In a rare bit of good news for the New York Mets, the organization signed two international prospects in Francisco Alvarez and Freddy Valdez.
Today the New York Mets announced via Mets Insider that the team has signed two top international free agents. The signings include catcher Francisco Alvarez and outfielder Freddy Valdez.
This is the second pair of international free agents that the Mets have made this week. On Tuesday, they announced the signings of Ronny Mauricio and Adrian Hernandez, also considered to be top international prospects.
Alvarez is a native of Venezuela and is just sixteen years old. The catcher is ranked as Baseball America’s ninth-best prospect on their top fifty list. The nearly six-foot, 220-pound prospect also the thirteenth top prospect rated by MLB.com. A report on Baseball America’s website has his throws to second base timed as quickly as 1.83 seconds. The major league average is considered to be 2.0 seconds.
Valdez is from the Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He sits on an impressive frame at 6-foot-3 inches and was the biggest outfielder at the MLB International Showcase. He is listed as the 29th top prospect on Baseball America’s top fifty list and 25th by MLB.com. The 16-year-old is known for his raw power, according to a report by Baseball America.
It is a good sign for the Metropolitans, who’s fans need some good news this season. This season has not gone as most Mets fans planned, but the news that the team is signing big-time international talent is sure to bring some relief to the tortured fan base.
