Rodriguez, Lantigua, Mella, and Rivas

[Edgy MD]

The opening of the international free agent period brings noticias that the Mets have landed four of the top 50-ranked (according to MLB Pipeline, and take that with a grain of sal) Latin American teenyboppers that have newly become available. These include shortstops Leandy Mella and Yensi Rivas, along with catcher Yovanny Rodriguez and outfielder Edward Lantigua.



Of the four, backstop Rodriguez is supposed to be the big catch, with an impressive defensive foundation and 20-homer power, but I think anybody named Edward has a leg up on the class.



Other previously reported deals, including the agreement with Vladimir Miguel Guerrero, also now become official — or offical, as the Mets like to say.

[MFS62]

I had read that the Pipeline report is based on talent/ability.

(The other service that lists these things is Baseball America. But they rank them in bonus dollar amount order.)

I take these as an omen of good things to come.

Later

[Edgy MD]

Information is coming out piecemeal, but Sports Illustrated has the Mets landing 20 dudes today. In addition to Rodriguez (from Venezuela) and the other four mentioned above (all from The Dominican Republic), the list includes:

• Bohan Adderley, SS/CF, Bahamas


• Luis Montero, LHP, Dominican Republic


• Maxgregori Harvey, RHP, Dominican Republic


• Angel De La Rosa, LHP Dominican Republic


• Leyvi Rodriguez, RHP, Dominican Republic


• Anthony Delgado, OF, Dominican Republic


• Fidel Pinango, IF/OF, Venezuela


• Jonnhan Sanchez, OF, Venezuela


• Josmir Reyes, C, Venezuela


• Leiner Ramirez, IF, Colombia


• Rocky Solano, OF, Dominican Republic


• Starling Fernandez, IF, Dominican Republic

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Max Harvey, nice

[G-Fafif]

Mets release:



METS SIGN 20 INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS



FLUSHING, N.Y., January 15, 2024 – The New York Mets today announced that the club has signed 20 international players.



“We are excited to welcome this year's international signing class to our organization,” said Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns. “These players and their families have worked hard to get to this day, and we look forward to supporting them as they continue pursuing their dreams to be Major League players. As we carry out our goal of creating a championship caliber organization, we will need to continue to acquire and develop future Mets. Having an international scouting and development apparatus that regularly brings quality players into our organization is essential.”



“Today is a great day for the New York Mets as we welcome an exciting class of talented players into the organization,” said Director of International Scouting Steve Barningham. “This is the beginning of a journey for these players as they take their first steps in professional baseball. I want to thank our entire baseball operations team as well as the families of these young men for their help along the way.”



The class is highlighted by Yovanny Rodriguez, a 17-year-old catcher from Guarenas, Venezuela. The 5-11, 180-pounder is ranked as the fifth-best international prospect according to Baseball America and as the seventh-best prospect on MLB Pipeline's Top 50 Internationals Prospect List.



The full list of players is below:



Name

Date Of Birth

Position

Home Country



Yovanny Rodriguez

11/7/2006

C

Venezuela



Edward Lantigua

11/13/2006

OF

Dominican Republic



Leandy Mella

2/4/2007

INF

Dominican Republic



Yensi Rivas

10/14/2006

INF

Dominican Republic



Bohan Adderley

11/10/2006

INF/OF

Bahamas



Vladi Guerrero

9/21/2006

OF/INF

Dominican Republic



Luis Montero

9/9/2006

LHP

Dominican Republic



Maxgregori Harvey

11/12/2006

RHP

Dominican Republic



Angel De La Rosa

11/20/2005

LHP

Dominican Republic



Leyvi Rodriguez

5/17/2006

RHP

Dominican Republic



Anthony Delgado

1/27/2007

OF

Dominican Republic



Fidel Pinango

7/13/2007

INF/OF

Venezuela



Jonnhan Sanchez

5/8/2007

OF

Venezuela



Josmir Reyes

9/21/2006

C

Venezuela



Leiner Ramirez

7/3/2007

INF

Colombia



Rocky Solano

12/28/2006

OF

Dominican Republic



Starling Fernandez

10/17/2006

INF

Dominican Republic



Roybert Herrera

6/30/2007

INF/OF

Venezuela



Diover De Aza

8/15/2007

INF

Dominican Republic



Franklin Candelario

12/11/2006

OF

Dominican Republic

[Frayed Knot]

These include shortstops Leandy Mella and Yensi Rivas, along with catcher Yovanny Rodriguez and outfielder Edward Lantigua.

First guy who says that they shouldn't be signing catchers and shortstops cuz we're already set at those spots is gonna get hit.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Lunchpail is older than most of these guys

[Edgy MD]

Should have raised him overseas where he wouldn't be subject to the draft.

[Edgy MD]

I'd like to point out the historical unMetliness of the strategy is with this class, with only four of the 20 names attached to pitchers.

[Edgy MD]

Poor Edward Lantigua woke up this morning thinking he had a real good shot to make this list.

[Johnny Lunchbucket]

Bohan Adderly wuz robbed

[Frayed Knot]

Jesus Made

Good, but not as good as Jesus Wept

[Benjamin Grimm]

I really hope that Curley Martha becomes a Met some day.

[kcmets]

Johnny Lunchbucket wrote: Lunchpail is older than most of these guys

I have toe nail fungus older than most of these guys.

[A Boy Named Seo]

I don't know how many dudes the Mets or other teams sign on a given year, but 20 young players seems like a pretty nice infusion to the system.

[Edgy MD]

New Mets Venezuelan outfielder Jonnhan Sanchez as a kid — and already a champion hitter!



Look at the little scamp, way back in ... 2014?!?!



[fimg=400]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCKxqLnW0AAZWJy?format=jpg&name=medium[/fimg]

[metirish]

Are some of those first names just made up ?



I once tested a kid who's first given ame was Scientific

[Edgy MD]

In the end, all our names are made up.

[metirish]

Very true