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Three More International Possibilities for the Atlanta Braves this Summer

By Alan Carpenter

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Most of the Caribbean International Teens are spoken for, but 3 Cuban players may still be up for grabs… if the price is right

In my look yesterday at the 2016-17 International market and how a new MLB investigation into the behavior of the Red Sox could give some teams pause in some of their pursuits, I broke down the top 30 teenagers that are expected to sign with clubs on-or-about July 2 by team.

The Braves have a plateful of prospects ready to be signed to their Dominican academy come July 2nd.  MLB.com has identified 6 of the Top 30 tied to Atlanta – most of any team except the Padres (also 6) – and that doesn’t count any outside the Top 30 that undoubtedly will also be inked (MLB’s Jesse Sanchez lists thirty-three more names here).

The top six players connected to Atlanta in advance of July 2nd start date are…

  • KEVIN MAITAN, Venezuela.  Rank 1.  SS (SW/R).  16½yo, 6’2″/165.  By far and away, the prize of this season… and multiple seasons.  Could ultimately end up at third base.
  • ABRAHAN GUTIERREZ, Venezuela.  Rank 17.  C (R/R).  16-3/4yo, 6’1″/179.  Defense first, but should not be a slouch at the plate, either.
  • YUNIOR SEVERINO, DomRep.  Rank 18.  SS (SW/R).  16-3/4yo, 5’10″/160.  Offensive potential here, and if he grows some more, than could get interesting.  Looks like an eventual second baseman.
  • YENCI PENA, DomRep.  Rank 21.  3B (R/R).  Will be 16 on July 13, and thus cannot sign until then.  6’2″/181.  Another middle infielder (all the good athletes are at this age), projected to land at third.  Looks to hit well and to hit with some power.
  • LIVAN SOTO, Venezuela.  Rank 23.  INF (L/R).  Will be 16 next month; 5’9″/141.  Projected as a shortstop now; I’m thinking Daniel-Castro-like.
  • JUAN CONTRERAS, DomRep.  Rank 35.  RHP.  Will be 17 in September; 6’1″/175.  Up to 95 mph fastball with solid slider, needs works in other areas.

Things of note about this list:

  • No outfielders.
  • 1 pitcher.

Granted, when you sign 16-year-olds, you are projecting 5-10 years into the future, and that’s light-years away in baseball terms, so positions can change.  At the same time, you have to make guesses about skills vs. needs, and that will influence other decisions made down the road.

That finally leads me to the main topic today:  the top Cuban prospects…

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