Brothers Victor Victor Mesa and Victor Mesa Jr. are set to host a showcase for big league clubs next Friday (Oct. 5) at Marlins Park, reports MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez (via Twitter). Sanchez adds that right-hander Sandy Gaston will throw for clubs at the showcase as well. All three players are from Cuba, and all have been declared free agents by Major League Baseball.
At this point, it’s widely known that Victor Victor Mesa, the older of the two brothers, is considered to be the top available talent on the international market. He hit .354/.399/.539 with seven homers and 40 steals in just 70 games (290 plate appearances) in his last full season in the Cuban National Series (2016-17). The 22-year-old has drawn significant praise in scouting reports from Baseball America’s Ben Badler, being touted as an elite runner, potential plus defender in center field and a possible top-of-the-order bat.
The switch-hitting Mesa Jr. is considerably further from the Majors at 16 years of age, though he’s previously appeared for Cuba’s 18U National team despite an absence of professional experience to date. Like his older brother, he’s an outfielder that is free to sign with any club, though he didn’t land on MLB.com’s ranking of the top 30 international prospects, nor did he appear on Baseball America’s Top 50 (subscription required). Victor Victor topped both lists.
As for Gaston, he checked in 16th on MLB.com’s list and 24th on Badler’s list at BA. Gaston’s most appealing asset is the eye-popping velocity he’s already shown at a young age — he’s already touched 100 mph, per Badler — though that heat comes with red flags. He’s yet to show that he has any real ability to control his fastball, with Badler’s scouting report noting that he walked 46 hitters in 47 innings in his final season with Cuba’s 18U team. Fangraphs’ Kiley McDaniel scouted Gaston at the MLB International Showcase in February, tweeting that he hit 97 mph and flashed a pair of potentially average secondary offerings. However, he also hit a batter and threw four pitches to the backstop in that appearance.
All three players are subject to international bonus pools, as none meet the age (25) or professional experience (six years) requirements established in the latest collective bargaining agreement. (More on international signing rules here.)
Sanchez has previously listed the Orioles ($6.5MM), Marlins ($4.3MM), Rays ($3.6MM) and Dodgers ($2.78MM) as the teams with the top available bonus pools at present. Both Baltimore and Miami have been linked to Victor Victor Mesa on numerous occasions, and Miami was at one point believed to be a top potential landing spot for Gaston as well. The fact that the brothers Mesa are holding their showcase at Marlins Park doesn’t figure to do anything to quell the rumors connecting the two sides, though it hardly suggests that the Miami organization is the favorite to sign him, either. And it should be noted that other teams can still swing trades to pad their bonus pools, which could quickly alter the landscape of the market to land the elder Mesa sibling.
Any relation to the infamous Jose Mesa
I like Jose Mesa. It was fun watching him plunk the little man.
Yes, Jose Mesa from the DR and the Mesa brothers from Cuba are 14th cousins twice removed…
They went to different schools together.
Good job on the genealogy! That’s connecting 16 generations of Mesas, over 400 years.
MLBTRANCESTRY.COM!
Don’t forget they’re also connected to Abe “Knuckleball” Schwartz. He’s the husband of their neighbors dog walker
Are there any work restrictions for these 16 year old international prospects? I’m confused about signing players under 18 in general. I’m assuming these kids are still in high school? Did they defect and now just floating around?
No…they play baseball for a living and do not attend worry about school…yes, establishing residency in another country to be eligible to be signed as an international player
Can you translate that to English please
Gobby, I don’t think he attended school himself
Orioles will get Gaston then trade him for cash considerations or ruin him one of the two. Hope Victor Victor ends up with the rays, idk why but that’d be cool
A couple of teams are still under restriction from the last CBA when you could blow past your bonus pool. And the Braves I believe are still restricted by the Coppollela thing.
I wonder if the catching is really bad, if the pitchers are really slow to the plate or if this guy has Billy Hamilton type speed.
https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/2018-international?type=1&pos=all&team=all
I believe this should help answer your question. 60 grade speed.
That said, unlike Puerto Rico, I don’t seem to recall many great Cuban catching prospects.
The guy has legit speed, but anecdotally, Cuba is known as a place where someone can run wild on the basepaths. Pitchers and Catchers just don’t control the run game over there very well – potentially due to less focus being put on it.
The Metsa Metsas will make a mess out of Mesa Victor Victor…..and instead of signing Gaston, they’ll sign Alphonse….(if you’re old enuf to remember the reference, you get a cookie)……
You’re a special person
I’m sorry, but are we just going to sit here and pretend that Victor Victor Mesa doesn’t have a ridiculous name? At some point, he has to consider changing his name to something else, or at least dropping one Victor, to be taken seriously.
A person who is completely anonymous online complaining about another person’s name is some kind of amazing. Not in a good way.
Well this isn’t my professional setting. I am not known as “hiflew” in a professional capacity. If I was, I would not expect to be taken seriously either.
You aren’t taken seriously here either. Victor Victor Mesa is his actual name.
“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”
This classifies as “Ain’t it” chief.
Perhaps first baseball player in drag?
https://goo.gl/images/PFDyxf
Right….like someone named Mookie or Scooter gets more respect.
Hey, he’s moving to a country where people are called J’Kwondae and LaKeisha on the regular. He’s going to fit right in.
Official names on BR?
I vote for Victor 2 and
Victor 1.
2Victor & Victor2
Keep it simple: Victors and Victor
2victor 2furious
I like this one
At last February’s showcase, did Gaston also hit the mascot?
Juuuuussssttttttt a bit outside…
What has been the success rate on these great Cuban stars? Seems like many of them have been failures. Guys like Yandy Diaz and Rusney Castillo come to the states with glorious reviews and they are basically Triple A singles hitters with very little pop in their bats. A few have been ok, but not many are making all star teams.
But at least Diaz signed on the cheap and little fanfare. He’s got these huge arms yet has zero pop in his bat…looks like Tarzan swings like Jane.
Cespedes, Chapman, Iglesias have all been all star caliber players off the top of my head. I’m sure the success rate is pretty much the same as North American players when you consider the percentage of each in the league
Seriously? Abreu, Cespedes, Puig, Gurriel, Morales, Jose Fernandes (RIP), Chapman, Diaz just for starters. Go back a bit to Canseco, Palmero, Minnie Minoso, Martin Dihigo, Livan Hernandez, Jose Contreras, Dude I can go on and on. Cuba has been a MECA of baseball talent.
Cuba has the best baseball in the world.
Any indication these guys want to sign with the same team?
Victor Jr is 16. Even if they sign with the same organization they won’t play together for years.
Well that’s not the only aspect to look at. I don’t think it’s a stretch to believe the bros would like to be in the same org/geographical reigion. Especially considering they are relocating to a new country, having the comfort of family could make a big difference in development. The chance to play together would be icing on the cake.
Oveur: Roger, Roger. What’s our vector, Victor?
This reminds me of the Tat brothers…….Tat Two and Tat One
I thought the Yankees had a ton of international money? Or was that for a different season?
Can you give us a timeframe for when we see the third brother, Victor Mesa Mesa Jr.?
Nice
Something about this article reminds me of Rougned Odor and his brother, Rougned…
They probably have a sister named Victoria. Still better than “My name is Kahn, and this is my daughter, Kahn, Jr.”