Let's keep track of the day's minor signings here…
- The Marlins have signed utility man German Duran according to a release by the independent Grand Praire Air Hogs. The 27-year-old reached the big leagues with the Rangers in 2008, but spent last season with the Air Hogs and in the Mexican League. He hit .268/.338/.429 in just 65 total plate appearances in 2011.
- The Athletics have signed 16-year-old Dominican shortstop Yairo Munoz according to a release from the Dominican Prospect League. Munoz is said to be a "contact hitter who can drive the ball gap to gap, he uses his speed to leg out extra bases and he shows instincts to play the game."
German Duran…the Tutonic new wave rip off of Duran Duran!
How did Duquette miss out on signing someone named German Duran? In addition, to the fact that he played for the Grand Praire Air Hogs. I guess it was because they play in Texas. If the Air Hogs had played in Albuquerque, he would have been all over it.
They posted some video of Yairo Muñoz on the Dominican Prospect League website earlier today. The kid already looks like an excellent athlete.
Hopefully that can translate into “an excellent MLB player” 6 or 7 years from now!
Maybe he could be a solid signing and not disappoint like solano
he seems like he has a nice short swing, pop probably won’t be there
You might want to temper your expectations a little bit if you’re letting prospects who were signed at age 16 disappoint you in their age 17-18 seasons.
I’m not saying Solano will (or won’t) make it. There’s a high probability that he’ll never pan out. But that’s been the case with him from the very start, and is/was the case with every 16-year-old who has ever been signed by an MLB team. All you can do is scout those kids as much as possible, try to sign the ones who appear to have the most potential, put them into a position to be groomed as best as possible, and then hope for the best from them.
It’s a crapshoot with just about every prospect. And that holds more true than ever with 16-year-olds. But if you want a shot at good prospects from Latin America these days before they cost millions, if not tens of millions, then you almost always have to sign them when they’re that young. That’s just the nature of the beast.
That being said: I do look forward to following this kid’s career (if he indeed has one). He looks and sounds impressive. And if he can remain that athletic as his body continues to fill out, he could be quite the specimen in a few years. Hopefully he’ll get to play in the Dominican Summer League this year. But I’m not gonna get my hopes up about anything. I learned my lesson on prospects about 20 years ago with Todd Van Poppel.
Haha well I personally never had any expectations about Solano this year, mainly because I hadn’t heard of him. Just from reading about all the expectations the a’s had since he signed for a huge bonus. That’s where I get the “disappointment” part from.
edit: sorry. double post. please just delete this one if you see it, moderator(s).
This move was reported over a month ago
Another 3B sold to the A’s as a SS,and another corner infielder without a pop.