Remember Rafael DePaula? Yeah, nobody does. I haven't the foggiest what's going on over on that front, but if you're someone who can only remember one international free agent at a time, here's a new name for you - Luis Heredia.
Heredia, 15, is a 6-foot-4 right-hander who has been described in several publications as having four "plus" pitches, in the scouting vernacular, meaning the potential for all of those -- fastball, changeup, slider and curveball -- to above-average at the Major League Baseball level.
The Mariners are among the teams listed as being in pursuit. Heredia will be eligible to sign on July 2nd. When I was 15, I was just getting away from clip-on neckties, so it's safe to say that Heredia's an overachiever.
Luis Heredia wasn't alive during the baseball strike.
0 recs | 57 comments
Is he 15 in Miguel Tejada years?
6’4" at 15 sounds like a freak of nature
killer_ewok18 - June 2, 2010
I was about 6'4 at 15
which I suppose neither proves nor disproves your statement.
Jeff Sullivan - June 2, 2010
Me too
And then I stopped growing shortly thereafter.
Kenneth Arthur - June 2, 2010
I was 5'0 at 15
And then I started growing.
perfectstrat - June 2, 2010
How tall are you Jeff?
Alexander Calloway - June 2, 2010
6'5
Jeff Sullivan - June 2, 2010
Occasionally
seattlebruin - June 2, 2010
I don't think this is true
Dewey N - June 2, 2010
Why would I lie about this?
Jeff Sullivan - June 2, 2010
Yeah, in your bra.
abender20 - June 2, 2010
Of all the baseball news I've ever heard
that’s certainly some of it.
pdb - June 2, 2010
Only notable because Heredia is considered one of the top international free agents on the market
Jeff Sullivan - June 2, 2010
I just find it hard to get enthusiastic over a 15 year old kid
which when read in a non-baseball context is maybe somewhat creepy but still.
pdb - June 2, 2010
I think its exciting
If we sign him, as soon as he starts pitching, he’ll be a new name to keep track of with excitement. We need all of that we can get, even if we know it would be like 2015 at the earliest that he’d be with Seattle.
Kenneth Arthur - June 2, 2010
There's just so much that can go in unexpected ways between 15 and the major leagues though
that I’ll probably start to get excited about this kid two weeks before his first major league start.
pdb - June 2, 2010
You really weren't excited about Felix when he was 16?
He’s about the only Mariner I could think about for 2+ years.
Kenneth Arthur - June 2, 2010
I wasn't excited about Felix until last year
pdb - June 2, 2010
It should be noted I am not a good evaluator of talent
pdb - June 2, 2010
I'm back to being unexcited
Matthew - June 2, 2010
Right there with you
pdb - June 2, 2010
Yeah, what the hell is happening there?
Sec 108 - June 2, 2010
Nothing. He's fine.
Some HR/FB regression is all.
Matthew - June 2, 2010
But he makes a lot more money now
Aaron Campeau - June 2, 2010
He's also walking more people though
killer_ewok18 - June 2, 2010
Barely
and he’s throwing more strikes. He’s fine.
Matthew - June 2, 2010
Good, I have been missing his starts lately and was wondering.
Sec 108 - June 2, 2010
I have no problem at all getting enthusiastic over a 15 year old kid.
Jeff Sullivan - June 2, 2010
That would explain why you've been Tweeting about Ke$ha all morning
Aaron Campeau - June 2, 2010
If I'm thinking of the same kid, I heard he "could get as much as $2 million"
I know that at 15, $2 million is a ridiculous amount of money.
I know that at 15, you are taking a huge risk on a player and he may never pitch past the age of 20.
At the same time, if a lot of teams are hot after a 15-year-old who looks to be very good (imagine how much Bryce Harper could get on the open market right now) I’m just shocked that bidding wars don’t go way past $2 million. If a team could go back and outbid the Mariners on Felix Hernandez, wouldn’t they be willing to part with 10 times that?
I’m just saying, if the M’s need to pony up 2.25 million, do it.
