KANSAS CITY -- The Royals have signed former Braves right-handed prospect Yefri Del Rosario, general manager Dayton Moore confirmed on Tuesday.
The deal is worth $650,000, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
Del Rosario, 18, is one of 13 Atlanta prospects who were granted free agency after an MLB investigation determined the Braves circumvented the international signing guidelines.
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According to Sanchez, Del Rosario, who is 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, turned down more lucrative offers elsewhere to sign with the Royals because his idol, the late Yordano Ventura, pitched with Kansas City.
Del Rosario pitched in the Dominican Summer League last year and posted a 1.80 ERA in two starts. He also pitched for the Braves' Rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League and posted a 3.90 ERA in 11 games, with 29 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.
Royals vice president of international operations Rene Francisco said of Del Rosario: "Power arm with a very projectable body. He loves to compete. He was 92-96 [mph] with his fastball last summer with an average breaking ball."
Francisco credits Albert Gonzalez, recently hired as the assistant general manager of international operations, for selling the organization to Del Rosario.