The 2022 International Free Agent Class:
Before the 2021 season, the MLB moved the international free agent signing period to start in the middle of January instead of June. This change has been kept for the 2022 international signing period as well.
Earlier this week, Tamar Chalker broke the news about Roderick Arias for the blog. Today, I’ll announce 10 other known names for the Yankees.
Player: Santiago “El Gallito” Gomez
Position: Infielder
Country: Mexico
Signing Bonus: Unknown
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It’s not often that a team signs a talent with true in-game experience like Santiago Gomez. Coming out of the Independent Mexican Leagues, Gomez was signed from the Pericos de Puebla. I cannot find any statistics to confirm if he played with the official ball club, and from the official press release it does seem that Gomez was a prospect in their academy.
Signed by Yankees scout Lee Sigman- a former manager of the Pericos in 2002 and 2003- he highlights that Gomez has “excellent tools” and a “signature image”. He’s also 17 years old (born 4/5/2004).
The signing of Gomez is also not the first player the Yankees have grabbed from the Perricos. Previously, the Yankees signed Cesar Vargas (who made the MLB for 7 games with the Padres in 2016) and Ernesto Borges (a current player in the Yankees minor league system).
Official Press Release from Pericos del Puebla
📝: SANTIAGO GÓMEZ FIRMA CON LOS YANKEES DE NUEVA YORK ☑️ Lee Sigman, Scout de los Yankees de Nueva York, el encargado de realizar la fIrma ☑️ La Academia de los Pericos de Puebla continúa dando frutos#VolaremosAlto https://t.co/gHuW1fUB8B — Pericos de Puebla (@Pericos_Oficial) January 19, 2022
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Player: Luis Suarez
Position: Shortstop
Country: Venezuela
Signing Bonus: $50,000
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This isn’t the famous footballer/soccer player Luis Suarez from Uruguay having a midlife crisis and changing careers to baseball. So, we also don’t need to worry about the Yankees prospect biting anybody any time soon.
Instead, we should be looking for eat up balls hit to the left side of the infield and munch on opposing defenses. (These jokes are going to get old.) According to at least one scout, Suarez has excellent defense and an up-to 70-grade speed.
Here is some footage of Suarez showcasing some solid pop and that 70-grade speed with a triple.
Yankees signing Venezuelan shortstop Luis Suarez https://t.co/ZG8rEgV8vn pic.twitter.com/oT5wRSQUqM — Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 16, 2022
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Player: Diomedes Hernández
Position: Catcher
Country: Venezuela
Signing Bonus: Unknown
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Unfortunately, not much is known about Hernandez. He comes out of the Diomedes Academy in Venezuela and is a catcher. Apparently, he also agreed to this deal (in principle) with the Yankees back in March.
However, we do have two separate clips of Hernandez:
and one from some in-game work
He also has an instagram, where you can give him a follow: @diohernandez_03!
Yankees adding to their class today, signing Diomedes Hernandez from Venezuela https://t.co/ZG8rEgV8vn pic.twitter.com/1v4Urvu3Ju — Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2022
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Player: Enyer Ureña
Position: Catcher
Country: Dominican Republic
Signing Bonus: Unknown
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If not much was known about Hernandez, even less is known about Urena.
Seriously, outside of the information above and the photo to the right, I can’t find any new information on him.
He does have a cool name though.
Enyer.
Yankees add catcher Enyer Ureña to their international class todayhttps://t.co/ZG8rEgV8vn pic.twitter.com/Zv17M0owmY — Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 15, 2022
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Player: Omar Gonzalez
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Country: Panama
Signing Bonus: $135,000
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Another new Yankee has the name of a soccer player, with the new right-handed pitcher sharing the name with a current MLS star (and owner of a great birthday) who was just signed by the New England Revolution.
But, I digress.
Omar Gonzalez was given the second biggest (known) bonus for this international free agent period at $135K, and for good reason. In a showcase last April, Gonzalez threw to a 0.39 ERA with 20K’s and only 7 BB’s over 4 games.
Here’s some video of him pitching.
