Yanks add Colombian outfielder Emery to organization
No. 29-ranked international prospect joins long list of teenage players
The Yankees added another top teenage prospect to their system on Thursday, signing outfielder Bryan Emery to a $500,000 deal, according to an industry source.
Emery, who is ranked No. 29 on MLB.com's Top 30 International Prospects list, can play center field, but he could end up in right field because of his overall skill set. He has an athletic body and has impressed evaluators with his throwing arm.
Emery, who is from Colombia and trained with Ivan Noboa in the Dominican Republic, has a compact swing and has shown the ability to hit for some power. Emery is expected to improve on those skills as he fills out his 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame and enters the club's academy.
The Yanks have already signed several highly regarded international prospects, including shortstop Dermis Garcia, ranked No. 1, for a $3 million signing bonus, along with Dominican third baseman Nelson Gomez (No. 2) for $2.25 million, Dominican outfielder Juan DeLeon (No. 5) for $2 million, Venezuelan outfielders Jonathan Amundaray (No. 7) for $1.5 million and Antonio Arias (No. 9) for $800,000.
Video: Top International Prospects: Dermis Garcia, SS
Additionally, New York signed Korean shortstop Hyo-Jun Park, ranked No. 13, for $1.1 million, along with Venezuelan shortstops Wilkerman Garcia (No. 14) for $1.35 million and Diego Castillo (No. 16) for $750,000. The Yankees also signed Venezuelan catcher Miguel Flames, ranked No. 25, for $1 million, and they added outfielder Frederick Cuevas from the Dominican Republic for $300,000.
In all, the Yanks have inked 25 international prospects since the signing period began on July 2 for an estimated total of $17 million.
In accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement, each team is allotted a $700,000 base and a bonus pool based on the team's record in 2013 for the international signing period. New York's bonus pool total for this year's signing period is $2,193,100, which means the club is now faced with the most severe penalty.
The Yankees will not be allowed to sign a player for more than $300,000 during the next two signing periods, in addition to paying a 100 percent tax on the pool overage, an estimated $15 million at this point.
The Yanks have also scouted Cuban teenage infielder Yoan Moncada, who is subject to international signing guidelines because of his age and experience. Moncada is expected to command a multimillion-dollar deal when he signs.