International scouting was an area where the Cincinnati Reds historically lagged behind many Major League teams, but it’s been a major focus in the past few years.
“For a long time,” Reds General Manager Nick Krall said, “we didn’t have as much success outside of the Cuban market as we should have.”
More:Hot Stove goes cold: Cincinnati Reds radio show not talking players during lockout
It’s a high-risk, high-reward way of adding talent to an organization. Amateur international signees are eligible to sign contracts at 16 years old, so scouts are projecting the equivalent of high school sophomores.