Before they were signed: Amed Rosario

I was doing some research into International Free Agent signings by the Mets and came across this scouting report on Amed Rosario:

11. Amed Rosario, ss, Dominican Republic
Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 170. B-T: R-R.

Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara set the international bonus record last year when he signed out of Ivan Noboa’s program for $4.95 million. Growing up, Mazara played in La Javilla youth league in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. Rosario was one of his boyhood teammates, but because he was born six months after Mazara in November 1995, he is part of this year’s July 2 class. Rosario trains with John Carmona, who is also the president of La Javilla. Ellis Pena, known as “Peñita”, a former scout who was fired by the Pirates, is also one of Rosario’s coaches.

Rosario might be the most divisive player in Latin America. He has a long, lanky build, good bat speed and raw power in batting practice along with average speed. Some scouts who like Rosario enough to have him ranked as the top prospect in the Dominican Republic, seeing him as a true shortstop who with power who can hit in games. He showed that at the MLB showcase in February in games against Venezuela, going 4-for-7 with a double, a walk and no strikeouts. Supporters like his fielding instincts, hands, arm strength and ability to make the barehanded play.

Other scouts see an upright hitter with a leg kick that gets him out on his front foot against offspeed stuff and leads to strikeouts with his uppercut stroke. His body has a lot of room to fill out, so he may end up at third base, but some scouts aren’t sold on his infield actions and see him as a corner outfielder.

Scouts are united in their appreciation of Rosario’s makeup. He is scheduled to graduate high school before July 2. His father is a lawyer who will be influential in the signing, and his mother has a cousin who is married to Brewers scout Rafael Espinal. If a team sees a true shortstop with an impact bat, Rosario could end up the highest-paid player in the Dominican Republic. Some sources think the Mets will be that team, though the Astros and White Sox have also been mentioned.

Source: Ben Badler, Baseball America

Rosario received the highest bonus given to an international prospect by the Mets in the last four years. He’s also their highest-ranked player in that group, now that Marcos Molina has been slowed by injuries.