International Reviews: Colorado Rockies

Top 2016-17 signing: OF Yeikel Blandin, Venezuela, $1 million.

Total signings: 22.

The Rockies had the fourth-highest international bonus pool in 2016-17 and used that pool space heavily in Venezuela, with their four biggest bonuses going to Venezuelan players during the signing period. Colorado doesn’t have an affiliate in the Rookie-level Arizona League (Grand Junction in the Rookie-level Pioneer League is their lowest affiliate in the United States), so all of their signings are ticketed for the Dominican Summer League.

The largest bonus went to Yeikel Blandin, a 17-year-old center fielder who signed for $1 million. Blandin was Venezuela’s center fielder and leadoff hitter at the COPABE 15U Pan American Championship in 2015, where he hit .367 in 30 at-bats and slugged .533 with more walks (6) than strikeouts (4). Blandin is a skinny (5-foot-11, 160 pounds) lefthanded hitter whose best tools are his speed and hitting. Blandin makes a lot of contact with his compact swing and ability to use the whole field. He’s physically underdeveloped, which shows in his bat speed and gap power, so getting stronger will be key for Blandin’s development. Blandin is a plus runner, giving him the skill set to potentially hit toward the top of a lineup. Blandin’s speed allows him to play center field, though his arm is below-average and he will need to improve his jumps and route running. Blandin trained with Johan Ocanto.

Lefthander Alfredo Garcia became eligible to sign in 2015 and performed well at a showcase in the United States late in the signing process that year. The Rockies liked Garcia, who’s represented by Carolina Andrade, but were low on remaining bonus pool money, so Garcia agreed to wait until July 2, 2016 to sign with Colorado for $900,000. In 2015, Garcia had been 5-foot-10, throwing 85-87 mph, but by January last year he had grown to 6 feet, improved his conditioning and was throwing 88-90 mph Garcia. Now 17, Garcia is 6-foot-2 with a stronger frame, sitting at 88-91 mph and touching 93. With a good delivery and easy arm action, Garcia also shows feel to spin a curveball and feel for his changeup as well.

While Garcia was a previously eligible player from the 2015 class, some scouts felt the best lefty on the 2016 market was Luis Noguera, a 16-year-old the Rockies signed out of Venezuela for $600,000. After signing, though, Noguera had to miss Dominican instructional league due to bone spurs. He didn’t require surgery, so he has rehabbed and should be ready to go for the start of the DSL. A good athlete, Noguera has a smooth, easy delivery with minimal effort to go with quick arm speed and loose, clean arm action. Noguera has plenty of physical projection to add weight to his frame (6-foot-2, 160 pounds) and velocity to his fastball, which parks at 88-91 mph. His curveball has sharp break and good depth, while his changeup is advanced for his age too with good movement and differential off his fastball. Noguera’s ability to repeat his fluid mechanics allow him to throw strikes and locate his fastball well.

Another Venezuelan pitcher, 17-year-old righthander Diego Blanco, signed with the Rockies for $700,000 on July 2. Blanco has a more physical frame (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) and projects to be more of a power arm than Noguera, though he is advanced in terms of his feel to pitch. Blanco has a loose, quick arm with good movement on his 87-91 mph fastball. He throws a curveball with solid rotation and tight spin at his best, though it gets slurvy at times. Blanco is athletic but with his mechanics he could ultimately end up a power reliever. He trained with Ivan Suarez.

For $600,000 on July 2, the Rockies signed Dominican outfielder Yolki Pena, a lefty who stood out for his hitting skills. Still physically underdeveloped at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, Pena is a line-drive hitter with a sound swing and good plate coverage. Like Rockies outfielder Raimel Tapia, he shows an innate knack for putting the barrel to the ball consistently and is able to square up big velocity, with mostly doubles power right now. If Pena can gain speed as he gets stronger he could move to center field, but as a below-average runner he’s a corner outfielder for now. He is athletic with good actions and reads in the outfield for his age along with an average arm. Pena trained with Negro Chal, known as “Aguila.”

Venezuelan righthander Enrique Castillo signed with the Rockies for $175,000 in August after training with Ciro Barrios, who also had righthander Anderson Amarista when the Rockies signed him in 2015. Castillo, 17, is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound strike-thrower with an athletic, easy delivery. He throws 86-90 mph with downhill angle and is able to land his curveball and changeup for strikes well for his age. Castillo’s upside is lower than the other pitchers the Rockies signed, but with more strength he could develop average stuff to go with his advanced pitchability.

Another July 2 signing, 17-year-old Dominican outfielder Steven Fana, got $100,000 after training with Jose Valdez. He’s 6-foot-1, 180 pounds with good strength and bat speed from the right side and doubles power. He’s a fringy runner with an above-average arm to play right field.

Prior to July 2, the Rockies picked up a pair of sleepers. The first was 20-year-old Shael Mendoza, a Dominican second baseman who signed for $80,0000 last year in February. Mendoza (6 feet, 165 pounds) is an 80 runner who stole 25 bases in 35 attempts last year in the DSL, where he hit .272/.300/.339 in 239 plate appearances from the left side.

Right before the DSL season began, the Rockies added 17-year-old Venezuelan righthander Jeffri Ocando for $10,000 and he quickly developed into one of the Rockies’ best pitching prospects in their academy. He allowed just two runs (one earned) in 23 innings for an ERA of 0.39 with 29 strikeouts and one walk. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, Ocando is an aggressive strike-thrower who signed throwing 88-91 mph but by the end of the DSL season was 88-94 mph. He shows the ability to manipulate his secondary pitches too, with a downer curveball and feel for his changeup.