The Nationals have signed Dominican outfielder Juan Soto to a $1.5 million bonus, the organization’s first international signing of any significant consequence since the notorious Esmailyn Gonzalez fiasco nearly a decade ago.
The signing has not been formally announced yet, but it was confirmed by a club source. MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez first reported the deal.
Soto, 16, is a natural right fielder with a “smooth lefty cut and projectable frame with above average power potential,” according to a Fangraphs scouting report. He was rated the 13th-best prospect in this year’s international class, according to Baseball America, 22nd by MLB.