Padres sign Cuban teen pitcher Bolanos
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The Padres announced Thursday that they have signed 19-year-old right-hander Ronald Bolanos. Bolanos, who hails from Cuba, is ranked No. 21 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 30 International Prospects list.
Per MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez, the club agreed to sign Bolanos for $2.25 million last week.
Bolanos is listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds. He throws a 94-96-mph fastball with late life, a curveball that ranges from 76-78 mph and an 86-87-mph slider. He also has a changeup that he throws between 80-82 mph.
Scouts like Bolanos' tall frame, with his long arms and strong base. He has a three-quarters release point for all his pitches, making it tough for hitters to judge what's coming.
Bolanos, who came up as an outfielder before being converted to a pitcher, played for Cuba's Junior National Team and in Cuba's Serie Nacional. In 2014, he played in the COPABE 18U Pan American Championship in Mexico.
Including penalties, the Padres have now committed approximately $60 million internationally on prospects during this signing period.