A couple of notable international signings:
- The Pirates announced they have signed 19-year-old pitcher Po-Yu Chen. The Taiwanese righty will receive a $1.25MM signing bonus, reports Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Twitter link). Chen has evidently been on the organization’s radar for quite some time, with GM Ben Cherington noting the club has scouted him extensively over the past three years (via Rob Biertempfel of the Athletic). Notably, the Bucs’ only trade at this summer’s trade deadline netted them additional international pool space, as outfielder Jarrod Dyson was dealt to the White Sox for $243,300 in bonus availability.
- The Rangers signed 17-year-old outfielder Alejandro Osuna out of Mexico, per Baseball America’s Ben Badler (via Twitter). As Badler notes, Osuna is the brother of Astros’ reliever Roberto Osuna. Alejandro Osuna also has a twin brother, Pedro Osuna, who also plays outfield, but bats and throws right-handed, unlike Alejandro, who bats and throws lefty.
Bucs traded two non-prospects a while back (one was Robles) for some more International $$$.
Which Robles? (Victor Robles was signed as an IFA by Washington)
Lol that’s a great name po-yu
He’s got a brother named Yu-po
Neither one will help the Piratas!
I wonder if Alejandro can hit as hard as his brother…
Aww that was a low blow… kinda likeee….
My name is Larry. This is my brother Daryl and my other brother Daryl.
I hope Osuna can slip into our top prospect rankings like another brother of a superstar that we have in Luisangel Acuña. Yes, that Acuña.
Wow. The pirates signed 19 year old who they have scouted since he was 16. It’s probably not unusual for an athlete from Mexico, Cuba or the DR, but Taiwan? That’s new. It’s nice to see other countries getting their players over.
Pirates have signed some players from unusual players before i.e. India but I don’t think any have ever reached the majors. Best wishes on this one. I don’t think we have ever had a Taiwanese player before; only Japan, South Korea and Australia
no, neither of the Million Dollar Arm guys made it, but South Africa and Lithuania are pretty unique.
The athletes from India didn’t grow up playing baseball let alone had ever thrown a baseball. They’re innate mechanics were way off. The Pirates signed them because they threw the hardest.
As usual, Wiki answers a lot of questions including how many players have been signed from Taiwan. It’s a pretty interesting list –
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_players_from_Taiwan
And the Dodgers signed a 21 year-old out of the same country last June, but he’s got no USA stats up until this point –
http://cpblstats.com/los-angeles-dodgers-sign-cheng-hao-chun-pending-physical/
Batter: what’s his name?
Catcher: po yu
Batter: why? Is his pitches that nasty? What’s he throw? Come on man help me out
Ump: strike 3