improve his game in the past year and added to his reputation as a solid defender and an all-around player who can excel at multiple facets of the game. Jorge’s upside and high baseball IQ combined to make him one of the most interesting prospects when he arrived on the market early in 2020, and his stock has only increased.

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 Rockies in the 2022 international signing period:

Dyan Jorge, SS, Cuba -- $2,800,000
Cesar Vargas, RHS, Dominican Republic -- $750,000
Kelvin Hidalgo, SS, Dominican Republic -- $500,000
Ervin Torres, LHS, Venezuela -- $400,000
Ronny Ugarte, 1B, Venezuela -- $250,000
Yoan Valdez, RHS, Dominican Republic -- $250,000
Gerson Balbino, RHS, Dominican Republic -- $200,000
Derek Bernard, SS, Dominican Republic -- $185,000
Luichi Casilla, LHS, Dominican Republic -- $160,000
Doilin Perez, RHS, Dominican Republic -- $107,000
Roynier Hernandez, SS, Venezuela -- $100,000
Keider Herrera, RHS, Venezuela -- $100,000
Marcos Herrera, RHS, Venezuela -- $100,000
Willians Romero, RHS, Venezuela -- $40,000
Iverson Corpas, RHS, Colombia -- $20,000
Franklin Lopez, C, Venezuela -- $20,000
Jesus De La Rosa, LHS, Dominican Republic -- $15,000
Johandry Milano, LHS, Venezuela -- $3,000