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The Yankees have pledged to spend big on international free agent talent this year. They are on the verge of possibly signing Cuban defector Aledmys Diaz, and while most of that spending is likely to happen this summer, they may have at least started the process by signing 17-year-old Juan Escorcia out of Colombia.
According to scout Sierra Llamas, the Yankees were interested in signing the right-hander because he displayed substantial arm strength and consistency on the mound. He was one amateur out of 60 who the organization signed from tryouts in Cartagena and Barranquilla back in December. Escorcia was clocked at around 90 mph, and at 5-foot-10 they must be hoping he continues to grow and fill out in order to add some extra power.
He will play in the Dominican Summer League for the 2014 season before he makes the move to America. The White Sox signed his old brother Kevin to a deal just last season. Now 19, the left-hander pitched to a 1.87 ERA with a 7.5 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9 over 43.1 innings and four starts in the DSL. Juan Escorcia is very far away from even becoming a prospect to look out for, so it will be a long road. Now, if you ever end up looking up some prospects, you'll have some backstory to the name.