Report: Yankees In Pursuit Of The Next Cuban Phenom -- Infielder Moncada
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Might he be the next coming?
According to a report in the New York Post, the Yankees recently held a private workout for Yoan Moncada, a 19-year-old infielder from Cuba that Baseball America believes has superstar potential.
Believed to be 6-foot-2 and around 200 pounds, Moncada has also drawn interest from the San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox. Moncada is a switch-hitter with reported upside that would instantly make him the Yankees' top prospect, the Post reported.
Moncada, who projects as a second or third baseman in the majors, has established residency in Guatemala but cannot sign with a major league team until he is granted the proper paperwork.
The Yankees are believed to have 10 of the top 30 international prospects under contract, but could face stiff penalties if they don't get Moncada signed before June 15, the Post reported, because they went above and beyond their allotted budget during last July's international signing period.
Among their signings last July, the Yankees locked up Dermis Garcia, a 16-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic who was rated the No. 1 international prospect by MLB.com.
The Yankees' infield is currently a work in progress, what with the retirement of Derek Jeter and the apparent by-committee approach the Bombers have planned up the middle for 2015. Didi Gregorius and Brendan Ryan appear poised to platoon at short, while Stephen Drew could receive a push from prospects Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela at second.
The Yankees signed Chase Headley to a four-year deal to play third, and said Alex Rodriguez would be moving to a full-time designated hitter role.
