The value of baseball in Latin American culture cannot be underestimated. While Hispanic players like Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuña Jr. and Luis Robert enchant fans with their talents, there is a group of prospects waiting their turn to continue the tradition.
“Baseball in the Dominican Republic runs through our veins,” said Dominican promise Marco Luciano. “It means everything to us. It is the way to achieve a better future for our families ”.
There are 21 Latin American international prospects on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 list, including three in the top 20 – Wander Franco is No. 1 (Rays), Christian Pache is 12 (Braves) and Julio Rodríguez is 17 (Mariners) . Luciano (33) and Noelvi Marte are also part of the next generation of talent.
Luciano, the top infield player in the 2018 group, signed with the Giants for $ 2.6 million. He appears set to be not only the team’s first international prospect to reach the All-Star Game since the signing of Venezuelan Pablo Sandoval in 2003, but he also promises to be one of the major league’s top stars.
Luciano is a shortstop who is 6-foot-2-inches (1.88 meters) and weighs 178 pounds (80.7 kilograms). But don’t be fooled by your body. The speed of his bat helps him generate a lot of power, and it is not ruled out that he could have seasons of 40 home runs or more.
One National League scout put it this way: “He’ll have his own.”
“Marco has a unique mix of tools and maturity at a young age,” said Kyle Haines, the Giants director of player development. “He is focused and motivated to be a great player.”
That motivation is a reflection of their education and culture. He has been with Luciano since he gave his blows at his neighbors’ house, like a thin child in the Dominican Republic. It was formed when he moved a couple of hours from Santo Domingo and arrived at the Rays Baseball Academy.
“That work ethic and motivation comes from my love of the game,” Luciano said. “I know that if I want to support myself, I have to work extremely hard.”
The 19-year-old has impressed at bat – he hit .302 with 10 homers in 47 games in his professional debut, finishing the season as the youngest player (17) in a shortened campaign in the Northwest League – but some scouts have They wonder if he will be able to stay at shortstop in the future because of his size.
That’s when the work ethic helps a prospect who grew up watching compatriot Jose Reyes and is now trying to mold his game to that of Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.
“I’m working as hard as I can to continue as shortstop,” Luciano said. “It’s the only position I want to play in and I think I can do it.”
As for Mars, the Mariners’ seventh-best prospect, he signed with Seattle for $ 1.55 million at age 16 in 2018.
Marte spent last year in the Summer League in the DR and is yet to make his professional debut in the United States. But for the people of his hometown of Cotuí, they already want to see him reach the majors.
“Noelvi is a special player and person,” said Andy McKay, the Mariners director of player development. “He would be starting his senior year of high school, but he is competing with players older than him and with more experience. He has the ability to stay at shortstop and he has real power at his bat. “
Marte has played in just 65 games, but he hit .309 and led the league in total bases reached (134) and RBIs (54) last year. He impressed at Spring Training and Summer Camp, where he was the youngest player ever invited by the Mariners.
The ability to hit has been a part of Mars’ weapons for as long as he can remember. In fact, his earliest memory of playing baseball is hitting an on-field home run on his first inning in an organized league.
From there, Mars continued his development and it was when he was between 12 and 13 years old that he realized that he could become a professional gamer.
“I consider myself an aggressive and competitive player who doesn’t settle,” Marte said. “I want to reach my potential.”
Both Marte and Luciano are a couple of years away from making their majors debut, leaving Tatis, Acuña and others to serve as the faces of the sport until then. However, when the time comes, Mars and Luciano will be ready. Baseball is in his genes.
“Baseball in the Dominican Republic is more than a sport,” Marte said. “It is part of our culture. We are very passionate about baseball and it is something that brings our community together. “
They are not the only ones. Here is a list of all the Latino players in the MLB Pipeline Top 100:
1) Wander Franco (Rays, SS), 19 years old, estimated time of arrival, to the majors: 2021
12) Cristian Pache (Bravos, OF), 21, 2020
17) Julio Rodríguez (Mariners, OF), 19, 2022
22) Sixto Sánchez (Marlins, RHP), 22, 2020
26) Luis Patiño (Padres, RHP), 20, 2020
33) Marco Luciano (Gigantes, SS), 19, 2022
45) Vidal Bruján (Rays, 2B / SS), 22, 2020
52) Jasson Domínguez (Yankees, OF), 17, 2024
61) Ronny Mauricio (Mets, SS), 19, 2022
62) Francisco Álvarez (Mets, C), 18, 2023. (GG) (Taken MB: COM)