Adolis Garcia signed a $10 million contract, Brad Keller signed a $22 million contract, and Kyle Schwarber re-signed a $150 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies this offseason.
They’re not done spending, though, as they’ve expressed interest in J.T. Realmuto and Bo Bichette. But their next acquisition wasn’t either; rather, it was a widely anticipated overseas possibility.
Phillies sign top-3 ranked international prospect
“Phillies have officially signed Venezuelan CF Francisco Renteria,” Varners writes. “At $4 million, his signing bonus ties a 2015 international amateur franchise record. He is ranked No. 2 in this international class by Baseball America.
In a significant move for the team, the Phillies are acquiring one of the top prospects in this class. He’s one of the more intriguing prospects available, and it’s also matching their previous high in spending on a single player.
He is ranked second by Baseball America and third by MLB Pipeline. Being rated so highly by both indicates that the Phillies signed a solid player.
The right-handed hitting outfielder has a lot of promise. He is a strong hitter with a lot of power, a good fielder, and a decent baserunner.
MLB Pipeline’s scouting report contains an amazing anecdote. Last summer, at the age of 15, Renteria hit two former Major League pitchers while going 8-for-28 with three doubles in the Venezuelan Major League.
Renteria will be a long way from making his Major League debut at the age of 17. However, the 6-foot-3 outfielder is among the more intriguing prospects this winter and has the potential to play a significant role for the Phillies in the future.
Renteria is highly respected and has the potential to become a significant asset for the Phillies in the future as he advances through the minor leagues, but fans will need to be patient.
