The White Sox were expected to announce the signings of outfielder Yoelqui Cespedes and right-hander Norge Vera on the first day of the international signing period Friday. The deals for Cespedes ($2.05 million) and Vera ($1.5 million), which had been reported previously, add the No. 1 and No. 15 prospects per MLB Pipeline to the Sox farm system.
The international signing period that was scheduled to begin last July started today because of the coronavirus pandemic. It ends on Dec. 15. The Sox had not announced the deals as of Friday morning.
Cespedes, 23, the half-brother of free agent outfielder Yoenis Céspedes, is the big prize. According to MLB Pipeline, he could be the first international prospect in this class to reach the major leagues, although a Sox source said 2022 is probably the earliest arrival for the strong-armed, five-tool talent who profiles in right field but has the ability to play center.
Cespedes defected from the Cuban National Team in June 2019 while playing in the Can-Am League in New York. Since then, he has added 15 pounds of muscle to his 5-9 frame.
On the “Inside the Clubhouse” show on 670-AM last week, Sox international scouting head Marco Paddy said Cespedes “is a very good athlete and has the ability to be a natural center fielder. He can really play defense. He is a fine base runner and has an extremely strong arm. Of course, he is a good hitter. Since he has been in the States, he has worked really hard to develop some extra power. Most Cuban players don’t lift weights in Cuba. Now adding muscle, he has shown plus power.”
Paddy, special assistant to general manager Rick Hahn, said Cespedes “is ready from a baseball tools standpoint.”
“He has a very high baseball IQ and is very knowledgeable about the game,” Paddy said. “He plays under control. It’s just getting used to the grind of a 162-game schedule.”
The 6-4, 190-pound Vera, 20, possesses a 94-97 fastball with “a plus breaking ball and a plus slider,” Paddy said.
“The young man has a great body and a great ability to locate his pitches. Vera has a strong feel for the strike zone and projects as a starting pitcher in the major leagues.”
Vera’s father, Norge Luis Veria, is a former Cuban National Series star.
According to Baseball, the Sox are also expected to sign Dominican infielder Victor Quezada for a bonus in the $500,000 range, as well as catcher Manuel Guariman, outfielder Dario Barrero and right-handers Adrian Gil and Gabriel Rodriguez. The latter four are from Venezuela.
