Yankees reach deal with No. 15 international prospect
This browser does not support the video element.
The Yankees are adding one of the best outfield prospects on this year’s international market to their organization.
According to industry sources, the Yankees agreed to terms with Francisco Vilorio, MLB.com’s No. 15 international prospect as the 2024 signing period opened on Monday. The club has not yet confirmed the agreement.
The Yankees lost $1 million from their international signing pool when inking Carlos Rodón, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Giants, leaving the Bronx Bombers with $4,652,200.
Vilorio is a tall, projectable outfielder with power potential and the ability to impact the game in various ways. The athletic teen has a solid bat tool and has a chance to hit for average and power in the future. He already shows emerging raw power and more strength should come as his body matures.
Overall, he projects to be a middle-of-the-order bat and an offensive threat if he continues to develop at the expected pace. His offensive potential makes him valuable, but he’s also improving on the other side of the ball. Vilorio is toolsy enough on defense to start in center field and just might stay there. There’s also a chance he outgrows the position and moves to a corner spot -- he has the potential power to match it. Currently, he shows the arm strength and the bat tool to profile as a right fielder.
Vilorio is trained by HPP Carlos Lopez in the 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.