Fansided

Dodgers signing elite 16-year-old Venezuelan catcher to elite prospect pipeline

By Scott Rogust

Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of a Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove on the bench in the seventh inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of a Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove on the bench in the seventh inning of the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
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The rich get richer, as the Los Angeles Dodgers get the top catching prospect on the market.

A month has passed since the Los Angeles Dodgers hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first time since 1988. With Hot Stove season underway, the universal expectation is that the Dodgers will make splashes on the open market. This time, the Dodgers took charge of the international market.

According to Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times, the Dodgers are close to signing 16-year-old Venezuelan catcher Jesus Galiz, the seventh-ranked international prospect. Castillo says that the New York Yankees were the favorites to sign Galiz, but he had a change of heart.

Los Angeles’ lucrative catching pipeline

The Yankees have built a reputation for owning one of the stronger catching pipelines in the entire league. It certainly helps when they have Austin Wells, Anthony Seigler, Antonio Gomez and Josh Breaux ranking in their top 30 prospects list, per MLB Pipeline. So it should come as no shock that the Yankees were in on Galiz.

But to the victor go the spoils, and the Dodgers sure are spoiled when it comes to catching prospects. In their pipeline, Los Angeles has Keibert Ruiz (who made his MLB debut this year) and Diego Cartaya. Now, they’re adding Galiz to the mix, further proving that the rich can indeed get richer.

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According to MLB Pipeline, Galiz initially prepared to play the middle infield, so he could become the next Gleyber Torres. However, he decided to switch over to catcher around two years ago, and he used his expertise as a middle infielder to his advantage. Said scouting report credits Galiz’s “quick feet, strong arm, high baseball IQ and overall athleticism” for helping him become the top international catching prospect.

The Dodgers farm system has grown more lucrative with the addition of Galiz, who can officially sign his deal on Jan. 15.

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