Red Sox assistant general manager Eddie Romero on international free agent Vladimir Asencio: ‘Advanced approach with knowledge of the strike zone’
The Red Sox opened up the international free agent signing period officially inking 17-year-old center fielder Vladimir Asencio.
The right-handed hitting and throwing outfielder will sign with Boston for $1 million, per Ben Badler of Baseball America.
The new Sox prospect has been compared to outfielder Manuel Margot, according to The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier. Margot, who is now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers was signed as an international free agent by the Red Sox in 2011.
“His strong defense — with standout instincts and a quick first step amplifying his above-average speed —as well as hit-over-power approach reminds some evaluators of Manuel Margot,” wrote Speier.
Red Sox assistant general manager told The Boston Globe that the organization loves Ascencio as a center fielder.
“We love him in center field,” said Romero. “Offensively, he’s more contact over power, but has a really, really advanced approach for his age. We love the fact that he tends to spray line drives using all quadrants of the zone. He’s got a good eye.
“Overall, it’s kind of a mature, advanced approach with knowledge of the strike zone at a premium position.”
Baseball America ranked Ascencio as the No. 37 overall prospect in this year’s international free agent class.
“Asencio is one of the most difficult hitters to strike out from the Dominican Republic in this year’s class,” wrote BA. “He has excellent hand-eye coordination with the bat control to consistently put the ball in play. Asencio isn’t that big, with even scouts who were high on him still uncertain about how much power he will end up developing. Asencio isn’t a burner, but he runs well enough to get a chance to play center field.”
The Red Sox have $5,925,000 in bonus pool money to spend on international free agents. The club is expected to sign 45 players, per Speier.
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