Report: Cuba's Yoan Moncada petitions MLB for free agency
Cuban prospect Yoan Moncada is petitioning Major League Baseball for free agency after establishing residency in Guatemala, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
Moncada has scheduled a showcase for Nov. 12, Sanchez reports.
The 19-year-old is a switch-hitting third baseman and shortstop. Because of his age, he will be subject to MLB's international free agent rules, which mandate spending limits on foreign players. Sanchez reports that Moncada could either be eligible to sign during the current international signing period, which runs until June 15, 2015, or during the following one, which begins on July 2, 2015.
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Moncada is from the town of Cienfuegos, also the hometown of Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig. He made his professional debut with Cienfuegos at the age of 17, playing with White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu and Dodgers shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena.
Baseball America described Moncada as "the best teenager to leave Cuba since Jorge Soler, a player with exciting tools and dominance of the Cuban junior leagues on par with what Yasiel Puig did at the same age."
- Dan Gartland
