The Pirates signed two of MLB Pipeline’s top 12 international prospects Saturday, adding a pair of 16-year-old Dominicans: outfielder Tony Blanco and shortstop Yordany De Los Santos.
Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported that the Pirates signed Blanco for $900,000 and De Los Santos for $1.2 million. The Pirates have a bonus pool of $6,262,600 to sign international players this year and are expected to use the full amount. Although MLB owners have locked out players on 40-man major league rosters, teams are permitted to sign minor league prospects.
Source: #Pirates agree to a $900K deal with OF Tony Blanco Jr., #11 on @MLBPipeline’s Top 50 Int’l Prospects list and No. 12 SS Yordany De Los Santos ($1.2M) https://t.co/LWetCicBy0
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) January 15, 2022
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Blanco, ranked the No. 11 international prospect by MLB Pipeline, is the son of former Washington Nationals infielder/outfielder Tony Blanco Sr. In its scouting report, MLB Pipeline wrote that Blanco has “tons of raw power” and a plus-arm, an advanced strike zone awareness and pitch recognition beyond his years. Blanco projects as a corner outfielder and middle-of-the-lineup bat.
OF International Prospect, Tony Blanco Jr #Pirates
— Kody Duncan (@KodyDuncanPGH) January 9, 2022
This is some BP from 2 years ago at age 14. He is even bigger now. ????
(Signing bonus will most likely be around 2 million) pic.twitter.com/Ua7on5KN9A
The 6-1, 170-pound De Los Santos also has power and projects as a future middle-of-the-lineup hitter. The question is whether he will outgrow shortstop and move to third base, but MLB Pipeline’s scouting report noted he moves well and has a potential plus-arm. Although he’s not known for his speed, De Los Santos also has good instincts.
SS Prospect, Yordany De Los Santos #Pirates
— Kody Duncan (@KodyDuncanPGH) October 16, 2021
Current Ranking: #12 International FA
MLB Pipeline Scouting Grades:
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????ARM:50
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( ???? his Instagram ) pic.twitter.com/HGMbNTNaSS
Baseball America rated De Los Santos its No. 34 international prospect but doesn’t have Blanco in its top 50 rankings.
It marks the second consecutive year the Pirates signed MLB Pipeline’s No. 11 international prospect. Last year, they signed Dominican outfielder Shalin Polanco for $2.35 million, the second-highest international bonus given in franchise history. Polanco, considered the top teenage outfield prospect, was rated No. 8 by Baseball America.
