Mariners Announce Three International Signings
Two players signed from the Dominican Republic, as well as one Cuban-born player
SEATTLE, Wash. — Seattle Mariners Director of International Amateur Scouting Frankie Thon Jr. today announced the following international signings:
· Starlin Aguilar, INF, Dominican Republic
· Juan Cruz, OF, Dominican Republic
· Victor Labrada, OF, Cuba
“International signings never get old,” Thon Jr. said. “It’s not only the pride splashed across everyone’s face, but also the collective sense of accomplishment when a young international player puts pen to paper. It’s quite humbling. It will always be a day filled with joy.”
Below is a brief description from Thon Jr. on the three players and their abilities:
Aguilar, 16, is a left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing infielder from the Dominican Republic with a smooth swing, easy power and is a potential middle of the order bat, slotted to play third base at the pro level. His most common player comparison to date is Boston Red Sox third-baseman Rafael Devers. Aguilar trained with the late trainer Rudy Santín.
Thon Jr. on Aguilar: “Aguilar is someone we, as a department, have a lot of history and familiarity with. His offensive skillset is impressive, relative to this age group. He’s also taken pride in working on his body during the pandemic, which speaks to his makeup and work ethic. We believe in the potential impact with the bat, and are confident he’ll add immediate value to our system.”
Cruz, 16, is a 5-foot-9 right-handed swinging outfielder from the Dominican Republic. Cruz brings above-average instincts in the outfield with tremendous range in center field.
Labrada, 21, hails from Cuba as a quick-twitch outfielder with an advanced speed tool. He is a strong athlete who performed well in international amateur competition, swinging the bat from the left side. He brings an aggressive play style to professional baseball and has been regarded as a blue-collar type of player.
Thon Jr. on Labrada: “Labrada is an older international amateur player out of Cuba. He is a plus-athlete who can really run, along with advanced on-base skills and sneaky pop. Very similar size, build, and toolset to our own Jonatan Clase. He’s shown signs of having that leadership gene and is very confident, brash and aggressive in-between the lines.”
