Jesús Montiel, a 17-year-old pitcher from La Paz, has penned his signature on a big-league contract to join Major League Baseball's Philadelphia Phillies.
The signing bonus amount was not released to the public, but as everyone knows, it will assuredly change the fortunes of Jesús and his family.
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The talented right-hander was discovered by the Phillies scouts during the development of the 2024 Mexico Prospect League, a showcase of Mexican talent held in June at the Pacific Baseball Academy, in Mazatlán, Sinaloa.
Montiel caught their attention wearing the jersey of the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna. Scouts did not hesitate to offer him a contract after being impressed by his powerful fastball and right-handed throwing skills on the diamond.
Montiel is known for his powerful 93 mph fastball, which he's currently perfecting in the Dominican Republic before officially joining the Phillies. Before the Phillies, Montiel played for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna, a team with a rich tradition in the Mexican Baseball League.
Montiel's decision to accept the offer from the Phillies marks the beginning of what many anticipate will be a brilliant career in the majors. His dedication to the sport, combined with his natural talent and work ethic, puts the young man in a position for success as one of the most exciting prospects from the 20-team Mexican baseball league.
The top Latino prospect joining the major leagues is the 5' foot 11'' 210 lb outfielder 22-year-old Emmanuel Rodriguez, who's been playing in the Double AA minor league with the Wichita Wind Surge, the farm team of the Minnesota Twins.
Rodriguez ranked as the #22 prospect during this past year's draft when the Twins signed a contract worth 2.5 million USD. The left-handed outfielder has a combination of raw power, bat speed and plate discipline that has evaluators very high on his future.
There’s a little too much swing-and-miss in his game, but his ability to draw walks (20.2 percent walk rate in 2023) helps mitigate that one glitch.
The only other highly-touted Latino is the 6'-foot 3'' inch, 214 lb Ralphy Velazquez, who signed a contract with the Cleveland Guardians, formerly the Cleveland Indians.
Velazquez made a name for himself at the National High School Invitational and Boras Classic last spring, establishing himself as one of the best bats in the prep class to become the third first-round pick to come out of Huntington Beach (California) HS. He is a disciplined hitter who recognizes pitches better than most teenagers, rarely chases them out of the strike zone and makes repeated hard contact with the bat. His quick left-handed swing and strength have already created plenty of excitement.