Kenneth Arthur - June 2, 2010
Do you know how latin bonus babies fail?
There’s a reason the bidding doesn’t go higher. It’s a perfectly free market down there. Teams pay what their average benefit from the market gives them.
Matthew - June 2, 2010
how often*?
Yeah, its not good success rate. I guess just because, its not my money.
Kenneth Arthur - June 2, 2010
Mariners In, On Mexican 15-Year-Old
lemonverbena - June 2, 2010
Still three years before Niehaus can say,
“Luis Heredia is a good looking young man” without going to jail for pedophilia.
Sec 108 - June 2, 2010
"He really fills out that uniform"
Matthew - June 2, 2010
Favorite movie type: Gladiator (hopefully)
pdb - June 2, 2010
My cat is 16
Which means he’s younger than my cat.
Awesome.
craig3410 - June 2, 2010
Does your cat remember the baseball strike?
Lucas Cervi - June 2, 2010
That is... weird to think about.
JY - June 2, 2010
It's a Maine Coon.
They live forever if they’re healthy.
craig3410 - June 2, 2010
Mr. K turns 17 this month.
Sometime.
He was born in a parking lot, so the precise date is unknown.
msb - June 2, 2010
Triunfel has a little better who plays SS who is supposed to be one of the top Dominican
kids in this year’s class. Wonder if we’re interested.
Rudy4three - June 2, 2010
I'd be a little surprised if we got him.
Our Mexican scouting has made a few steps forward of late, but it’s not a lot better than a token presence.
More excited about Phillips Castillo, who probably is going to sign with us, but isn’t a pitcher, unfortunately.
JY - June 2, 2010
Who is Castillo? Is he from this upcoming crop of IFAs?
Rudy4three - June 2, 2010
Dominican OF.
BA had a write-up on him yesterday. Right-handed, bat and power first, probable corner outfielder. Not bad in the other areas of the game, but really mostly about the bat.
JY - June 2, 2010
Jay, do you know the main guys we signed last year? I try to take a look every now and then
at the DSL and VSL box scores, but I don’t know which guys are our better prospects down there. Were there 3-4 guys from last year’s IFA crop that stood out?
I know Pimentel was the best guy we got, and I remember Parma being another. Any other kids from last year we should keep an eye on down in the Dominican and Venezuelan summer leagues?
Rudy4three - June 2, 2010
Yeah, I have an archived write-up.
Here’s what I had at USSM last year.
Just note that Waldy Alvarez is going by Rodolfo and Andres Brito is going by Miguel.
JY - June 2, 2010
Thanks.
Rudy4three - June 2, 2010
BA also says the Mariners are in on Esteilon Peguero, a shortstop who is considered perhaps the best available bat.
Video: here, here, here.
JonBBT - June 2, 2010
His bat speed jumps out at me.
Rudy4three - June 2, 2010
Whatever did happen with Rafael DePaula?
The Typical Idiot Fan - June 2, 2010
He hasn't signed with anyone yet.
JY - June 2, 2010
Last report came in April, with Mariners still the frontrunners.
JonBBT - June 2, 2010
If he's eligible to sign July 2...
he must be turning 16 pretty soon. By my math that means he probably caught the tail end of the baseball strike. I’m sure he was devastated at the news that MLB was canceling the 1994 world series.
slamcactus - June 2, 2010
They just have to turn 16 within 45 days of the signing period.
JonBBT - June 2, 2010
Its funny when you look at the biggest IFA bonuses, a lot of names I've never heard.
And didn’t Miguel Tejada get $5000?
Kenneth Arthur - June 2, 2010
Maybe because the biggest IFA bonuses came in recent years and those guys are still working their way up?
I haven’t looked at a list, but that’s what I would guess. IFA bonuses are trending up just like the draft bonuses and player salaries.
JonBBT - June 2, 2010
I'm unable to find any examples unfortunately.
Its just based on memory of not-too recent signings that were large in context and not panning out.
Kenneth Arthur - June 3, 2010
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Lookout Landing to post a comment.