The Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) signed this week the prospect of Cuban shortstop Jhon Jairo Díaz, only 16 years old, for a bonus of 30 thousand dollars, confirmed sports reporter Francys Romero.
“Shortstop Jhon Jairo Díaz (16) officially signed with the Houston Astros yesterday on the last day of the international period. Settlement Bonus: $30,000. He is the #41 Cuban agreed in the period. The Astros remain the MLB organization with the most Cubans in their system (21). Díaz left the island in 2019 ”, Romero pointed out on his Facebook profile.
According to the Cuban Pelota website, Jairo Díaz left Cuba in December 2020, together with his mother, for the Dominican Republic to seek a contract with an MLB organization. The young man went through several Dominican academies, but it was Yolfry Sánchez who offered him a faster path to the Major Leagues.
With this contract, Jairo Díaz becomes the 21st Cuban in the Houston Astros system, who, obviously, bet on the talent of Cubans. In recent years, Texans have shelled out a large amount for island players such as Aledmys Díaz, Yordan Álvarez, Yuli Gurriel and, more recently, José Abreu.
The Cuban prospect can play any position in the infield, although shortstop is his favorite.
“He stands out for having excellent hands defensively and offensively (he bats to the right) he also shows very good qualities, which he will also improve over time,” they say from the web to baseball
Previously, other major league teams had also signed young Cuban players this season. The number 40 to sign was 18-year-old catcher Danel Figueroa, who signed with the Texas Rangers for a $100,000 bonus.
However, several Internet users have manifested themselves on the networks to complain about the figures of the contracts of the Cuban baseball players who are signing with MLB because they consider them very low considering the talent of the island’s baseball players.
“Already the bonuses of the signings that are being seen are very low compared to previous years, even the bonuses of the Cubans who are signing in Japan in the minor leagues are almost the same as those of MLB, Revilla himself the minor league contract was of 150 thousand dollars”, commented a fan of this sport in this regard.
