January 15, 2022 International Signing Period

kmc1019 2021-03-02 17:56:59 UTC #1

Not sure I've seen a 21-22 International thread, so posting here. Baseball America did a "21-22 International Big Board" and listed Top 20 prospects. Phillies linked to Shortstop and #7 William Bergolla Jr:
".....Bergolla Jr. has a sound swing and makes frequent contact in games with a line-drive approach and gap power. He's an instinctive player who projects to stick in the middle infield, with plus speed and an arm that earns 50 to 55 grades on the 20-80 scale"

Phillies Prospect Lists

fish 2021-03-02 19:33:17 UTC #3

The great William Bergolla Sr. was a high average, solid obp guy in the minors with a cup of coffee with the Reds in 2005.

He has solid bloodlines and doesn't already weigh 250 lbs, so that's a plus!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuWt6TVHTAL/?hl=en

andyb 2021-03-02 19:53:43 UTC #4

He is a 40 FV player on the Fangraphs international board. Note this board is not a comprehensive ranking and it mixes international classes. While ETA on their minor league prospect rankings indicates a projected major league debut, here I think it corresponds mostly to the signing class.

https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/international-players/summary?sort=-1,1&type=0

Squire 2021-03-02 21:14:22 UTC #5

I'm going with "Phillies connected with International Prospect Ranked #7 by BA" and running with it.....

fish 2021-03-02 23:13:09 UTC #6

I want to formally indoctrinate myself as the president of the Yemal Flores fan club. Understanding that all the video is bp with no ability to evaluate his ability to hit velocity or spin, I love his swing. It's so controlled and powerful. I look at him like I did the Alec Bohm draft pick. I had no idea how Bohm would pan out, but you could see his pedigree and physicality. He had the build you should spend the third overall pick on unlike Moniak, Randolph and Haseley (though I like Haseley). Maybe he doesn't pan out, but these are the guys I love to see them target- guys with huge tools and pro bodies. Yohswar Garcia is like that too- but Flores power looks like its already there.

julio 2021-03-02 23:18:49 UTC #7

OK. I concur, and place fish’s name in nomination for President of the YFFC.

We’ll need to work up a summary of official duties - wouldn’t want fish to think this is just some kind of a lark!

fish 2021-03-03 03:33:59 UTC #8

I will be hosting meet-and-greets, Yemal Flores round tables, and jersey be-dazzling at a Best Western near you!

Squire 2021-08-26 15:14:22 UTC #9

MLB.com does their Top 50 International

Good News: Bergolla is #4.
Bad News: We are connected to nobody else in the Top 50

bigegypt0417 2021-08-26 15:50:29 UTC #10

Have we ever been attached to someone so highly ranked?

andyb 2021-08-26 16:24:16 UTC #11

At times Jhailyn Ortiz and Luis Garcia were ranked that highly. Ortiz fell down the list before signing day but Garcia was always near the top (and this guy has a similar profile though maybe a little more power potential).

Fangraphs has him at the top of the 40 FV, so more like 20th.
https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/international-players/summary?sort=-1,1&type=0

bigegypt0417 2021-08-26 16:28:57 UTC #12

I remember vaguely Ortiz being close to that high but i feel like Garcia was always consistently around 10 or so.

Way too early to see where he lands but it seemed like a bit of a surprise.

andyb 2021-08-26 16:31:06 UTC #13

I did look and see Garcia was 8 on mlb.com and 12 on BA, though the 5th largest bonus (which is often a better proxy for rankings). Ortiz was definitely seen as top 3 or 4 in his class a year out. Then the ranking dropped when he was out of shape at the time (like 260 pounds).

bigegypt0417 2021-08-26 16:36:47 UTC #14

let's hope he keeps that high ranking...it would be nice!

fish 2021-08-26 17:26:38 UTC #15

that's up from #7 the last time they wrote about him!

allentown 2021-08-26 18:02:54 UTC #16

Given the size of our allocation, doubt we can afford a top 50 guy, other than #4

gmwannabe 2021-08-26 19:13:34 UTC #17

That would be nice to get #4. but squire is correct. only one of the top 50. A couple Orioles, Padres, Yankees, Mariners, Cardinals etc. Hope to get a few gems in the lesser bonuses.
gm

andyb 2021-08-26 20:34:00 UTC #18

At least we are not losing international allocations for any free agent signings this time.

allentown 2021-08-26 22:27:43 UTC #19

True, but I really hate the tiered system of international bonuses and the charity draft picks, which often bears zero relationship to team attendence, wins, revenue, or player budget.

nycphils 2021-08-27 18:36:12 UTC #20

On a quick glance I don’t think anyone in the division is favored for more than 1 prospect on the list.

andyb 2021-12-07 13:54:08 UTC #21

In other international news (technically for the 2022 period I think), Fangraphs has added another prospect as likely to go the Phillies next year and he is actually ranked higher (40+) than Bergolla (40) who was the one we knew about.

Article here:

Board ranking here:
https://www.fangraphs.com/prospects/the-board/international-players/summary?sort=13,1&type=0&pageitems=100&pg=0

New prospect is a 16-year-old Venezuelan SS named Jesus Starlyn Caba (yes we technically have 2 Starlyns potentially). "Caba is an electric infield athlete with plus-plus footwork, hands, and a plus arm. His swing will likely refine as he adds strength through maturation, but he's shown promising hand-eye coordination to this point."

Possible he is for the 2023 period. Just turned 16.