Eduardo Herrera quickly caught the attention of Marco Paddy, the special assistant to the general manager, international operations, for the Chicago White Sox.
“When I first saw him, I was drawn to this kid’s ability because of his physical strength, the way he played, his competitive nature, and his polished skills as a hitter,” Paddy said during a video conference call.
The Sox have reached an agreement with the third baseman, who is one of four international signings announced on Wednesday.
Herrera, 17, is ranked as the No. 11 international prospect by MLB Pipeline. He will receive a $1,800,000 signing bonus. The player from San Felipe, Venezuela, represented the Venezuelan U18 National Team at the age of 15.
“In terms of his character, he’s a strong competitor, knows how to improve his physical condition, and invests considerable time and effort into his body, strength, and fitness,” Paddy said. “As a competitor, we saw him perform for the Venezuelan national team in a tournament in Mexico against strong opponents and he did remarkably well at the age of 15, competing with 18-year-olds.
“After considering all the information, evaluations, live viewings, at-bats, and personal knowledge of him, we decided to proceed, and we are delighted to welcome this young man into the Chicago White Sox organization.”
Eduardo Herrera, who stands at 6 feet 2 inches and weighs 190 pounds, bats and throws with his right hand.
“We didn't hesitate to aggressively pursue him when the opportunity to sign him arose,” Paddy said. “Compared to other players we've signed previously, there are often doubts about the ability of power hitters to also be strong hitters. However, in this young man's case, he has demonstrated the ability to recognize and adapt, so we had no doubts about his capability as a hitter.”
The Sox also secured the signatures of infielders Jurdrick Profar ($600,000) and Jesús Premoli ($550,000), as well as right-handed pitcher Jeziel Boekhoudt ($55,000).
Jurdrick Profar, who is 6 feet tall and 190 pounds at the age of 16, is the brother of well-known major leaguer Jurickson Profar — who played in 2023 for the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. Jurdrick Profar, who hails from Willemstad, Curaçao, throws and bats with his right hand.
“When you look at Profar, he doesn't resemble his brother,” Paddy said. “He's going to be a bigger and stronger kid, and actually reminds me of Jonathan Schoop. That kind of kid. He can play all over the infield. Profar has exceptional skills for playing shortstop, with excellent hands and feet.
“As he grows bigger and stronger, shortstop might not be suitable for him. He excels at playing second base and also has the ability to play third base.”
Jesús Premoli, a 17-year-old who was formerly a left-handed hitting catcher, now plays at third and first base. He stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 215 pounds, and is from Barquisimeto, Venezuela. Boekhoudt, 17, from Willemstad, Curaçao, also stands at 6 feet 4 inches and weighs 215 pounds.
Anticipate further international signings to be disclosed in the upcoming weeks.
“Jan. 15 is the earliest day they can sign but this process may take a couple months,” Paddy said. “Once we sign those kids we know the job is complete but yes, the plan is to sign more guys that we have already pretty much agreed on.”
()
