With the international signing period open since Wednesday, the Phillies have inked shortstop Nieves Izaguirre, MLB Pipeline’s No. 44 prospect in this year’s international class, to an $800,000 deal.
Izaguirre, a 17-year-old from Venezuela, is a 5-foot-10 right-handed hitter known for his bat-to-ball skills and athleticism. Baseball America described him as having “a short, line-drive swing with doubles power and plus speed.”
Baseball America likens his skillset to that of Luisangel Acuña, which perhaps is no coincidence. Luisangel — and, obviously, his superstar brother Ronald Acuña Jr. — are cousins to Izaguirre, as MLB.