Chicago Cubs hope Bulgarian prospect a diamond in the rough

The top names in the international prospect pool may have signed, but that does not mean teams are done. They are still searching ballfields, hoping to find that diamond in the rough that had been overlooked by everyone else. The Chicago Cubs may have such a player in Ioannis Alexandrov.

No one is going to imagine that Bulgaria is a hotbed of baseball activity. In fact, no one from the country had ever signed a contract with any major league team. That changed with Alexandrov, who recently signed a six year deal with the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs sign Bulgarian prospect Ioannis Alexandrov

Alexandrov attracted attention from more than just the Cubs. Several teams were interested in him after a training camp held in Florida back in November. He had remained in Florida after that camp was over, continuing to train and work on his craft.

There is plenty to like about Alexandrov. He stands 6’4″ tall and weighs 230 pounds, giving him excellent size for a catcher. His swing appears to be solid and he has the potential to hit for a great deal of power, especially as he continues to grow.

However, it is going to take some time before he can work his way into the conversation for a spot in the majors. As one would expect, he is a very raw prospect who is going to need plenty of time to develop. He will need to learn how to work with a pitching staff, call games, and the finer points of the game.

But the foundation appears to be there. There are enough tools, no matter how raw, that Alexandrov was able to intrigue several teams. Now, he will start his career with the Cubs, where he may prove to be a diamond in the rough.

The Chicago Cubs have signed catcher Ioannis Alexandrov to a six year deal. He is the first player from Bulgaria to sign with a major league organization.