Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

Jacob Constante, a 19 year old lefty.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/...te-for-730000/

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

Very nice. I like that they're putting their big international investments into pitching. At almost 19, this kid is a safer bet than the 16s who sign for a bundle.

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

I really hope here in the near future all these dominican players we have signed start turning the corner

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

I can't recall what the new rules are with regards to international signings. Seemed to me there was a limited pool of money for each club. Anyone remember the details?

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

I've heard good things about him, but I'm curious isn't it rare for a dominican ball player of any perceivable talent to still be available to sign at 19?

I'd love for George Grande to tell me this kid's story, late bloomer?

<By the way, just realized the irony inherent in a 34 year old referring to a 19 year old as a late bloomer>

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcx486itAAA

Game action

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

pt 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74m5quCGcuY

Terrible shaky video

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

I asked myself the same thing as soon I finished reading about his signing. It seems like MLB teams snap up everybody on the island with even a modicum of talent on their 16th birthday. How did this guy make it 19 without being noticed? Was he a late-bloomer who was thought to have no potential as a 16 year-old or was he living on some deserted island until recently and just showed up at a baseball academy as a full-formed 19 year old prodigy?

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

I heard he was the waterboy and someone insulted his mother. He picked up a baseball and threw it at them really hard. Next thing you know, he was a starting pitcher.

"My mama says.........."

;)

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

Likely a late bloomer. In the past few years the powers that be in the Dominican started up the Dominican Prospect League, which takes unsigned guys and has actual games. It helps further develop these guys and gets guys who would have once been overlooked another shot at being seen. Personally, I love it. It gives more players a chance to do something with baseball and it gives teams another chance to see a talent that may have been overlooked because they hit their growth spurt at 17 rather than 15.

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

Five different videos of Constante

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74m5quCGcuY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcx486itAAA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9bYxJ16lxg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkWJrE3ltX4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jj5PAx_hk0

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

Another Baseball America blurb on Constante. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/...all-star-game/

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

I'm pretty sure Cueto didn't sign until he was 18. Sometimes a gem can slide through unnoticed.

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

6'4" lefty with a low 90s fastball and a solid slider. Assuming he can throw a strike, this kid won't want for opportunities to become a major leaguer.

Re: Reds sign Dominican lefty for $730,000
 

Here is a link to a Baseball America article discussing Constante and why he signed late. Apparently teams have shied away from signing 16 year old Dominican pitchers because most of them don't develop well.

Reports say his fastball has a lot of movement to the point where catchers have a hard time catching the ball. Sounds good as long as he can control it.

I saw a link somewhere in Spanish that led me to believe Constante is a converted outfielder.