Written by Robert Davis, Carrolton, GA Follow Robert on Twitter @houndsportsRND
Note: TSC’s Brett Dickinson wrote about Moncada in February of this year, arguing that the Phillies should sign him. They didn’t. This week Yoan Moncada began his MLB career as a Red Sox, playing in an Extended Spring Training game in Fort Myers FL. Twenty-three fans in the stands watched Moncada play against farmhands in the Orioles’ system. He hit the third pitch for a stand-up triple. In this article Robert Davis takes us back a few months, describing the frenzy associated with MLB’s courting of what many consider to be baseball’s next “can’t miss” Cuban player.
Courtesy: USAToday and overthemonster.com
Yoan Moncada has signed with the Boston Red Sox. First reports by MLB.com indicate Moncada’s signing bonus (total contract of nearly $32 million) will smash the record for foreign players. A league official told Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com that Moncada is “a younger Robinson Cano with better speed and more positional versatility. Everything says this is a special kid.” The Red Sox, like most teams, scouted Moncada to play infield and they have toyed with the idea of having him in the outfield. Moncada is now playing 2nd base. During the courting phase Moncada met with nearly a dozen teams, including the Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants. Early on the Braves, Yankees, and Dodgers seemed to be front-runners. The Red Sox emerged as the late favorite. Their growing pool of Cuban players—recently adding center fielder Rusney Castillo to their spring training roster—makes for a perfect fit. And Red Sox Hall of Famer Luis Tiant attended Moncada’s private workout. Tiant, an ambassador for Boston, had breakfast with Moncada before the work out.
Courtesy: Fort Myers (FL) News-Press
Arriving in the US was relatively easy for Moncada, especially when compared to the journey of fellow Cuban player, Yasiel Puig. Puig told LA Magazine (2014) about his dangerous journey to the U.S. Moncada, on the other hand, was granted the right to move from Cuba to Guatemala via a Cuban passport. He then petitioned for MLB Free Agency. On February 3rd Moncada was granted Free Agent eligibility following a meeting between MLB and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets. The arrangement that emerged should pave the way for other Cuban Nationals to enter the MLB.
Moncada hit .273 for Cienfuegos in Cuba’s Serie Nacional last season. At 6’0, 210 this 19-year-old sensation could be the real deal–the next big thing in baseball.
Keep your eye on this kid.
