New York Mets prospect Yovanny Rodriguez is developing some real buzz around MLB and it’s a reason for Amazin’ fans to be very excited because the youngster is only 17 years old.
While most fans know the impact the yearly MLB Draft will have on the future of their favorite teams, over the last 20 years the international market has become just as vital to finding future stars. With new limits on how much money organizations can spend on foreign prospects, teams must use their money wisely.
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And it seems like the Mets may have found a real gem in Venezuelan teenager Yovanny Rodriguez. Last month the organization signed the prospect to a minor league pact for $2.85 million after he was a primary target during the recruiting process.
“The Mets built a relationship with Rodriguez and his family throughout the process, and he was able to speak to [catcher] Francisco Alvarez on a few occasions, getting advice on the road he is about to take,” Joe DeMayo of SNY reported on Wednesday. Alvarez is also a native of Venezuela, a fellow catcher, flew through the systems farm, and became a big league starter at just 21.
Signing Rodriguez is a coup for the Mets because he was viewed as the top-catching prospect in this year’s international class with both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline, and sixth overall in the latter’s rankings. MLB Pipeline also had a grade on him where he could turn into the best player from this group of prospects.
Scouts told SNY that Rodriguez continues to show development every time they see him up close, and he also gets bigger and stronger physically to match his growing skills. The outlet also revealed an interesting nugget about his elite-level defense from the most important defensive position on the field.
“One Mets scout said he has a 70-grade arm on a 20-80 scale and that in workouts he would have pop times throwing down to second base that are at the level of JT Realmuto, who is among the best at throwing out base runners at the major league level.”
Another key report that shows the huge potential Yovanny Rodriguez has is that New York Mets officials are also reportedly very pleased with his bat control and he is already able to make good contact on pitches.
“The barrel control leads scouts to project him to be able to make consistent contact at the next level,” SNY reported. “As Rodriguez continues to physically mature and get stronger, there is belief that he will also be able to hit for power.”
The Mets prospect is years away but it should make owner Steven Cohen very happy his strategy of building their farm system continues to show signs of progress.
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