Giants Sign the Next Vlad!!

[love_that_reefer]

Giants signed outfielder Rafael Rodriguez.
Rodriguez reportedly received a $2.55 million bonus, which would have been the largest ever given to a 16-year-old before the A's offered Michael Inoa $4.25 million earlier this month. It's the second time the Giants have gone past $2 million to sign such a player after they spend $2.1 million on Angel Villalona two years ago. Rodriguez is a right-handed-hitting outfielder with seemingly exceptional power potential. "He is one of the better position players on the international market this year," Giants scouting director John Barr said. "We scouted him extensively this season with many people on our staff evaluating him. To a man, we all agree that Rafael is the type of player that we want to bring into the Giants organization."

"The Giants were not blowing smoke two years ago when they pledged to beef up their international scouting and development. Two years after signing infielder Angel Villalona for $2.1 million, the Giants on Sunday signed Dominican outfielder Rafael Rodriguez for a team-record bonus of $2.55 million, a figure divulged by his agent. The deal was announced on Rodriguez's 16th birthday, the first day he was eligible to sign. The Dominican hype machine has labeled Rodriguez the second coming of Vladimir Guerrero. John Barr, the Giants' scouting director, said he dislikes such comparisons, but he described a Vlad-type player. "We felt he was one of the best international players we got a chance to look at," Barr said. "This player is 6-foot-5, 198 pounds. He's shown us really all the tools to play the game. He can run. He can throw. He's shown us power and the ability to take the ball the other way. He's a five-tool player. Adding to that, he has the makeup and work ethic to fulfill his abilities.""

Sounds like the Giants are going younger and younger with their international talent. Villanova is just starting to hit again and has plenty of time to mature in this game. 6'5" at 16 is just amazing and looks to be a great find. Let's hope he pans out.

[jpants10]

what kind of ape is 6'5"/198 at age SIXTEEN?!?!?!?! i was 5'9"/135 when i was that age...

[love_that_reefer]

This guy better stop growing. Who has heard of a 6' 11" outfielder?