Red Sox top 10 most memorable moments of 2015
By Sean Penney
Red Sox sign Yoan Moncada
March 12, 2015
The Red Sox officially introduced 19-year old infielder Yoan Moncada, who agreed to sign in February to a $31.5 million signing bonus. The Cuban native became the most sought after talent on the International market from the moment he left the country with permission from the Cuban government.
The financial commitment actually cost the Red Sox double their investment, with an additional $31.5 million going to Major League Baseball as a 100 percent overage tax for exceeding their allotment of International bonus money. Even at a staggering $63 million, Moncada is expected to be worth it. Some scouts even compare the signing to being the equivalent of obtaining the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
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The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Moncada hit .277 over two seasons with Cienfuegos in Cuba’s Serie Nacional league before leaving the country to pursue his dream of playing in the United States. He’s a five-tool player with a superstar ceiling, which is why he immediately became the top-ranked prospect in the Red Sox organization and currently ranks as the No. 8 prospect overall by MLB.com.
Moncada played 81 games with the Greenville Drive, the team’s low Class A affiliate, in his first season with the organization, hitting .278/.380/.438 with 8 home runs and 49 steals over 363 plate appearances. That included a scorching month of August in which he hit .333 with a 1.024 OPS.
Given his age and inexperience, we may be years away from seeing Moncada in Boston, but his tantalizing talent will continue to keep Red Sox fans salivating over his future. He is considered one of the few assets that the front office considers near untouchable and his early success and pedigree indicates he could fly through the minor league system.
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