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According to a report by MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez this morning, the Washington Nationals wasted no time jumping into the international free agent market this time around, signing 17-year-old Venezuelan right-hander Andry Lara for $1.25M.
Source: #Nationals agree to a $1.25 million deal with pitcher Andry Lara, #16 on @MLBPipeline’s Top 30 Int’l Prospects list. https://t.co/VkyT1PafgI
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) July 2, 2019
That’s a significant portion of the Nationals’ $4,321,400 bonus pool for the 2019-20 International Signing Period, which began today and ends on June 15, 2020.
Lara was ranked 16th on MLB.com’s list of the top international prospects for the latest signing period, with their scouts writing that his repertoire includes a 92-94 MPH fastball that’s touched 96, a two-seam fastball which, “might be his best pitch,” but is “not his only weapon,” and a breaking ball.
“Lara’s repertoire also features a power breaking ball,” they add, along with a changeup that, as with most young prospects, is on the come.
“The teen knows how to attack hitters,” their scouting report reads, “and has shown good command of his pitches, and like most pitchers his age, Lara’s control will improve as he develops and receives more instruction. There’s some deception in his delivery and there’s lot of aggressiveness in his approach.”
The Nationals were listed as the team most likely to sign Lara by MLB.com, with Washington Post writer Jesse Dougherty noting after the signing was announced that the pitcher had been on the Nats’ radar for some time.
According to @JesseSanchezMLB, the Nationals have agreed to a $1.25 million deal with Andry Lara. Washington's been interested in Lara, a righy from Venezuela, for a while now. He is ranked 16th on MLB's international prospects list.
— Jesse Dougherty (@dougherty_jesse) July 2, 2019
More info on the latest addition to the Nationals’ organization when it is available...