Every international signing period, White Sox fans can get excited, as this is where the team has done a terrific job acquiring talent for the farm system and the major league club. Around the league, some of the biggest superstars were signed during this period, so it is always good to monitor these signings.
White Sox fans can get excited about this period, as they are favorites to sign one of the best overall prospects in this year’s pool. According to Francys Romero, the White Sox are the current favorites to sign Venezuelan third basemen, Eduardo Herrera. He projects the deal to be in the 1.6-2 million dollar range. This is a significant deal and would be a great addition to the White Sox farm system.
Herrera just turned 17 and is currently ranked as the 11th best international prospect in this period, according to MLB.com. The scouting grades have him graded out at 55 overall, which is the same as the number one overall international prospect, so he is still highly touted.
The overall grades the scouts give him are very good. His best trait is his power, as they believe that he is the best power bat in this international class and can easily be a middle of the order bat in the major leagues. This could be a great asset for the White Sox, as if he can blossom into a star, it will make their farm system considerably stronger.
On MLB.com, they describe Herrera as a fantastic prospect. This is what they had to say under his prospect profile on their top international prospects list:
“As far as pure power hitters are concerned, Herrera’s potential ranks among the best in this year’s class. With a hulking 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, the teen ultimately projects to be a big bat in the middle of a lineup. It’s worth noting that scouts rave about his ability to make adjustments from pitch to pitch at the plate and handle both fastball and offspeed offerings. The shortstop-turned-third baseman has drawn comparisons to a teenage Albert Pujols — in terms of body type and raw power — and scouts have applauded his competitiveness.“
White Sox fans will love to hear that, as any comparison to Albert Pujols is a good one. It is a good sign that he can already make adjustments at the plate, as that is difficult to do at such a young age. This ability will help him thrive as he gets to the majors and works his way through the minors.
While he is a long way from the major leagues, he could make his way stateside in the next year or so and begin his minor league career. This depends on how well he does in the Arizona Rookie League and any other preliminary league first, but it is not out of the realm of possibilities for him to be stateside in 2024 if he plays well above the competition.
There are concerns about what position he will stick at, but if his bat plays, the White Sox will find a spot for him. Herrera will be a fantastic addition to the White Sox farm system that has added a lot of quality players in the last year or so. There will be plenty of other signings in this period, but Herrera will definitely be the headliner.
