Los Angeles Dodgers sign Osvani Gutierrez to $600k bonus

The Los Angeles Dodgers have signed an intriguing prospect in 17 year old Cuban righty Osvani Gutierrez.

Sometimes, the best players in international free agency fly under the radar. While some of the top names pan out, emerging as stars for their respective teams, there are plenty of success stories of those players who were somewhat afterthoughts in the international market. Just look at what players like Salvador Perez, Ronald Acuna, and Miguel Andujar, amongst others.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping to add another name to that list. They have signed an intriguing prospect in 17 year old Cuban right handed pitcher Osvani Gutierrez to a $600,000 bonus. Gutierrez did not rank in any of the top international prospect lists heading into this signing period, an omission that may eventually prove to be a mistake.

According to Ben Badler, Gutierrez has a mix of pitches and pitchability that makes him quite interesting. He is armed with a fastball that reaches 93 MPH, and could well add a few more ticks of velocity as his 6’1″ 170 lb frame fills out. He also has a changeup and a curve, both of which could develop into solid offerings as well.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

While that three pitch arsenal gives hope that he will develop into a solid starter, it is his makeup that could truly lead to success. He is said to have a high effort delivery, but he throws strikes and has a feel for pitching. With some refinement, Gutierrez could end up being a steal.

Based on his limited experience, Gutierrez has been a solid pitcher. He was arguably the second best arm in Cuba’s 15U league in 2016, where he was able to dominate the competition. Gutierrez posted an excellent 2.16 ERA over his 75 innings, striking out 60 batters while issuing 29 walks. He threw the second most innings in the league that season, which also shows hope that he will be able to develop into a strike throwing workhorse.

The Dodgers are also not likely to be done after this signing. They had one of the largest bonus pools remaining as of the middle of September, with the fourth highest amount in the league. While most of the top players are already signed, Los Angeles could still make some noise in the market.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have added another international free agent in Osvani Gutierrez. Although he was not considered a top international prospect, Gutierrez could prove to be a steal in a few years.