Chicago-born Uribe Jr. follows dad to White Sox

CHICAGO -- Juan Uribe Sr. has nothing against any of the other six teams he played for over 16 years in the Major Leagues, producing 199 home runs and two World Series championships.

But he wanted his son to agree to terms with the White Sox and be part of their organization. That dream officially came true on Monday, as the White Sox announced Juan Uribe Jr. ($200,000) as part of their seven-player international free-agent class.

The rest of this group includes right-handed pitchers Luis Reyes ($700,000) and Denny Lima ($10,000), outfielders Abraham Nú?ez ($700,000) and Albert Alberto ($50,000) and infielders D'Angelo Tejada ($350,000), and Rafael ?lvarez ($350,000) from the White Sox signing pool set at $5,284,000. Marco Paddy, the White Sox special assistant to the general manager in charge of international scouting, said there’s more to come for this particular class during a Zoom on Monday.

“Absolutely. In the next few days, we’re going to concentrate our efforts on signing some guys in Venezuela. That class is going to be productive also,” Paddy said. “Coming back from the Christmas break, you have to make sure that everybody is healthy and everybody is ready to go.”

Reyes, 17, is rated by MLB Pipeline as the No. 4 international pitching prospect and No. 41 overall. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound native of Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, played for the Miami Miracles travel team in several U.S. tournaments and Perfect Game events from 2020-21. He’s the lone Top 50 international prospect signed by the White Sox, but it’s Uribe who has the greatest name recognition.

It was Uribe Sr. who was the architect of one of the most famous plays in White Sox history. The shortstop fielded Orlando Palmeiro’s slow roller up the middle and threw to first baseman Paul Konerko for the final out in completing a 1-0, Game 4 victory over Houston and sealing the four-game sweep in the 2005 World Series.

Now, Uribe Sr. is developing young talent at the Juan Uribe Academy in Nizao, D.R. His son played at the Uribe complex, as did Alberto, a 16-year-old right-handed-hitting outfielder.

“In my academy, we are like a family. All the kids there are like my kids,” said Uribe Sr. through interpreter Billy Russo on Monday night. “I go there with them, I play with them, I eat with them -- I eat the same kind of food that they eat -- we do all the same stuff, all together.

“They go to school there. They do everything they need to do there. Alberto is just one of them, like my son. I take a lot of pride in that because we are like a family. I like to be inclusive with all of them. I like to be part of their routines.”

Nú?ez, 16, is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound outfielder who bats left-handed and throws right-handed out of Santo Domingo. He is the son of former Major League outfielder Abraham Nú?ez, who played for the Marlins (2002, '04) and the Royals (2004). But Uribe Jr., 16, was born in Chicago, forming this White Sox bond literally at birth and leading to this connection, despite strong interest from other teams, according to the young second baseman.

“My dad was the one that made sure that I would go to the best place or the best organization. This worked out well,” Uribe Jr. said through Russo. “But definitely a very emotional moment for my family. A very happy moment for all of us. I’m just glad and very proud to be a part of the White Sox.

“I wanted to do something similar to what Vladdy Jr. did. He was born in Canada, and now he’s playing for the Blue Jays. I wanted to do something like that.”

Of course, there’s only one Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Uribe Jr. is just beginning his career. Someday he hopes to contribute to the White Sox in some way, just like his father.

“Being in Chicago and being with the White Sox is like being a part of a family,” Uribe Sr. said. “You want your son to be in a good place, the right place. I’m proud of the player that he is and the player he’s going to become and how he’s going to represent the Chicago White Sox.”