The Yankees signing Omar Gonzalez, RHP from Panamahttps://t.co/ZG8rEgV8vn pic.twitter.com/wXTwWMUTif — Ben Badler (@BenBadler) January 17, 2022
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Player: Enmanuel Tejeda
Position: Shortstop
Country: Dominican Republic
Signing Bonus: Unknown
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We have information! And lots of it!
Enmanuel Tejada has attended a couple different Perfect Game (PG) showcases, though all three of these came in 2019, so the information is old- especially for a young kid- but it can tell us something.
He is a switch-hitting shortstop that got a PG rating of 8, which means they saw him as a “potential draft pick and/or excellent college prospect”. He cracked an 80 MPH exit velocity and with his arm in the infield as a 15 year old, for what it is worth. Check out his complete Perfect Game profile (which includes some video), here.
You can also follow him on instagram @enmanuel_tejeda25!
Los @Yankees firman a otro prospecto internacional a sus granjas. 🇩🇴 Enmanuel Tejeda SS#Yankees pic.twitter.com/Zz1ly2JCox — Ricardo Gibbon P (@RicardoGibbon) January 16, 2022
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Player: Xabier Marte
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Country: Dominican Republic
Signing Bonus: Unknown
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I have absolutely no information on Xabier Marte.
Though, he also has a cool name.
Xabier.
Looks like the Yankees have added Xabier Marte a RHP from the Dominican Republic, per @BaseballAmerica This is where they stand so far… pic.twitter.com/koeuqGBhJt — John Brophy (@jbrophybaseball) January 16, 2022
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Player: Abraham Ramirez
Position: Outfield/First Base
Country: Venezuela
Signing Bonus: Unknown
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Such it is with a lot of these players, there is also very little information about Ramirez.
He comes out of the Swing Players Academy in Venezuela and is a combination outfielder and first baseman.
Don’t get him confused with the Abraham Ramirez who signed with the Kansas City Royals back in 2008.
Los @Yankees firmaron ayer a otro prospecto internacional a sus granjas que no se había incluido a la lista. 🇻🇪 Abraham Ramírez OF/1B Vía cuenta IG de su academia Swing Players Academy y gracias por el dato a @Daniel_m194#Yankees pic.twitter.com/kJficdIiQW — Ricardo Gibbon P (@RicardoGibbon) January 16, 2022
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Player: Ricardo Rodriguez
Position: Catcher
Country: Venezuela
Signing Bonus: $25,000
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Another player with the same name as a former professional baseball player, there have been a few other Ricardo Rodriguez’s around professional baseball. One was a RHP for the Texas Rangers in 2017 and 2018 and is now pitching for the Leones del Caracas in Venezuela. Another is a (free agent) minor league catcher who was a part of the Atlanta Braves system from 2015-2021. And a third pitched for the Indians and Rangers in the mid-2000’s.
I don’t know anything about the Yankees’ Ricardo Rodriguez though. Though, I can tell you that he looks good in blue!
De acuerdo al portal de @BaseballAmerica, los @Yankees firmaron a un nuevo prospecto internacional. 🇻🇪 Ricardo Rodríguez C#Yankees (📸: @elijfishman) pic.twitter.com/GnbEZPirIt — Ricardo Gibbon P (@RicardoGibbon) January 17, 2022
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Player: Keninson Diaz
Position: Right Handed Pitcher
Country: Venezuela
Signing Bonus: $30,000
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The last player on our list is Keninson Diaz from Venezuela.
It’s interesting because so few signing bonuses are available, yet we know that Keninson signed for $30K and I can’t find any other information about him.
You can give him a follow on Instagram @Keninson_30!
Nueva firma para los @Yankees en los prospectos internacionales. 🇻🇪 Keninson Díaz RHP 📸 Vía IG del jugador. pic.twitter.com/rdEd0TQbou — Ricardo Gibbon P (@RicardoGibbon) January 17, 2022
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The Complete List (as we know it so far):
Continúa: 🇻🇪 Ricardo Rodríguez C – $25K 🇻🇪 Keninson Díaz RHP – $30K 🇲🇽 Santiago Gómez INF #Yankees — Ricardo Gibbon P (@RicardoGibbon) January 19, 2022
