White Sox ink No. 41 intĄŻl prospect, plus son of Juan Uribe
The list of international prospects and players the White Sox have signed in recent years is long and noteworthy. Acquiring talent on the global market has become a staple of the organization, and the approach continues.
The club on Monday announced it had agreed to a $700,000 deal with right-hander Luis Reyes, the No. 41 prospect on the international Top 50 Prospects list.
Aside from Reyes, the White Sox, who have a base signing pool of $5,284,000, announced agreements with six other international free agents on Monday: right-hander Denny Lima ($10,000), outfielders Abraham N¨˛?ez ($700,000) and Albert Alberto ($50,000) and infielders DĄŻAngelo Tejada ($350,000), Rafael ?lvarez ($350,000) and Juan Uribe Jr. ($200,000).
Uribe Jr., 16, is the son of two-time World Series champion Juan Uribe, who played 16 MLB seasons, including five with the White Sox from 2004-08, when he was the starting shortstop for the 2005 World Series champions. Uribe Jr., who was born in Chicago, is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound second baseman who bats and throws right-handed.
? Signing tracker | Top 50 Prospects list | Each team's best int'l prospect
Reyes has a loose arm, a plus fastball and other pitches on the way. He is projectable, having sprouted up to 6-foot-3, while also adding muscle in recent years. The growth has translated to more power and athleticism. His experience playing against competition in the United States in tournaments and on the showcase circuit has also served him well. The result is a teen who is poised, competitive and does not get rattled.
WhatĄŻs more, Reyes' mound presence and overall demeanor when he takes the ball are also noteworthy. The righty, who is trained by the Miami Miracles, has also been praised for his makeup and maturity on the mound.
An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year -- in practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2005, and Aug. 31, 2006, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible to sign.
Teams are allowed to trade international bonus pool money starting Jan. 15.