The talented infielder from Sancti Spiritus,Cuba Alejandro Cruz will ink a contract with the Chicago White Sox for around 2 million dollars in approximately three days, when the International Free Agency signing period opens up. Baseball America selected him as the #17 prospect in the Top-50 international free agents. Cruz was declared a free agent in January of 2024, making him eligible to sign from then on.
However, the wait for his official signing is due to fact the team’s budget in the international free agency period was exhausted for 2024. Cruz is a player who projects as a third baseman with immense power, speed on the basepaths, a rocket for an arm and an advanced knowledge of the strike zone for his age. The infielder made up the Cuba U-15 team at the World Cup during the 2022 edition in México where the Cuba finished second.
The young prospect was selected to the all-tournament team, after batting .455 with a double, a triple and five RBIs. Cruz was a coveted talent before his departure from island. The young slugger played the U-18 National Championship with his province (Sancti Spíritus), which was stopped due to energy grid problems in Cuba. Over the tournament he hit .337 (30-for-89), swatted eight extra bases (6 2B and 2 3B), stole 10 bases and drove in 12 runs that season.
The 17-year-old Cruz joins an organization that has has developed plenty of Cuban talent into MLB stars. Cubans such as Minnie Miñoso, José Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, Luis Robert and José Contreras have starred with White Sox over the team’s storied history. Cruz will join Edgar Quero and Bryan Ramos as prized Cuban prospects in the team’s farm system.
Scouting grades: Batting: 50 | Power: 50 | Race: 55 | Arm: 50 | Defense: 50 | Overall: 50