There are a lot of reasons why international scouts find right-handed pitcher Marwys Jorge appealing. He reminds some of Edward Cabrera. Others saw flashes of Sandy Alcantara.

What we know is that the teenager is being trained by former Kansas City pitcher Edinson Volquez, so he is getting top-notch instruction.

That’s good news for Royals fans.

The club on Friday agreed to a deal with Jorge, the No. 49 prospect on the international Top 50 Prospects list. The Royals, who have a base signing pool of $5,825,500, signed Jorge for $450,000 deal, according to industry sources.

Jorge is among 30 international free agents the Royals signed, surpassing last year’s group (28) as the largest international free-agent class in franchise history.

“We’re proud of this group and excited to get them all in our system and help them achieve their dreams,” said  Rene Francisco, the Royals' SVP, assistant GM of Major League and international operations, in a statement. “We believe we have a strong mix of high-end pitching talent, athleticism that can play all over the field, and power. I know our great fans will enjoy following their progress.”

• Signing tracker | Top 50 Prospects list | Each team's best int'l prospect

Jorge throws a fastball in the 88-90 mph range with good command. His curveball is emerging, and he also throws a changeup. He shows an easy and fluid delivery and uses his lower half well, as he continues to improve his balance and timing. If all goes according to plan, the Dominican Republic native projects to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter. The 16-year-old has also been praised for his work ethic and makeup.

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 -- in practical terms, that means players born between Sept. 1, 2005, and Aug. 31, 2006, will be eligible to sign in the upcoming signing period. Players have to be registered with Major League Baseball in advance in order to be eligible to sign.

Teams are allowed to trade international bonus pool money starting Jan. 15.