Guardians land lefty-hitting Dominican OF prospect
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The Guardians added one of the best left-handed-hitting prospects from this year's international market upon Monday's opening of the 2024 signing period.
The team announced it has signed Roberto Arias, MLB.com's No. 13 international prospect. The Guardians signed 25 international amateur free agents overall on Monday.
The Guardians are one of six teams in Signing Bonus Pool B for 2024, resulting in a $7,114,800 signing allotment.
Arias is considered a premium athlete and should have the chance to sport plus tools across the board if he continues to develop at his current pace. His bat-to-ball skills are advanced for his age, and he has a knack for putting the ball in play. He's aggressive in the batter's box and already features a loose and mechanically sound swing.
Overall, the twitchy athlete has a lean body and is expected to add muscle as he matures and his body develops. He has already shown speed potential and could emerge as a threat on the basepaths.
Arias has a chance to become an above-average defender. If all goes according to plan, he projects to provide offensive production at the top of the lineup and solid defense in the outfield. His potential is likely to only blossom more as he receives daily instruction from the Guardians.
The teen trains with Quico Pena in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year.
That means players born between Sept. 1, 2006, and Aug. 31, 2007, will be eligible to sign in the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign.