DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – Getting ready for the 2023 baseball season, the Detroit Tigers have announced they have signed 20 international prospects. Three of the 20 players signed are ranked in the MLB Pipeline’s Top 50 in Enrique Jimenez, Maikol Orozco, and Cristian Perez.
The top prospect is Jimenez at no. 32 in the pipeline coming from Barcelona, Venezuela. The MLB Pipeline scout wrote, “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. His make-up has been described as off the charts.”
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Jimenez is 17 years old and stands at 5’10” and 170 pounds as a switch hitter.
Orozco is a Venezuelan short stop ranked as the no. 44 prospect in the MLB Pipeline. He will play in the middle of the field and can hit. The prospect report says “there is a ton of projection with his hit tool in large part because of his advanced approach at the play and ability to drive the ball to all fields. The ball jumps off the bat, and he consistently makes hard contact.”
The 17-year old Orozco is 5’11” and 175 pounds hitting and throwing from the right side.
The final top 50 player signed is Perez from the Dominican at no. 48. His report said, “he already makes hard contact to all fields, and he shows signs of more power potential. He has a medium frame and a compact body. There is strength there, and it shows up in his swing.”
Perez is 16 years old and is 5’11”, 190 pounds, and bats and throws right. He is trained by Cristian “Niche” Batista who is a member of the MLB’s Trainer Partnership Program.
Below is the list of all the players signed by Detroit:
RHP Kelvis Salcedo (6-0, 180) from Venezuela
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C Martin Tamara (6-0, 185) from Colombia
OF Santiago Pinto (5-11, 170) from Venezuela
RHP Victor Pena (6-3, 185) from the Dominican Republic.
RHP Wuilberth Mendez (6-3, 150) from Venezuela
OF Adrian Hoyte (5-7, 145) from Venezuela
OF Cristian Perez (5-11, 190) from the Dominican Republic
RHP Andy Mateo (6-4, 180) from the Dominican Republic
RHP Deibi Rodriguez (6-0, 175) from Venezuela.
LHP Erickson De Los Santos (6-6, 200) from the Dominican Republic
OF Willian Berti (6-0, 160) from Venezuela
C Nelson Marin (5-11, 165) from Venezuela.
RHP Luis Vasquez (6-4, 180) from the Dominican Republic
SS Maikol Orozco (5-11, 175) from Venezuela.
RHP Leonardo Leon (6-4, 180) from Venezuela
OF Brandy Caraballo (5-9, 150)
OF Abelardo Medrano (6-2, 180) from the Dominican Republic
OF Anibal Salas (5-11, 180) from Venezuela
C Enrique Jimenez (5-10, 165) from Venezuela
OF Cristian Perez (5-11, 190) from the Dominican Republic
Spring training for Detroit will start on February 14 when pitchers and catchers report to Lakeland, Fla., to Tigertown. The full squad is scheduled to be there on February 18.
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