Cincinnati Reds to Sign One of the Top International Prospects, Add to Overall System

With the International Signing period opening up on Monday, the Cincinnati Reds are expected to finalize a deal with the No. 5 overall international prospect in this class: OF Adolfo Sanchez of the Dominican Republic.

They are signing him for $2.7 million and have also signed the 42nd-ranked prospect, Naibel Mariano.

The Reds have agreed to deals with No. 5 international prospect Adolfo Sanchez for $2.7 million and No. 42 Naibel Mariano for $1.65 million.

More details: https://t.co/LfPIkJ58k8 pic.twitter.com/p4JaZAE3eQ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 15, 2024

Per MLB Pipeline:

Sanchez is one of the best overall hitters in the class. The Dominican teen uses a mechanically sound left-handed swing to drive the ball to all fields. He features a slightly upward swinging motion, spraying the ball into the gaps. He is a bit wiry right now, but his power is expected to increase as he matures and fills into his body.

Defensively, Sanchez has good reaction times and takes good routes to fly balls. Given his range, ability to get good jumps and plus arm strength potential, he could stick in center field, though a transfer to right should be seamless if he's moved there. Scouts love his confidence and have applauded his overall makeup.

The Reds have one of the best young position player cores in all of baseball at the Major League level, but most of them are infielders by trade, so it's good to start to restock the farm in the outfield as well.

We're anywhere between three and eight years or so away from seeing any of these prospects reach the majors, so the positional depth at the major league level right now doesn't even really affect things at the low level of the minors.

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