The Tigers are adding a trio of top international prospects to their system, as they remain a force in the market.
According to industry sources, the club has agreed to deals with catcher Enrique Jimenez, who is No. 32 on the Top 50 International Prospects list, as well as shortstop Maikol Orozco (No. 44) and outfielder Cristian Perez (No. 48).
The Tigers, who have a base signing pool of $6,366,900, have not confirmed the agreements. The deals are pending physicals.
The switch-hitting Jimenez shows lots of hitting ability and some power, especially from the right side of the plate. He makes hard contact to all fields and possesses noticeable opposite-field power. The teenage catcher from Venezuela projects to be an average runner.
Behind the plate, he shows a high baseball IQ and an understanding of how to call a game. His blocking, framing and receiving skills continue to improve, and he has outstanding footwork. He projects to have an average arm, but he makes up for it in overall athleticism. Jimenez trains with Carlos Mota.
As for Orozco, a fellow Venezuelan, he is going to play in the middle of the field. He certainly has the skills to stay at shortstop, but his future could be at second base. What we know is that the offensive-minded prospect is going to hit.
There’s a ton of projection with Orozco’s hit tool in large part because of his advanced approach at the plate and ability to drive the ball to all fields. He is a bat-over-glove type of prospect, but he is still a decent defender with a strong arm. Orozco is represented by Wilfredo Polidor, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.
Overall, Perez has a medium frame and a compact body. There is strength there, and he has shown the ability to hit the fastball. The Dominican prospect projects to be an average defender with an average arm. He will get a chance to stay in center field.
Perez is trained by Cristian “Niche” Batista, a member of MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.
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.