Houston Astros reportedly set to sign highly touted Pedro Leon
According to reports, highly touted Cuban outfielder Pedro Leon is set to sign with the Houston Astros on July 2.
As per the great Francys Romero (the man who broke FCB-MLB agreement), Mayabeque outfielder Pedro León might be a member of the Houston Astros organization on July 2nd and for a quite hefty sum.
The talented 21 year old Cuban who is represented by Wasserman Media Group will more than likely sign with Houston for a bonus of the sum of four million dollars.
The Astros will need to depend on their international signings after being stripped of their 1st and 2nd round picks in 2020 and 2021 as punishment to the sign stealing scandal.
Since his arrival to the Dominican Republic in October, he has demonstrated his five tool talent that includes great range in the field, speed on the base paths, a solid powerful swing and a rocket for an arm.
León who defected from Cuba has drawn plenty of attention from various ball clubs in the Dominican Republic, especially after an overwhelming showcase on Feb. 6.
Great arm and defensive range. pic.twitter.com/ekIfZSof0T
— Francys Romero (@francysromeroFR) February 6, 2020
In the 2018 Cuban National Series León slugged 15 big flys in 33 games with the Mayabeque Hurricanes before being lost to a shoulder injury. That season he also slashed .371/.455/.765, drove in 36 and stole seven bases in twelve attempts.
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He was selected to reinforce Havana’s Industriales in the second stanza of the tournament by the legendary manager Rey Vicente Anglada but was unable to play due yo a shoulder injury.
León will join a Houston Astros farm system that is chock full of Cubans. The Texas ball club has about sixteen Cubans on the farm to be exact.
With Norge Carlos Vera signing in Chicago, León being an Astro in the near future and the impending free agency of Óscar Luis Colás it will be an interesting summer for Cuban international free agents.
Although with Colás there is a problem with his impending free agency. Sources inside the SoftBank organization have made it clear that he is still under contract with them and might be put on the reserve list if he doesn’t comply with his contract. The Cuban Baseball Federation has also put in a claim due to the fact that he also signed an exclusive contract with them.
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Derek Jeter clone Yiddi Cappe has drawn plenty of interest and will supposedly sign with Miami and Yoelkis Céspedes has also drawn raves from the scouts.
My top 5 Cuban international prospects this July:
1. Óscar Luis Colás OF-1B-LHP Santiago
2. Pedro León OF Mayabeque
3. Norge Carlos Vera RHP Santiago
4. Yiddi Cappe SS Artemisa
5. Yoelkis Céspedes OF Granma