The Houston Astros have reached an agreement with a prospect ranked in the Top 50 by MLB Pipeline, and they are putting together their class of 2024 international signings.
The Astros have not yet announced the contract. Anderson Paula, an outfielder from the Dominican Republic, is rated No. 49 overall by MLB Pipeline.
The Astros have a signing bonus pool of $5.284 million. Paula’s ranking suggests that the organisation will have more cash on hand as the day goes on.
The signing period began on Monday and runs through December 15.
In January of last year, the Astros signed No. 17 shortstop Camilo Diaz and No. 21 outfielder Esmil Valencia, two players ranked in the Top 25. The Astros invested $3.35 million in total on the two.
Their location indicates the type of time required to cultivate global opportunities. The two are ranked No. 28 and No. 29 in the Astros organisation, respectively, as prospects. With respective batting averages of.209 and.262, Valencia and Diaz played in the Dominican Summer League with the Astros clubs during the previous season.
According to MLB Pipeline, the two will be prepared for the Major Leagues by 2028. They are both eighteen years old.
The Astros also signed Jose Altuve, an international player. He arrived in MLB four years after being signed in 2007 as a Venezuelan player.
Paula comes back to a team that is trying to add more depth to the outfield after trading away two of the best outfield prospects in August of last year in order to acquire pitcher Justin Verlander.
Jacob Melton is an outfielder and the Astros’ top prospect. As is Luis Baez, the No. 2 prospect. However, by 2024, neither is expected to be prepared for the Majors.
Paula “has tonnes of power potential, and that tool makes him one of the most intriguing international prospects on the market,” according to scouts at MLB Pipeline. He has strength in every area, and once he starts working out with the Astros, his technique will improve.
