Phillies agree to terms with 17-year-old Dominican OF prospect
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According to industry sources, the Phillies are adding a talented Dominican outfielder to their system, agreeing to a $1.4 million deal with Jalvin Arias, MLB.com’s No. 19 international prospect upon Monday's opening of the 2024 signing period. The club has not yet confirmed the agreement.
The Phillies lost $1 million from their signing pool for inking Trea Turner, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Dodgers, leaving them with a pool of $4,652,200.
Arias’ best attribute is his long limbs, and along with a 6-foot-3 frame that boasts definition, that makes for an exciting upside since he’s just 17 years old. Many clubs showed interest in Arias, who has trained in the Dominican Republic with Cristian Batista, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program. Now he’ll be able to develop more at the Phillies’ academy.
Arias sports an explosive uppercut swing that plays well alongside his idea of what he wants to do at the plate. Already at 210 pounds with gap-to-gap pop, there figures to be more in the tank in the power department as he continues to mature and fill out physically.
The right-handed-throwing outfielder displays smooth defensive actions and has a long arm swing with solid extension, making up for what is likely average arm strength.
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.