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Morning Report: The Difference Between Two High-Bonus Players

Back in 2012, the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Michael de la Cruz and Julio de la Cruz to $700,000 bonuses. They were the keys to the July 2nd signing class and no one has received a bonus that size since. Besides the common last name and the same bonus, they are very different players.

Michael has been the player that gets the most attention of the two because he showed off a ton of tools in the DSL in 2013, while Julio struggled at the plate and in the field. There was also the difference in age between the two, which was important at the time, but is getting less important as they get older.