James Fox already spoiled most of the names and positions in his international signing preview, but the opening of the signing period on Sunday indeed confirmed most of the new players entering the White Sox organization.
The White Sox today stamped seven signings, five of whom were in James' preview.
*Luis Reyes, arguably the top Dominican pitcher in the class, signed for $700,000 (Signing photo).
*Outfielder Abraham Nuñez Jr. signed for $700,000. (Signing photo)
*Cuban outfielder Rafael Álvarez signed for $300,000. (Signing photo)
*Juan Uribe Jr., who plays the same position as his father, signed for $200,000. Juan Uribe Sr. still looks Juan Uribe, non-senior.
*D'Angelo Tejada, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic, signed for $350,000.
The White Sox's press release also included two players not revealed in the FutureSox preview:
*Outfielder Albert Alberto, a 16-year-old Dominican who already stands 6-3 and 200 pounds, signed for $50,000.
*Denny Lima, an 18-year-old, 6-foot, 160-pound Dominican righty who signed for $10,000.
The White Sox added that they expect additional signings in the coming weeks. One should be Venezuelan catcher Angelo Hernández. It was a surprise to see his name omitted thus far, because James mentioned him in the preview, and Francys Romero said Hernández will sign with the Sox for $500,000.
Assuming Hernández is still a go and Romero's figure is correct, $2.85 million of the White Sox's bonus pool has been accounted for, leaving them with $2.434 million remaining.
Unlike the White Sox's seven-figure signings of Oscar Colás and Erick Hernandez a year ago, none of these signings should immediately merit consideration for the organization's top 10 prospect lists.
Fortunately for Marco Paddy, his work is already disproportionately represented. I wrote last month that the Baseball America's top 10 White Sox prospects list comprised six international prospects, when no other BA prospect list at any point in Paddy's tenure had more than two.
It turns out that 60 percent transcends a White Sox context. Baseball America posted a story today saying that the White Sox have the heaviest international representation of any top 10 list this winter, and the Yankees are the only other team with five.
Hall of Famer Minnie Miñoso, baseball’s first Black Latino star, spent the prime of his career with the White Sox in the 1950s. Miñoso was Cuban, and the White Sox continue to feature a Cuban presence to this day. Jose Abreu, Jose Contreras, Luis Robert, Alexei Ramirez and Yoan Moncada are all 21st century examples.
The trend extends to Chicago’s farm system, where outfielder Oscar Colas, third baseman Bryan Ramos and righthander Norge Vera are Cubans who headline the organization’s six international free agents in the top 10, the most of any team.
The other three are righthander Cristian Mena and shortstop Jose Rodriguez from the Dominican Republic and shortstop Lenyn Sosa from Venezuela.
