The Yankees have signed top international prospect Francisco Vilorio to a $1.7 million contract

The Yankees have signed top international prospect Francisco Vilorio to a $1.7 million contract

The Yankees added another top outfielder to their farm system Monday as the international signing period got underway.

The club agreed to terms with Francisco Vilorio, a 17-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic, for close to $1.7 million, a source confirmed.

The signing represented a sizable portion of the Yankees’ $4.625 million bonus pool and marked the second straight year in which their top international addition was an outfielder, after signing Brando Mayea out of Cuba for $4.35 million last January.

The 6-foot-3 Vilorio is viewed as a potential five-tool prospect who projects to bring power and speed in center field.

Baseball America ranked Vilorio as their No. 19 international prospect while MLB.com rated him as their No. 15 prospect.

The Yankees’ international signing group also featured 16-year-old third baseman Richard Matic and switch-hitting shortstop Dexter Peralta, both out of the Dominican Republic, among others.

The Yankees had a lower bonus pool from which to sign international prospects this year because they lost $1 million for signing Carlos Rodon, who had rejected a qualifying offer from the Giants.

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Yankees reach deal with No. 15 international prospect

The Yankees are adding one of the best outfield prospects on this year’s international market to their organization.

According to industry sources, the Yankees agreed to terms with Francisco Vilorio, MLB.com’s No. 15 international prospect as the 2024 signing period opened on Monday. The club has not yet confirmed the agreement.

The Yankees lost $1 million from their international signing pool when inking Carlos Rodón, who rejected a qualifying offer from the Giants, leaving the Bronx Bombers with $4,652,200.

Vilorio is a tall, projectable outfielder with power potential and the ability to impact the game in various ways. The athletic teen has a solid bat tool and has a chance to hit for average and power in the future. He already shows emerging raw power and more strength should come as his body matures.

Overall, he projects to be a middle-of-the-order bat and an offensive threat if he continues to develop at the expected pace. His offensive potential makes him valuable, but he’s also improving on the other side of the ball. Vilorio is toolsy enough on defense to start in center field and just might stay there. There’s also a chance he outgrows the position and moves to a corner spot — he has the potential power to match it. Currently, he shows the arm strength and the bat tool to profile as a right fielder.

Vilorio is trained by HPP Carlos Lopez in the Dominican Republic.

An international player is eligible to sign with a Major League team between Jan. 15 and Dec. 15. He must turn 16 before he signs and be 17 before Sept. 1 the following year.

That means players born between Sept. 1, 2006, and Aug. 31, 2007, will be eligible to sign in the current signing period. Players must be registered with Major League Baseball in advance to be eligible to sign.

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