The Pittsburgh Pirates have made waves in the international market.
According to baseball reporter Francys Romero, the team is expected to sign Dominican shortstop Darrell Morel. Romero recently reported that the deal is valued at approximately $1.7 million. The Los Angeles Dodgers had initially reached a verbal agreement with Morel for $1.1 million but allowed him to re-enter the market, creating an opportunity for the Pirates.
The Pirates quickly seized the chance to sign Morel after the Dodgers shifted focus, reallocating international bonus money to pursue Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki.
Morel is a 6-foot-5 shortstop who bats left-handed with a smooth swing. His rare combination of size and power has drawn comparisons to Oneil Cruz, another tall, power-hitting shortstop.
Additionally, the Pirates are linked to MLB Pipeline’s No. 21 international prospect, Johan De Los Santos, a 16-year-old left-handed hitter from the Dominican Republic. Johan is the younger brother of Pirates prospect Yordany De Los Santos, who signed for $1.2 million in the 2022 signing window.
Pittsburgh recently overhauled its international scouting department, firing director Junior Vizcaino in August and naming Ross Kwan as vice president of international scouting.
The international signing period officially opens on Tuesday, January 15, and the Pirates are expected to announce multiple additional deals through their international scouting team.
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