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The Royals made their second international signing in a span of three days, inking former Braves OF prospect Juan Carlos Negret. Like Yefri del Rosario, the signing comes after 12 Braves prospect were granted free agency to punish the organization for international wrongdoings.
Royals remain active on international market. According to sources, KC agreed to a deal with former Braves int’l OF prospect Juan Carlos Negret. On Tuesday, the club agreed to a $650K deal with RHP Yefri Del Rosario, also a former ATL prospect granted free agency. @MLBPipeline
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) December 7, 2017
The 18-year old outfielder comes from Cuba and played his first season of professional baseball with the DSL Braves this summer. He seemed to handle it well, slashing .264/.410/.391 in 50 games. Plate discipline seems like a strength of his, as he posted a robust 47:27 K:BB ratio. Here is some video of his swing.
Negret missed a month last year due to what seemed to be a hamate injury, likely causing him to lose much of his power late in the season.
Juan Carlos Negret
— Royals Farm Report (@RoyalsFarm) December 7, 2017
Pre-injury: .306/.451/.528, .222 ISO, 181 wRC+, 12.1% BB%, 25.3% K%
Post injury: .235/.381/.294, .059 ISO, 109 wRC+, 12.7% BB%, 19.0% K%
Hamate injury seriously hampered his power.
And interestingly, he was among the minor-league leaders in hit-by-pitches, getting plunked 16 times in 217 plate appearances.
Negret was among one of the minor league leaders last year in getting hit by pitches (I'm serious). https://t.co/YFJjyiS0At
— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) December 7, 2017
The Braves were forced to lose 12 international free-agent signings as a punishment from Major League Baseball. In addition to the Royals two recent signings, del Rosario and Negret, the Braves had to forfeit Juan Contreras, Abrahan Gutierrez, Yenci Peña, Yunior Severino, Livan Soto, Guillermo Zuniga and top prospect Kevin Maitan. The signing period for these prospects started December 5 and lasts until January 15 with international bonus pool money from either this current signing period or next year’s at the 29 major-league teams’ disposal who are not the offending Atlanta Braves.