International Prospects: The forgotten Sergio Barthelemy

Sergio Barthelemy is one of the most overlooked international prospects released to MLB by FCB. If signed on July 2, he is sure to turn some heads.

Most people talk about Óscar Luis Colás, but there is another prospect from Santiago, Cuba who has been overlooked. His name is Sergio Barthelemy, one of the most underrated international prospects on the market.

The versatile 25-year-old who can play all three outfield positions and first base could develop into a five-tool player.

He has a sweet swing from the left side of the plate and makes plenty of quality contact. His last year in Cuba the Barthelemy  .295 with two round-trippers and 20 runs batted in. He also managed to steal three bases also that season.

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

The young Cuban made a national team and showed his skills at the 2017 World Port Tournament where he slashed .368/.429/.556. I spoke with him about his experience at the Tournament and this is what he said:

“The World Port Tournament was a great experience. I learned a lot from veterans like Yordanis Samón and Ariel Sánchez. All the clubs that participated in this were very talented, especially the pitchers who threw with good velocity.”

Barthelemy was on the list handed over by the Cuban Federation to MLB and would have more than likely been signed. About this, he said:

“Being added to the list of 34 prospects turned over to MLB was big. This would have curved defections. This accord would have given players an avenue to provide for the families.”

Since that deal was nullified at least eight players from that list have defected. Although he has yet to be declared a free agent Barthelemy will be highly sought after if he’s available July 2.

Barthelemy dreams of playing in the Majors and even revealed to me in our conversation that he has a favorite team and would love to see a unified Cuban team in International competitions.

“I would love to play for the Dodgers and would like to see a unified Cuban team with players from the various leagues we play in. The would-be one heck of a team.”

List of 34 International Prospects Released to MLB by FCB in April

(Agreement was nullified by the US government)

1. Alfredo Fadraga C (Ciego de Avila)
2. Ariel Martinez C ( Matanzas)**
3. Daniel Perez 1B( Cienfuegos)
4. Cesar Prieto 2B ( Cienfuegos)***
5. Andres Hernandez 3B (Havana),
6. Norel González 1B-OF (Villa Clara)*
7. Oscar Luis Colas 1B-OF-LHP (Santiago de Cuba)*
8. Guillermo Garcia IF (Granma)
9. Narde Yadan Cruz IF (Havana)*
10. Loidel Chapelli IF (Camaguey)
11. Ricardo Ramos IF (Santiago de Cuba)*
12. Felix Rodriguez OF (Cienfuegos)
13. Geyser Cepeda OF (Sancti Spiritus)
14. Yoelkis Cespedes OF (Granma)
15. Sergio Bartelemy OF (Santiago de Cuba*
16. Yoelquis Guibert OF (Santiago de Cuba)
17. Maykel Garcia OF (Las Tunas)
18. Carlos Pelegrin OF (Pinar del Rio)*
19. Leonel Moas  OF(Camaguey)
20. Livan Moinelo P (Pinar del Rio)**
21. Raidel Martinez P (Pinar del Rio)**
22. Andy Rodriguez P (Havana)
23. Yandi Molina P (Havana)
24. Alyanser Alvarez P (Mayabeque),
25. Diosbel Napoles P (Mayabeque)
26. Pavel Hernandez P (Havana)
27. Pablo Luis Guillen P (Villa Clara)
28. Daniel Conde (Villa Clara)*
29. Yosimar Cousin P (Camaguey)
30. Rafael Sanchez P (Holguin)
31. Carlos Font P (Santiago de Cuba)
32. Norge Carlos Vera P (Santiago de Cuba)*
33. Raidmon Figueredo P (Havana)*
34. Yeudis Reyes P ( Guantanamo).

*denotes defection since the agreement was nullified

**denotes player signed to Nippon League

*** denotes player signed to Mexican League