Padres add two on first day of international signing period

BOSTON -- The Padres signed two players on Tuesday, the first day of the international signing period.

The Padres signed shortstop Ruddy Giron for $600,000. They have been following him since January and he has worked out at the team's facility in the Dominican Republic with Padres staff. Giron is 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds.

"It's not just his tools, but his aptitude was off the charts," said Randy Smith, the Padres vice president of player development and international scouting. "He picks up things quickly. He's as close to a five-tool middle infielder as you'll find. He hits the ball really hard on a line. He's built a little like Brandon Phillips."

The Padres also signed right-hander Jaimito Lebron, who. like Giron, is a 16-year-old from the Dominican Republic. Lebron signed for $410,000. Lebron is 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds.

"He has long arms and long legs with plenty of room to grow. It's a loose, clean arm action," Smith said. "He progressively got better. We saw him in October and he was 85-87 mph, and then in April when he was 88-91 mph. He's easy to project."

Both players have had their age and identification cleared by Major League Baseball. Giron and Lebron are not eligible to play professionally until 2014, but can work out at the Dominican Republic complex and compete in instructional league there as well.