Sox Sign 17-year old Venezuelan Luis Martinez

[nickofypres]

Baseball America | Blog | Baseball America Prospects Blog | White Sox Land Venezuelan Righthander Luis Martinez

he White Sox have signed Venezuelan righthander Luis Martinez for $250,000, the organization's most expensive international signing in recent years.

Martinez, who turns 17 on Jan. 29, is 6-foot-4, 195 pounds and gets good downhill angle on an 88-91 mph fastball that has hit 92, an increase from the 84-88 mph velocity he was showing last summer around July 2. He has a projectable frame with long arms and plenty of room to fill out, so he should have at least a plus fastball in time. Martinez has a solid delivery, a high-70s curveball that is his best secondary pitch and he mixes in a changeup as well.

Martinez is from Carupano and trained with Luis Blasini, whose other notable signings from the July 2, 2011 signing class included Rangers lefthander Yohander Mendez ($1.5 million) and Rangers outfielder Eduard Pinto ($350,000).

Martinez is the first major signing for the White Sox since hiring Marco Paddy away from the Blue Jays after the 2011 season to run their Latin American scouting. The White Sox had been slow to rebuild their international program since firing former director of player personnel David Wilder and two international scouts amidst a massive bonus kickback scandal and have been one of the most frugal teams abroad. They ranked among the lowest-spending teams on international amateurs in 2010 with an estimated $345,000 and were only slightly above that mark in 2011 prior to the Martinez signing, which was agreed to in December.

While it's only one signing, adding Martinez could be an indication of the White Sox's efforts to increase their international resources in 2012.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Kenny has us WS bound for sure now.

 

[brett05]

Solid signing. I could see him hitting high 90s as he matures

 

[Crystallas]

Good chip to keep or trade. About time.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Pretty good signing by KW. Good piece to have either for trade or in the farm system.

 

[Uman85]

Very nice addition by KW. This guy has potential to be great for us one way or another. Either with the team or as a trade piece.

 

[Capt. Serious]

Kenny has ways to go to make this farm system at least respectable, so it's a start.

 

[Uman85]

Kenny has ways to go to make this farm system at least respectable, so it's a start.

Yep. I'm very pleased with this. It's a start and hopefully just the first domino.

 

[Montanaro]

Good to see, it's very important to be able to scout the world and fill your organization with the best players possible.

Just signing players already in America won't cut it for the long haul.

Signing foreigners 1. is often times cheap and 2. Expands your pool of available players.

Add in that you may find a good player every couple years that will get to the all-star game or become valuable trade bait is an extra bonus.

 

[Uman85]

Hope this signing pays off. It could be the prelude to Cespedes. Maybe? ray:

 

[TheChicagoFan]

I really like how the focus this offseason has been the farm system. Whether that means trading or waiting for the future, it gives you options. Maybe KW will realize that that's what he should focus on every offseason.

 

[Uman85]

I really like how the focus this offseason has been the farm system. Whether that means trading or waiting for the future, it gives you options. Maybe KW will realize that that's what he should focus on every offseason.

Fingers crossed for that.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Fingers crossed for that.

Yeah. I'm not ready to give up on KW as GM because I don't know of a better guy there, so he better prove himself by improving the farm system.

 

[Uman85]

Yeah. I'm not ready to give up on KW as GM because I don't know of a better guy there, so he better prove himself by improving the farm system.

Hahn is waiting in the wings. I hope he eventually gets the GM position. I think he'll be an outstanding successor to KW.

 

[TheChicagoFan]

Hahn is waiting in the wings. I hope he eventually gets the GM position. I think he'll be an outstanding successor to KW.

That's what I've heard, but I don't know much about Hahn.

 

[nickofypres]

Hahn will be the GM if the Sox don't make the playoffs. KW will probably be promoted to president of baseball operations or something.

 

[Uman85]

Hahn will be the GM if the Sox don't make the playoffs. KW will probably be promoted to president of baseball operations or something.

That's the way I see it as well. Hopefully.