The Philadelphia Phillies are unlikely to land Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr., but maybe the next best option is signing a relative of his?
The Phillies added Nieves Izaguirre, a shortstop from Venezuela, to their roster as part of their first wave of international signings, according to Baseball America. As of Wednesday night, the team had not officially announced the names of their signees.
According to Baseball America, the Phillies signed 15 players in their initial wave of international signings, with most hailing from Venezuela. MLB.com highlighted a family connection between Nieves Izaguirre and Ronald Acuña Jr.
The infielder has scouting grades of 55 for his running and fielding abilities, 40 for power, and an overall grade of 45 on the 20-80 scouting scale.
Izaguirre hails from La Sabana, a small town with a population of roughly 3,000, known for producing an impressive number of baseball players.
Baseball America scouts praised Izaguirre for his high baseball IQ and short, compact swing. They believe he has the potential to develop into a Major League middle infielder, though they see second base as his most likely position.
Deivis Velasquez, a Venezuelan catcher, adds another promising talent to the Phillies’ pipeline behind the plate. Scouts praise his offensive potential at such a young age, though his batting is more advanced than his defensive skills—something typical for young prospects.
Baseball America also highlighted pitcher Geremi Viloria from Venezuela. Standing at 6-foot-2, Viloria already possesses a fastball that reaches 93 mph and is in the process of refining his slider.
This signing class follows the Phillies’ $1.4 million investment last year in Javlin Arias, the No. 19 ranked prospect. Arias spent his first season in the Dominican Summer League, posting a .233/.411/.372/.783 slash line with two home runs and nine RBIs. Most of this year’s signees are expected to begin their careers in the DSL before transitioning to play in the United States.
Other reported international signees from Venezuela include outfielders Daibert Cruceta and Leonardo Carpio, shortstops Rafael Oropeza and Samuel Salcedo, catchers Anderson Araujo and Nelson Prieto, and pitcher Reyner Zambrano.
Philadelphia also signed three players from the Dominican Republic: shortstop Elias Marrero, pitcher Deiry Gonzalez, and shortstop Carlos Severino.
